Grades 3-5 Interpreting the Assessments

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

The CogAT measures three different cognitive abilities.

• The verbal section measures a child’s ability to remember and transform sequences of English words, to understand them and to make inferences and judgments about them.

• The quantitative section measures a child’s understanding of basic quantitative concepts and relationships.

• The non-verbal section measures reasoning using pictures and geometric shapes. This section reduces the impact of language on the student’s score.

• The composite score is a total score for all three batteries.

Age Scores

The test uses age norms to calculate scores and compare students of the same age. Listed in the Genesis portal on the assessment tab, you will find your child's Age Score for each section and the composite. The test uses age norms to calculate scores and compare students of the same age.

The Standard Age Score (SAS) scale is a normalized standard score scale for each battery and the Composite. The SAS has a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 16. It permits educators to compare the rate and level of cognitive development of an individual to other students in the same age group. For example, students who have an SAS of 100 on the Verbal Battery have a rate and level of development of verbal reasoning skills that is typical of their age group. A student who has an SAS of 125 on the Verbal Battery has a faster rate and a higher level of development of verbal 2 reasoning skills than the typical student in the same age group. The SAS Composite (VQN) is the score used to determine eligibility into the Elementary Enrichment Cluster Groups. Minimal scores to meet criteria can be found on the 3-5 and 6-8 selection criteria tabs above.

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP®) – These computerized tests are adaptive and offered in Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics. When taking a MAP® test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier.The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level.

Commonly Used Terms

    • Percentile Range Percentiles are used to compare one student’s performance to that of the norm group. Percentile means the student scored as well as, or better than, that percent of students taking the test in his/her grade. There is about a 68 percent chance that a student’s percentile ranking would fall within this range if the student tested again relatively soon.
    • Percentile Rank This number indicates the percentage of students in the NWEA norm group for this grade that this student’s score equaled or exceeded. The percentile rank is a normative statistic that indicates how well a student performed in comparison to the students in the norm group. A student’s percentile rank indicates that the student scored as well as, or better than, the percent of students in the norm group. In other words, a student with a percentile rank of 72 scored as well as, or better than 72 percent of the students in the norm group.
    • RIT Tests developed by NWEA use a scale called RIT to measure student achievement and growth. RIT stands for Rasch UnIT, which is a measurement scale developed to simplify the interpretation of test scores. The RIT score relates directly to the curriculum scale in each subject area. It is an equal-interval scale, like feet and inches, so scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages.

The Percentile Rank is the middle number in bold in the Percentile Range. The Percentile Rank for either reading or math is the score used to determine eligibility into Enrichment Cluster Groups.