Cognitive ability refers to a student's readiness to learn in different situations and demonstrate creative problem solving skills. The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is used as a measure of ability in AACPS' GT Identification Screening Process. 

An ability measure is different than an achievement measure. An achievement measure evaluates how well the student learns the grade-level content while ability assessments evaluate the student's aptitude to find patterns and relationships in the world. 

The full battery Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is administered in grades 2 and 5. This ability assessment is comprised of three batteries that appraises the level and pattern of a student’s verbal, quantitative, and spatial (nonverbal) reasoning abilities. 

iReady is an online assessment that measures a student's current level of performance in both reading and math based on state and national standards. It is an adaptive assessment; questions become harder or easier as the student answers correctly or incorrectly. While all AACPS students take the iReady Diagnostic, the scores for Grade 2 students are used as an achievement measure in the GT Identification Universal Screening Process. 

The Primary Talent Development (PTD) Early Learning Program PreK-2 is a STEM-based critical and creative thinking curriculum integrating gifted education and early childhood education theory and practice. PTD engages all students in open-ended, hands-on, problem solving experiences which promote the learning behaviors associated with lifelong success: 

•   perceptive

•   communicative

•   inquisitive

•   persistent

•   creative

•   resourceful

•   leadership 

These behaviors are looked at across the grades (PreK-2) to advocate for students demonstrating readiness for advanced instruction. The Primary Talent Development Portfolio is used by the Advanced Leaner Programs office as a measure of student potential within the Grade 2 gifted and talented identification process.

MSDE Primary Talent Development FAQ