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 5 students are used as an achievement measure in the GT Identification Universal Screening Process. 

The Scales for Rating the Behavior Characteristics of Superior Students (Renzulli Scales) are a nationally recognized tool for identifying gifted children. Supported by 40 years of research, this standardized instrument is completed by teachers to gather information on student potential.  The Renzulli Scales are used for all students in Grades 5 and 7 who were not previously identified as GT in both Reading and Math.