Gifted Assessments
Gifted Assessments
Mental ability is assessed primarily using the CogAT. It appraises the child's reasoning skills, and problem solving abilities. Please see the chart below that identifies the CogAT battery, and subtest by grade level. All non-identified students who score 90 percentile or greater on the NWEA MAP in the areas of Math and/or Reading will take the assessment online.
VERBAL
Picture Analogies
Sentence Completion
Picture Classification
QUANTITATIVE
Number Analogies
Number Puzzles
Number Series
NONVERBAL
Figure Matrices
Paper Folding
Figure Classification
VERBAL
Verbal Analogies
Sentence Completion
Verbal Classification
QUANTITATIVE
Number Analogies
Number Puzzles
Number Series
NONVERBAL
Figure Matrices
Paper Folding
Figure Classification
Achievement is assessed using the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment in the beginning of the school year. Students who meet the criteria ( > 90% RT (Reading Total) or > 90% MT (Math Total) set by the Georgia Department of Education’s guidelines will receive further formal evaluation utilizing standardized achievement tests.
The creativity assessment will require responses that are primarily drawing or pictorial in nature. However, it does not measure artistic talent nor is artistic talent required to do well on the instrument. The instrument requires students to use their imagination, think of new ideas and elaborate on their ideas. It uses exercises to assess five mental characteristics: fluency, resistance to premature closure, elaboration, abstractness of titles, and originality.
The motivation assessment is a rating scale. It refers to a child's desire to achieve a goal or complete self-selected tasks. Motivation is viewed as the energy that drives a child to achieve. The scale asks the evaluator to assess whether or not a students exhibits certain characteristics for certain periods of time. These characteristics include commitment to projects, personal responsibility, sustained interest, and behavior that requires little direction form teachers.
Preparation on any of the instruments can not be done within a short time. Knowledge skills are developed as a result of all school and life experiences. It is best for you to ensure that your child comes to school each day, is well rested and has a nutritious breakfast for each day of school. Additionally you may want to limit evening activities prior to the test and ensure your child is on time for school. Discuss the importance of the test with your child.
The achievement and mental ability assessments are given online. be sure your child is used to using a Chromebook or other digital devices.
I am often asked for more concrete testing preparation ideas. I encourage you to visit, Testingmom.com for further ideas.
Test results are provided to the school by the county. We make every effort to send out scores as soon as possible.
MAP score results are sent by the classroom teacher after official release by the county.
CogAT scores are sent home in December or January.
All other assessments are sent home as received or the scores are reported in an eligibility report.