CogAT measures general thinking and problem-solving skills and indicates how well the student uses these skills to solve verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal problems. The profile of these abilities helps teachers better understand how different students learn best. The skills measured by CogAT develop gradually throughout a person’s lifetime, but individuals vary in the rates at which they develop the skills. Experiences both in and out of school influence their development.

This test is typically given to some 9th grade students in mid-late October.