CogAT vs NNAT: Which Gifted Test Is Harder?

Many districts use either the CogAT or the NNAT to screen for gifted programs — and a small number use both. Understanding how they differ helps you know what to practice and what to realistically expect on test day.

At a Glance

What Each Test Measures

The CogAT measures three distinct types of reasoning. The Verbal Battery tests vocabulary and analogical thinking in words. The Quantitative Battery tests number pattern recognition and mathematical relationships. The Nonverbal Battery — like the NNAT — tests abstract and spatial reasoning using shapes and figures.

The NNAT measures only nonverbal reasoning, but it does so in greater depth. All NNAT questions use geometric shapes and matrices. No reading, no math concepts, no English required. This makes it particularly useful for screening English language learners or children from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Which Test Is Harder?

There is no definitive answer — it depends on your child's strengths. However, here's how parents and teachers tend to describe the experience:

• CogAT is harder overall because it's longer, covers more domains, and verbal analogies can trip up strong spatial thinkers.
• NNAT is more demanding visually. The abstract matrices require sustained spatial focus that many children find mentally taxing even in just 30 minutes.
• Strong verbal/math kids tend to prefer CogAT because their reading and quantitative skills give them an advantage in two of the three batteries.
• Strong visual-spatial kids often do better on the NNAT even if they struggle with word-based reasoning.

NNAT Question Types

The NNAT uses four question types, all using geometric figures:

• Pattern Completion: A shape pattern with a piece removed — identify the missing piece.
• Reasoning by Analogy: Like CogAT nonverbal analogies: if "this shape changes to that shape," what does "this shape change to?"
• Serial Reasoning: A 3×3 matrix of shapes with a missing cell — identify the rule that governs rows and columns.
• Spatial Visualization: How would a shape look if folded or rotated? The most difficult type for most children.

CogAT Nonverbal vs. NNAT

The CogAT Nonverbal Battery and the NNAT overlap in content. Both use figure matrices and shape analogies. If your child is preparing for the NNAT, practicing CogAT nonverbal questions is a directly useful strategy — and vice versa. The main difference is that the NNAT goes deeper into spatial visualization, while the CogAT Nonverbal tends to include more straightforward figure analogy formats.

Prep Strategy for Both

• Practice figure matrices: 2×2 and 3×3 grids where a rule governs each row and column
• Do physical spatial puzzles: tangrams, pattern blocks, and Tetris-style rotation practice
• Work on paper folding: fold and punch holes, predict the result before unfolding
• For CogAT only: add verbal analogy practice (category, function, part-to-whole) and number sequence work

Which Test Does Your District Use?

Check your district's gifted program website or contact your school counselor. Many major districts use the CogAT (including Chicago, Denver, and districts across Florida). NYC's gifted program traditionally used the OLSAT and NNAT in combination. Some districts give families a choice — or use one test for initial screening and another for placement confirmation.

Districts That Use Both CogAT and NNAT: What That Means

Some districts use both the CogAT and NNAT in their gifted identification process, either simultaneously or sequentially. When both tests are administered, coordinators typically look for convergent evidence of high ability: a child who scores at the 92nd percentile on the CogAT and the 95th percentile on the NNAT is showing strong ability across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal domains. This convergence is more persuasive than a single high score on either test alone.

One important nuance in districts that use both tests: the CogAT measures three distinct batteries (Verbal, Quantitative, Nonverbal), while the NNAT measures only nonverbal reasoning. A child with a very high CogAT Nonverbal score will often also score well on the NNAT, since both are measuring similar spatial and pattern-recognition abilities. In this case, the two tests are measuring overlapping skills rather than providing fully independent evidence.

Where the tests diverge is in their verbal and quantitative domains. The CogAT Verbal Battery tests language reasoning, analogies, and sentence completion — areas where the NNAT contributes nothing. A child who scores dramatically higher on the NNAT than on the CogAT composite may have strong nonverbal reasoning but relative weaknesses in verbal reasoning. This profile is worth flagging because it can indicate a child who will thrive in visual, spatial, or mathematically oriented gifted programs but may struggle in language-arts-intensive ones.

For preparation, the practical advice is straightforward: if your district uses both tests, ensure your preparation includes both NNAT-format (purely visual, matrix-based) and CogAT-format (verbal analogies, quantitative relationships, nonverbal patterns) practice. A child who has done only one type will be underprepared for the other, regardless of their underlying ability level.