Overview & Quick Facts
The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) measures verbal and nonverbal reasoning. Used widely for NYC Gifted & Talented admissions and school district gifted programs across the country.
Quick Facts
Test Sections
Key Takeaway
The NYC G&T program uses a combined OLSAT + NNAT score — OLSAT counts 30%, NNAT 70% for kindergarten. Understanding this weighting helps you allocate prep time wisely.
How to Use This Guide
Use the chapter navigation on the left to explore each section in depth. Start with a specific question type to understand what's tested, then jump to the 4-Week Study Schedule when you're ready to prep.
Following Directions
Child listens to or reads a direction and marks the correct picture. Tests sequential processing, working memory, and auditory comprehension.
Key Takeaways
- ›Listen to the full direction before marking anything
- ›Key words: "all," "none," "except," "before," and "after" change the answer
- ›Practice with multi-step oral directions at home
Follow multi-step directions in order. Practice: "Point to the dog, then the cat, then the bird."
Hold the direction in mind while scanning the pictures. Short-term memory practice helps.
Identify signal words like "biggest," "tallest," or "not" — they narrow down the answer.
Verbal Analogies
Word relationship pairs. Example: Big is to Little as Hot is to ___. Tests vocabulary and abstract verbal reasoning.
Key Takeaways
- ›State the relationship first: "A is a TYPE OF B"
- ›There are 8 core analogy types — learn them all
- ›Wrong answers use real words but the wrong relationship
Finger:Hand :: Toe:Foot. A piece and its whole.
Pen:Write :: Scissors:Cut. What the object is used for.
Robin:Bird :: Salmon:Fish. Member to category.
Warm:Hot :: Cool:Cold. Different intensities of the same quality.
Example
Puppy is to Dog as Kitten is to ___
Young animal to adult animal. Apply to: kitten → cat.
Verbal Classification
Three words share something in common — find the fourth that belongs to the same category.
Key Takeaways
- ›Find the MOST SPECIFIC category shared by ALL three given words
- ›Wrong answers often share one trait but not all
- ›Say the rule out loud: "They are all ___"
Eagle, Sparrow, Penguin → all birds. The fourth must also be a bird.
Not just "animals" — the most specific shared trait wins.
Bat has wings but is a mammal — eliminate it even though it seems similar.
Sentence Completion
Fill in the blank to complete the sentence with the best word. Tests vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension.
Key Takeaways
- ›Read the whole sentence before looking at answers
- ›The surrounding words give clues — context is king
- ›Wrong answers are often real words that don't fit the context
You need to know what the words mean to choose the right one.
"The dog was tired after running for hours" → answer is exhausted, not energetic.
The missing word must fit grammatically — right part of speech, right tense.
Figural Analogies
Shape relationship matrices — same structure as verbal analogies but with geometric figures. Tests abstract reasoning without language.
Key Takeaways
- ›Find the transformation rule from shape 1 to shape 2
- ›Apply the same transformation to shape 3 to get shape 4
- ›Common rules: rotation, reflection, size change, shading, count of elements
How many degrees does the shape turn from left to right?
Is the shape flipped horizontally or vertically?
Does the shading, size, or element count change in a consistent way?
Pattern Completion
Identify the missing piece of a geometric pattern. Tests visual closure and spatial reasoning.
Key Takeaways
- ›Focus on the edges where the missing piece meets the existing pattern
- ›The answer must be consistent with BOTH horizontal and vertical grid rules
- ›Practice with jigsaw puzzles to build visual closure skills
Recognizing an incomplete image based on partial information.
The missing piece must continue the visual flow in all directions.
Match not just the shape but also the fill pattern of the missing area.
Figural Series
A sequence of shapes — identify the next shape in the series. Tests sequential pattern recognition.
Key Takeaways
- ›Identify the rule that connects consecutive shapes
- ›Look for: rotation, reflection, growing/shrinking, adding/removing elements
- ›If the rule isn't obvious, check if alternate positions follow different rules
Each shape simply rotates 45° clockwise — what comes next?
Odd positions follow one rule; even positions follow another — alternating series.
Shapes get larger each step, or gain one element per step.
NYC Gifted & Talented Strategy
NYC combines OLSAT and NNAT scores. For kindergarten: NNAT = 70%, OLSAT = 30%.
Score Weighting
Allocation Tip
Given the 70/30 split, spend 70% of your prep time on NNAT practice and 30% on OLSAT. NNAT skills (pattern recognition, spatial reasoning) are also what the OLSAT nonverbal section tests.
Citywide vs. District G&T Cutoffs
Score Interpretation
OLSAT scores are reported as the School Ability Index (SAI) and National Percentile Rank. SAI has a mean of 100 and SD of 16.
School Ability Index (SAI)
Mean of 100, SD of 16. Compares to same-grade peers nationally. SAI 116+ ≈ 84th percentile. SAI 132+ ≈ 98th percentile.
National Percentile Rank
Gifted cutoff varies by district: most use 90th+ percentile. NYC Citywide G&T requires 97th+ combined percentile (OLSAT + NNAT).
90th pct
Typical district G&T threshold
Stanine Score
A 1–9 scale grouping percentile ranges. Stanines 7–9 = above average. Some districts use stanines for initial cut decisions.
Recommended Books
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OLSAT Practice Test Level A & B Prep
Full practice for levels A and B — the NYC kindergarten and Grade 1 levels.
NYC Gifted & Talented Test Prep OLSAT + NNAT
Combined OLSAT and NNAT preparation for NYC G&T applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OLSAT?
The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test measures verbal and nonverbal reasoning ability. It is used for gifted program identification in school districts across the U.S., including NYC's G&T program.
What are the OLSAT levels?
OLSAT has seven levels: Level A (PreK-K), B (Grade 1), C (Grade 2), D (Grade 3), E (Grades 4-5), F (Grades 6-8), and G (Grades 9-12). Each level is designed for specific grade ranges.
How does NYC use the OLSAT?
For NYC kindergarten G&T, OLSAT accounts for 30% of the total score and NNAT accounts for 70%. Both are taken at the same testing appointment. Citywide G&T programs require approximately the 97th combined percentile.
What is a School Ability Index (SAI)?
The SAI is the OLSAT standard score, with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 16. It compares a child's performance to same-grade peers nationally. Gifted programs typically require SAI 120+ (approximately 90th percentile).
Can you prepare for the OLSAT?
Yes. Both verbal (vocabulary, analogies) and nonverbal (visual patterns, figural reasoning) skills can be practiced. NYC families typically start preparing 6–12 weeks before the test.