Gifted and selective-school tests, by country
Whatever the name — CogAT, NNAT, OLSAT, 11+, the OC test or the CCAT-7 — these tests look at how a child reasons with words, numbers and shapes, not at what they have learned in class. Here is which ones children sit where, and when.
United States
Set by each district, often between kindergarten and grade 3.
- Fully covered
CogAT
Cognitive Abilities Test, Forms 7 and 8
School districts across the United States, from kindergarten up, for gifted and talented screening — some states give it to every child in a grade.
- Partly covered
NNAT
Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, 3rd edition
US school districts, often for younger children and as a screener that does not depend on English.
- Partly covered
OLSAT
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, 8th edition
Some US school districts and independent schools, for gifted and talented admission.
United Kingdom
The 11+ at the start of Year 6 (about age 10), where there are grammar schools.
Australia
NSW: the OC test in Year 4 and the selective test in Year 6, both in May. Victoria: Year 8.
- Partly covered
NSW OC test
Opportunity Class Placement Test
Children in Year 4 in New South Wales applying for a Year 5 opportunity class.
Canada
Set by each board, most often in grade 3 or 4.
What every one of them measures
- Verbal reasoning: finding the rule that links words — analogies, odd one out, completing a sentence.
- Quantitative reasoning: finding the rule in numbers — series, number analogies, small puzzles.
- Non-verbal reasoning: finding the rule in shapes — matrices, classification, folding.
Some tests add school subjects too: the 11+ often has English and maths papers, and the NSW tests have reading and mathematical reasoning. See one example of each kind of reasoning question.
Grades, Years and ages
| US / Canada | England | Australia | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Year 4 | Year 3 | 8–9 |
| Grade 4 | Year 5 | Year 4 | 9–10 |
| Grade 5 | Year 6 | Year 5 | 10–11 |
| Grade 6 | Year 7 | Year 6 | 11–12 |
| Grade 7 | Year 8 | Year 7 | 12–13 |
| Grade 8 | Year 9 | Year 8 | 13–14 |
The puzzles on this site and in the app count in grades. A child at the young or old end of a school year may be a year either side of the ages shown.
Every test, in detail
- Fully covered
CogAT
Cognitive Abilities Test, Forms 7 and 8
School districts across the United States, from kindergarten up, for gifted and talented screening — some states give it to every child in a grade.
- Partly covered
NNAT
Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, 3rd edition
US school districts, often for younger children and as a screener that does not depend on English.
- Partly covered
OLSAT
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, 8th edition
Some US school districts and independent schools, for gifted and talented admission.
- Fully covered
CCAT-7
Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test, 7th edition
Canadian school boards, usually as a whole-class screener in grade 3 or 4.
- Mostly covered
CAT4
Cognitive Abilities Test, 4th edition
Schools in the UK and many international and British-curriculum schools.
- Partly covered
11+
The eleven-plus, for grammar school entry
Grammar schools in parts of England, for entry to Year 7. Children sit it at the start of Year 6, around age 10.
- Partly covered
NSW OC test
Opportunity Class Placement Test
Children in Year 4 in New South Wales applying for a Year 5 opportunity class.
Build the reasoning, not the test
Short, original puzzles with words, numbers and shapes. Your child answers, then names the rule.
Play free in your browser
Android: coming soonOr print free reasoning worksheets, grades 3 to 8.
Sources
- Card, D. & Giuliano, L. (2016). Universal screening increases the representation of low-income and minority students in gifted education. PNAS 113(48) — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Denver Public Schools, Gifted & Talented testing information — gt.dpsk12.org
- GL Assessment 11+, FAQs — 11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk
- GL Assessment, CAT4 — gl-education.com
- NSW Department of Education, Placement test — education.nsw.gov.au
- Victorian Government, Selective entry high schools — vic.gov.au
Last checked 11 October 2026. This page is general information, not advice: your school, district, board or area has the final word on its own tests and dates. Test names are trademarks of their publishers. Cub Climb is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any of them, or to any school or education department.