Are these real CogAT questions?

No. Every question here was written for Cub Climb, and none is a copy or a close imitation of a real CogAT question; we have never seen a real test form. They are the same nine kinds of question the CogAT uses, so a child can see what each kind asks.

Which CogAT level is kindergarten?

Level 5/6 is kindergarten, Level 7 is grade 1, Level 8 is grade 2 and Level 9 is grade 3. The kinds of question stay the same; what changes is how hard they are and, from Level 9, that a child reads them.

My child can’t read yet. Can they do the CogAT?

Yes. Levels 5/6, 7 and 8, kindergarten to grade 2, are almost entirely pictures, with the directions read aloud. The questions above work the same way: read the question, and your child points to a picture.

What CogAT score gets a child into a gifted program?

There is no national pass mark. The CogAT reports a Standard Age Score (100 is typical for a child’s age), a percentile and a stanine, and each district decides which scores, and what else, it looks at.

← The CogAT, explained

CogAT practice questions, with answers

Thirty-six free practice questions: one of each of the CogAT’s nine kinds of question at kindergarten (Level 5/6), grade 1 (Level 7), grade 2 (Level 8) and grade 3 (Level 9). From kindergarten to grade 2 they are pictures, read aloud, as the CogAT is at those levels. Every question is original, written for Cub Climb, not taken from the test.

Jump to: Kindergarten · Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3

Kindergarten · Level 5/6

Pictures, read aloud: read the question to your child, then let them point. Ask why before you check.

WORDS · VERBAL ANALOGIES
1. 1.
  A fish goes with water. A dog goes with what?
  A fish goes with water. A dog goes with what?
  - Aa house
  - Ba bone
  - Ca lollipop
  - Dan axe
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 1. A — a house. Rule: Where it lives. A fish lives in the water. A dog lives in a house with its family.
WORDS · SENTENCE COMPLETION
1. 2.
  Which one says moo?
  Which one says moo?
  - Aa cow
  - Ba pig
  - Ca cactus
  - Da train
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 2. A — a cow. Rule: It says moo. A cow says moo.
WORDS · VERBAL CLASSIFICATION
1. 3.
  A crab, a worm and a whale go together. Which one goes with them?
  A crab, a worm and a whale go together. Which one goes with them?
  - Aa trumpet
  - Ba scarf
  - Ca football
  - Da frog
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 3. D — a frog. Rule: Animals. They are all animals. A frog is an animal too.
NUMBERS · NUMBER ANALOGIES
1. 4.
  Look at how the first group changes. What does the last group change into?
  Look at how the first group changes. What does the last group change into?
  - Afive eggs
  - Bthree eggs
  - Csix eggs
  - Dfour eggs
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 4. D — four eggs. Rule: One less. Each group loses one. So the last group loses one too.
NUMBERS · NUMBER SERIES
1. 5.
  How many beads go on the next rod?
  How many beads go on the next rod?
  - Afive beads
  - Bthree beads
  - Cone bead
  - Dtwo beads
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 5. D — two beads. Rule: A pattern that repeats. The rods repeat the same two numbers, over and over.
NUMBERS · NUMBER PUZZLES
1. 6.
  How many are there in all?
  How many are there in all?
  - Afour pears
  - Bsix pears
  - Ctwo pears
  - Dseven pears
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 6. B — six pears. Rule: Put them together. Count both groups together to find how many there are in all.
PICTURES · FIGURE MATRICES
1. 7.
  →
  →?
  Look at how the first picture changes. Which picture changes the same way?
  - Aoutline orange diamond turned 45°
  - Bstriped orange diamond turned 135°
  - Cstriped orange square turned 45°
  - Dorange diamond turned 45°
  - Estriped orange diamond turned 45°
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 7. E. Rule: the pattern changes. The shape becomes striped. Everything else stays the same.
PICTURES · FIGURE CLASSIFICATION
1. 8.
  +?
  These pictures go together. Which one goes with them?
  - Alarge dotted green square turned 135°
  - Blarge dotted blue hexagon turned 135°
  - Csmall purple circle turned 270°
  - D2 large green diamonds turned 315°
  - E2 small striped purple pentagons
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 8. A. Rule: the same shape. Every one is a square, whatever its size, colour or pattern.
PICTURES · PAPER FOLDING
1. 9.
  The paper is folded, and one hole is punched through it. Which picture shows the paper opened up?
  - A2 holes: row 1, column 3; row 4, column 3
  - B1 hole: row 4, column 3
  - C2 holes: row 4, column 2; row 4, column 3
  - D2 holes: row 1, column 4; row 4, column 4
  - E4 holes: row 1, column 2; row 1, column 3; row 4, column 2; row 4, column 3
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 9. A. Rule: unfold and mirror. The paper was folded once, so unfolding puts a matching hole on the other side of the fold line, the same distance from it.

Grade 1 · Level 7

Pictures, read aloud: read the question to your child, then let them point. Ask why before you check.

WORDS · VERBAL ANALOGIES
1. 1.
  A hammer goes with wood. A key goes with what?
  A hammer goes with wood. A key goes with what?
  - Aa lock
  - Bthread
  - Ca seedling
  - Da piano
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 1. A — a lock. Rule: What you use it with. You hammer nails into wood with a hammer. A key opens a lock.
WORDS · SENTENCE COMPLETION
1. 2.
  Which one opens a lock?
  Which one opens a lock?
  - Aa key
  - Ba spoon
  - Ca sunflower
  - Da saxophone
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 2. A — a key. Rule: It opens things. A key opens a lock.
WORDS · VERBAL CLASSIFICATION
1. 3.
  A bathtub, a bucket and a teapot go together. Which one goes with them?
  A bathtub, a bucket and a teapot go together. Which one goes with them?
  - Aa scarf
  - Ba cup
  - Ccake
  - Da mouse
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 3. B — a cup. Rule: Things that hold water. They can all hold water. A cup can hold water too.
NUMBERS · NUMBER ANALOGIES
1. 4.
  Look at how the first group changes. What does the last group change into?
  Look at how the first group changes. What does the last group change into?
  - Aeight pears
  - Bnine pears
  - Cten pears
  - Dsix pears
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 4. C — ten pears. Rule: Two more. Each group gets two more. So the last group gets two more too.
NUMBERS · NUMBER SERIES
1. 5.
  How many beads go on the next rod?
  How many beads go on the next rod?
  - Anine beads
  - Bseven beads
  - Ceight beads
  - Dten beads
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 5. C — eight beads. Rule: A pattern that repeats. The rods repeat in groups of three, over and over.
NUMBERS · NUMBER PUZZLES
1. 6.
  How many more are needed to make the last group?
  How many more are needed to make the last group?
  - Athree cars
  - Bfive cars
  - Ctwo cars
  - Dfour cars
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 6. A — three cars. Rule: Find the missing part. Count on from the first group until you reach the last group. That is how many are missing.
PICTURES · FIGURE MATRICES
1. 7.
  →
  →?
  Look at how the first picture changes. Which picture changes the same way?
  - A2 large striped green triangles turned 90°
  - B3 small striped green triangles turned 90°
  - C2 small striped green triangles turned 180°
  - D2 small outline green triangles turned 90°
  - E2 small striped green triangles turned 90°
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 7. E. Rule: the pattern changes. The shape becomes striped. Everything else stays the same.
PICTURES · FIGURE CLASSIFICATION
1. 8.
  +?
  These pictures go together. Which one goes with them?
  - Astriped purple hexagon turned 225°
  - Blarge purple star turned 315°
  - C3 large outline orange hexagons turned 135°
  - D3 small outline purple diamonds
  - E3 blue hexagons turned 225°
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 8. B. Rule: the same shape. Every one is a star, whatever its size, colour or pattern.
PICTURES · PAPER FOLDING
1. 9.
  The paper is folded, and one hole is punched through it. Which picture shows the paper opened up?
  - A2 holes: row 2, column 1; row 2, column 6
  - B2 holes: row 1, column 1; row 1, column 6
  - C1 hole: row 1, column 6
  - D2 holes: row 1, column 2; row 1, column 6
  - E4 holes: row 1, column 1; row 1, column 6; row 6, column 1; row 6, column 6
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 9. B. Rule: unfold and mirror. The paper was folded once, so unfolding puts a matching hole on the other side of the fold line, the same distance from it.

Grade 2 · Level 8

Pictures, read aloud: read the question to your child, then let them point. Ask why before you check.

WORDS · VERBAL ANALOGIES
1. 1.
  A seedling goes with a tree. An egg goes with what?
  A seedling goes with a tree. An egg goes with what?
  - Aa football
  - Ba chick
  - Ca kite
  - Da ladder
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 1. B — a chick. Rule: What it grows into. A little seedling grows into a tree. An egg hatches into a chick.
WORDS · SENTENCE COMPLETION
1. 2.
  Which one is an animal with a shell?
  Which one is an animal with a shell?
  - Aa frog
  - Ba bell
  - Ca turtle
  - Da saw
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 2. C — a turtle. Rule: It is an animal with a shell. A turtle is an animal with a shell.
WORDS · VERBAL CLASSIFICATION
1. 3.
  A soccer ball, a tennis ball and a baseball go together. Which one goes with them?
  A soccer ball, a tennis ball and a baseball go together. Which one goes with them?
  - Aa puzzle piece
  - Bjeans
  - Ca pine tree
  - Da football
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 3. D — a football. Rule: Balls. They are all balls. A football is a ball too.
NUMBERS · NUMBER ANALOGIES
1. 4.
  Look at how the groups change. What does the last group change into?
  Look at how the groups change. What does the last group change into?
  - Atwo bananas
  - Bsix bananas
  - Cfive bananas
  - Dfour bananas
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 4. C — five bananas. Rule: Three more. Each group gets three more. So the last group gets three more too.
NUMBERS · NUMBER SERIES
1. 5.
  How many beads go on the next rod?
  How many beads go on the next rod?
  - Aeight beads
  - Bnine beads
  - Cten beads
  - Dseven beads
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 5. C — ten beads. Rule: Steps that take turns. The rods go up by one and by two, taking turns.
NUMBERS · NUMBER PUZZLES
1. 6.
  Some are added and some are taken away. How many are left?
  Some are added and some are taken away. How many are left?
  - Aseven soccer balls
  - Bnine soccer balls
  - Cfive soccer balls
  - Dsix soccer balls
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 6. C — five soccer balls. Rule: Add, then take away. Put the first two groups together, then take away the last one.
PICTURES · FIGURE MATRICES
1. 7.
  →
  →?
  Look at how the first picture changes. Which picture changes the same way?
  - A3 small blue squares turned 270°
  - B3 small dotted blue squares turned 315°
  - C2 small dotted blue squares turned 270°
  - D3 small dotted blue squares turned 270°
  - E3 large dotted blue squares turned 270°
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 7. D. Rule: the size changes. The shape becomes small. Everything else stays the same.
PICTURES · FIGURE CLASSIFICATION
1. 8.
  +?
  These pictures go together. Which one goes with them?
  - Asmall dotted green triangle turned 135°
  - B3 large striped blue circles turned 225°
  - C3 outline purple stars turned 45°
  - D2 small green squares turned 135°
  - Elarge blue hexagon turned 180°
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 8. A. Rule: the same pattern, not the same shape or colour. Every one is dotted. It does not matter what shape or colour it is — dotted is the rule.
PICTURES · PAPER FOLDING
1. 9.
  The paper is folded, and holes are punched through it. Which picture shows the paper opened up?
  - A2 holes: row 2, column 1; row 3, column 1
  - B4 holes: row 2, column 1; row 2, column 3; row 3, column 1; row 3, column 3
  - C4 holes: row 2, column 1; row 2, column 4; row 3, column 1; row 3, column 4
  - D4 holes: row 3, column 1; row 3, column 4; row 4, column 1; row 4, column 4
  - E2 holes: row 2, column 1; row 2, column 4
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 9. C. Rule: unfold and mirror. The paper was folded once, so unfolding puts a matching hole on the other side of the fold line, the same distance from it.

Grade 3 · Level 9

From Level 9 a child reads the words and numbers themselves. Ask them to name the rule before you check.

WORDS · VERBAL ANALOGIES
1. 1.
  key → unlock
  oven →
  Key is to unlock as oven is to ____
  - Adown
  - Bclothes
  - Cteacher
  - Dsock
  - Ebake
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 1. E — bake. Rule: a thing and what it does. A key is for unlocking. An oven is for baking, the same way.
WORDS · SENTENCE COMPLETION
1. 2.
  Bread in a hot oven.
  Bread ______ in a hot oven.
  - Abakes
  - Bflies
  - Cbarks
  - Dswims
  - Ereads
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 2. A — bakes. Rule: the word that is really true of it. Bread bakes in a hot oven — that is the one that is really true of it.
WORDS · VERBAL CLASSIFICATION
1. 3.
  yellow · purple · brown · ?
  Yellow, purple, brown ______
  - Acircle
  - Bblue
  - Cpaint
  - Drainbow
  - Eshade
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 3. B — blue. Rule: they are all colours. Yellow, purple and brown are all colours. Blue belongs with them for the same reason.
NUMBERS · NUMBER ANALOGIES
1. 4.
  10→12
  8→10
  13→?
  10 becomes 12, 8 becomes 10, so 13 becomes ____
  - A10
  - B11
  - C12
  - D14
  - E15
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 4. E — 15. Rule: add the same number each time. 10 plus 2 is 12. 13 plus 2 is 15 — the same rule both times.
NUMBERS · NUMBER SERIES
1. 5.
  14414414?
  14 4 14 4 14 ____
  - A4
  - B5
  - C6
  - D10
  - E14
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 5. A — 4. Rule: a repeating pattern. The numbers 14 and 4 take turns, over and over.
NUMBERS · NUMBER PUZZLES
1. 6.
  13 − = 4
  13 − ____ = 4
  - A9
  - B10
  - C11
  - D12
  - E17
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 6. A — 9. Rule: find the missing number. 13 − 9 makes 4. Check it: 13 − 9 = 4.
PICTURES · FIGURE MATRICES
1. 7.
  →
  →?
  large striped green pentagon turned 135° becomes large outline green pentagon turned 135°. What does 2 small dotted green triangles turned 270° become?
  - A3 small outline green triangles turned 270°
  - B2 small outline green triangles turned 270°
  - C2 small striped green triangles turned 270°
  - D2 small outline green pentagons turned 270°
  - E2 small dotted green triangles turned 270°
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 7. B. Rule: the pattern changes. The shape becomes outline. Everything else stays the same.
PICTURES · FIGURE CLASSIFICATION
1. 8.
  +?
  2 large dotted green hexagons turned 315°, 2 striped purple hexagons turned 135° and 2 orange hexagons. Which one belongs with them?
  - A2 large striped blue triangles turned 270°
  - Bsmall striped green pentagon
  - C3 striped blue circles turned 225°
  - D2 dotted orange pentagons turned 270°
  - E2 large striped blue hexagons turned 315°
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 8. E. Rule: the same shape. Every one is a hexagon, whatever its size, colour or pattern.
PICTURES · PAPER FOLDING
1. 9.
  A 6 by 6 sheet of paper: the left half folded over onto the right. Then one hole is punched through all the layers at row 4, column 6 of the grid. Which picture shows the paper unfolded?
  - A2 holes: row 3, column 6; row 4, column 6
  - B4 holes: row 3, column 1; row 3, column 6; row 4, column 1; row 4, column 6
  - C1 hole: row 4, column 6
  - D2 holes: row 5, column 1; row 5, column 6
  - E2 holes: row 4, column 1; row 4, column 6
Show the answer and the ruleThe answer
1. 9. E. Rule: unfold and mirror. The paper was folded once, so unfolding puts a matching hole on the other side of the fold line, the same distance from it.

What these show, and what they don't

One question of each kind. On the real test each subtest is timed separately, at about ten minutes.
The answer and the rule behind it. Saying why is the part that builds reasoning; getting the answer by luck doesn’t.
No score. The CogAT reports a Standard Age Score, where 100 is typical for a child’s age, and there is no national pass mark: each district decides what it looks at.

The full set of each kind, at every grade from kindergarten to grade 5, is in the app, where the cub reads the youngest puzzles aloud and a missed puzzle comes back until it sticks. More about the CogAT.

Questions parents ask

Are these real CogAT questions?
No. Every question here was written for Cub Climb, and none is a copy or a close imitation of a real CogAT question; we have never seen a real test form. They are the same nine kinds of question the CogAT uses, so a child can see what each kind asks.
Which CogAT level is kindergarten?
Level 5/6 is kindergarten, Level 7 is grade 1, Level 8 is grade 2 and Level 9 is grade 3. The kinds of question stay the same; what changes is how hard they are and, from Level 9, that a child reads them.
My child can’t read yet. Can they do the CogAT?
Yes. Levels 5/6, 7 and 8, kindergarten to grade 2, are almost entirely pictures, with the directions read aloud. The questions above work the same way: read the question, and your child points to a picture.
What CogAT score gets a child into a gifted program?
There is no national pass mark. The CogAT reports a Standard Age Score (100 is typical for a child’s age), a percentile and a stanine, and each district decides which scores, and what else, it looks at.

Build the reasoning, not the test

Short, original puzzles with words, numbers and shapes. Your child answers, then names the rule.

Android: coming soon

Or print free reasoning worksheets, kindergarten to grade 5.

CogAT is a trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC. Cub Climb is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the publisher or to any school district, and promises no score or placement.