Gifted & Talented (GATE) Test Prep & Free Practice
Choose a grade for mixed gifted-test practice when you do not yet know which assessment your child’s school uses.
Choose a grade
Mixed reasoning practiceStart gifted and talented test prep with the right test
“Gifted and talented” describes a program, not one national exam. Ask your school for the assessment name, level and testing date. Then choose practice that introduces those question formats.
If your school names CogAT
Explore word and picture relationships, number reasoning and visual patterns across its three batteries.
If your school names NNAT
Start with visual relationships, missing patterns and spatial reasoning.
If your school says GATE
California districts choose their own identification measures. Confirm the assessment before choosing an exam-specific plan.
A short routine while you confirm the assessment
- Choose your child’s grade above and try a few mixed reasoning questions together.
- Ask your child to explain one answer. Was the difficult part understanding the instruction, noticing the pattern or choosing between options?
- Open the explanation and work through the rule together. Keep sessions short and comfortable.
- Once the school confirms the test, use its named formats to choose the next practice session.
Try one picture relationship
Ice cream pairs with a tongue because we taste it. A flower pairs with a nose because we smell it. Both pairs connect an object to the sense used to experience it.
Choose a skill to explore
These are short samples of reasoning formats, not a full test or a placement assessment.
Start free in your browser
Every available sample above includes five free questions and explanations. Browse the questions and open each answer to review it with your child. No account or app download is needed.
For additional practice and progress features, Gifted Star runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple silicon Mac. The app is free to download and try; unlimited access is a paid upgrade. Explore the app’s practice features.
Practice Tests by Grade Level
Mixed reasoning practiceGifted & Talented (GATE) Test FAQ
The questions parents ask most when a school’s gifted test is not yet clear.
What is a gifted and talented test?
A gifted and talented test is an assessment a school or district may use during gifted-program identification. There is no single national gifted test. Schools may choose ability or achievement tests and may combine scores with teacher input, classroom performance, observations or student work.
What types of questions are on gifted and talented tests?
Gifted and talented tests may include figure matrices, pattern completion, analogies, classifications, sequences, spatial reasoning, number relationships or verbal reasoning. The exact question types depend on the assessment and grade. Mixed practice introduces several formats when the school’s test is not yet known.
What grade do students take gifted and talented tests?
Gifted and talented testing most often occurs in elementary school, especially in Grades 2 and 3 when many districts conduct universal screening. Some schools test in kindergarten or Grade 1, screen again in later elementary grades, or accept referrals through middle and high school. The exact grade and assessment vary, so check your school district’s gifted-program schedule.
How do I know which gifted test my child will take?
Ask your child’s teacher or the district’s gifted-program coordinator for the assessment name, edition, level and testing date. Common school ability tests include CogAT and NNAT, but policies vary. The school’s current testing notice is more reliable than a general grade chart.
What is the difference between the CogAT and NNAT tests?
CogAT uses Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal batteries, so students reason with words, numbers and figures. NNAT is nonverbal and uses abstract shapes and visual relationships. A district may use either test, another assessment or multiple measures during gifted identification.
How do I prepare my child for a gifted and talented test?
Confirm the test name first when possible, then use short practice sessions that match its directions and question formats. If the test is unknown, mix verbal, quantitative and visual reasoning. Start untimed, discuss the rule behind each answer, review mistakes and add pacing gradually.
Where can I find a free gifted and talented practice test?
Gifted Star offers free gifted and talented practice tests for kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2. Each Gifted & Talented (GATE) test combines five original quantitative and nonverbal reasoning questions with answers and explanations.
Gifted StarCogAT, NNAT & GATE Prep
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Practice thousands of expert-designed CogAT, NNAT & GATE questions across every grade and question type.
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