Gifted Tests Comparison: CogAT, OLSAT, NNAT, SCAT, CAT4, and CCAT
Parents searching for a gifted test comparison often encounter the same names: CogAT, OLSAT, NNAT, SCAT, CAT4, and CCAT. These assessments overlap in some reasoning skills, but they are not interchangeable.
The correct test is the one selected by the school, district, school board, admissions office, or programme. This comparison is intended to help families understand the differences before interpreting scores or choosing preparation.
Do not choose the test yourself:
Confirm the complete assessment name, edition, level, purpose, and preparation policy with the organisation administering it. Similar names and overlapping question formats do not mean that two tests use the same scoring, norms, or decision rules.
Optional TestPrep-Online preparation:
When your school permits practice, families can review TestPrep-Online gifted test resources, TestPrep-Online Family Membership and TestPrep-Online CogAT practice packs. Confirm the assessment, grade or level, current pack contents, access terms, and school policy before purchasing.
Gifted Tests at a Glance
| Test | Main focus | Typical school range | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CogAT | Verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning | K–12 | School screening, instructional planning, gifted identification |
| OLSAT | Verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative cognitive abilities | K–12 | School ability testing and gifted screening |
| NNAT | Nonverbal general ability | K–12 | Group screening with reduced language demands |
| SCAT | Above-grade-level verbal and quantitative reasoning | Grades 2–12 | Johns Hopkins CTY course qualification |
| CAT4 | Verbal, quantitative, non-verbal, and spatial reasoning | Primary through secondary school | UK and international educational planning, admissions, and placement |
| Canadian CCAT-7 | Verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning | School-selected levels | Canadian school-board screening and planning |
Grade availability does not mean that every school uses the assessment in every grade.
CogAT Versus OLSAT
CogAT and OLSAT are both group-administered cognitive assessments used in school settings, but their structures and reporting systems differ.
| CogAT | OLSAT |
|---|---|
| Three batteries: verbal, quantitative, nonverbal | Verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative content clusters |
| Current publisher offers Forms 7 and 8 | Current publisher edition is OLSAT 8 |
| Complete and screening configurations are available | Seven levels, A through G |
| Reports may include battery scores, composite, SAS, percentiles, stanines, and ability profile | Reports may include School Ability Index, percentiles, stanines, NCE, and scaled scores |
| Often used to examine differences across three reasoning domains | Designed to place achievement results into a wider school-ability context |
The tests can assess related reasoning processes, but a CogAT score cannot be converted directly into an OLSAT score.
CogAT Versus NNAT
The largest difference is breadth.
CogAT includes verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal batteries. NNAT focuses on nonverbal general ability through visual items.
NNAT may be useful when a school wants to reduce the influence of vocabulary and reading. CogAT provides a broader profile across three symbol systems.
A student could perform strongly on NNAT while showing a different result on CogAT Verbal or Quantitative. That does not make either score automatically wrong. The tests provide different information.
OLSAT Versus NNAT
OLSAT contains substantial verbal and broader cognitive content. NNAT uses pictorial directions and visual reasoning.
| OLSAT | NNAT |
|---|---|
| Verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative tasks | Nonverbal visual reasoning |
| Language and following directions may strongly influence some tasks | Spoken and written language demands are reduced |
| Main standard score may be School Ability Index | Main standard score may be Nonverbal Ability Index |
| Seven levels | NNAT3 levels matched to grade ranges |
Some preparation providers bundle OLSAT and NNAT because both appear in gifted-screening contexts. Families should still prepare only for the assessment confirmed by the school.
CogAT Versus CAT4
CogAT and CAT4 both assess several kinds of reasoning.
CogAT uses verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal batteries. CAT4 uses verbal, quantitative, non-verbal, and spatial batteries.
CAT4 is especially common in the United Kingdom and international schools. CogAT is widely used in US school systems.
CAT4 reports commonly use Standard Age Scores, percentiles, stanines, and battery profiles. CogAT reports may also use Standard Age Scores, percentiles, stanines, composites, and ability profiles, but the scales and norms belong to different assessments.
A score of 100 on one test should not be treated as identical evidence to a score of 100 on another without examining the publisher’s scale and report.
CogAT Versus Canadian CCAT-7
CogAT and the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test both use verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning batteries.
They are separate assessments from different publishers and use different levels, norms, administration procedures, and score reports.
The abbreviation CCAT can also refer to the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test used for employment. That test is unrelated to the Canadian school assessment.
Read the Canadian CCAT-7 guide for school-board preparation restrictions and gifted-screening examples.
SCAT Versus School Gifted Screeners
SCAT has a different purpose from most school-based gifted screeners.
It is an above-grade-level verbal and quantitative reasoning test used by Johns Hopkins CTY to determine course eligibility.
Unlike CogAT, OLSAT, NNAT, CAT4, or CCAT, SCAT is not usually selected by a child’s school for whole-grade gifted screening. Families generally register through CTY.
SCAT also reports verbal and quantitative results separately and intentionally presents material designed for older students.
Which Tests Have the Lowest Language Demand?
NNAT is specifically designed as a nonverbal measure with pictorial directions and minimal spoken or written language in the items.
Nonverbal sections also appear in:
- CogAT;
- OLSAT;
- CAT4;
- Canadian CCAT-7.
However, a complete administration of those tests may include verbal or quantitative sections with greater language demands.
SCAT includes verbal analogies and therefore requires vocabulary and understanding of word relationships.
A lower language demand does not mean that a test is completely culture-free or unaffected by experience.
Which Tests Include Quantitative Reasoning?
Quantitative reasoning appears in:
- CogAT;
- OLSAT;
- SCAT;
- CAT4;
- Canadian CCAT-7.
NNAT is nonverbal and does not report a separate quantitative battery.
Quantitative reasoning is not the same as a classroom mathematics achievement test. It often focuses on relationships, patterns, comparison, and applying rules.
Which Tests Include Spatial Reasoning?
CAT4 reports a separate Spatial Ability battery.
CogAT, NNAT, OLSAT, and CCAT may include visual or figural tasks requiring mental transformation, but their official battery structures and score reports differ.
Parents should not assume that any visual puzzle is measuring exactly the same construct across tests.
How Do the Score Names Differ?
| Test | Common score terms |
|---|---|
| CogAT | Standard Age Score, percentile, stanine, battery scores, composite, ability profile |
| OLSAT | School Ability Index, age percentile, grade percentile, stanine, NCE, scaled score |
| NNAT | Nonverbal Ability Index, percentile, stanine |
| SCAT | Verbal and quantitative scaled scores, CTY eligibility information |
| CAT4 | Standard Age Score, National Percentile Rank, stanine, battery profile, mean score |
| Canadian CCAT-7 | Percentiles, stanines, battery scores, composite, cognitive profile |
The same number can mean different things on different scales.
Never compare:
- a percentile with a percentage correct;
- an OLSAT SAI with an NNAT NAI as though they were the same test;
- a SCAT scaled score with a CAT4 SAS;
- a composite with a single battery score;
- an age percentile with a grade percentile without checking the comparison group.
Which Test Is Best for Gifted Identification?
There is no universal best test.
The most appropriate assessment depends on:
- the purpose of testing;
- the population being screened;
- language and access considerations;
- grade;
- local identification policy;
- whether the school wants a broad profile or a focused nonverbal measure;
- whether achievement and teacher evidence are also available;
- the programme for which eligibility is being considered.
A fair process often uses several sources of evidence rather than one score.
Which Test Is Most Appropriate for English Language Learners?
A school may select a nonverbal assessment such as NNAT or place greater weight on nonverbal information from a broader battery.
However, the appropriate decision requires more than choosing the test with the fewest words.
Schools should also consider:
- language of administration;
- accessible directions;
- opportunity to learn;
- disability-related needs;
- local validation and policy;
- multiple measures;
- how cut scores are applied.
Parents can ask how the process prevents students from being overlooked because of language background.
Which Test Should My Child Prepare For?
When the school permits practice, families can review TestPrep-Online gifted test resources or compare options with TestPrep-Online Family Membership. Confirm the grade or level, current pack contents, access terms, and school policy before purchasing.
Use only the assessment confirmed by the school or programme.
Before selecting a resource, confirm:
- complete test name;
- publisher and edition;
- form;
- grade or level;
- batteries or sections;
- test date;
- preparation policy;
- administration format;
- current product contents;
- access and refund terms.
A family expecting several assessments or preparing more than one child may compare individual packs with the Family Membership.
Compare preparation options:
When the school permits practice, families can review the current TestPrep-Online gifted test resources. For broader access across tests and up to three learner profiles, review our independent explanation of the Family Membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are CogAT and CCAT the same?
No. CogAT and the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test are separate school assessments. The Criteria CCAT is a third, unrelated employment test.
Are OLSAT and NNAT the same?
No. OLSAT includes verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative content. NNAT focuses on nonverbal general ability.
Is SCAT a gifted test?
SCAT is an above-grade-level reasoning test used by Johns Hopkins CTY for course eligibility. It is different from a school district’s universal gifted screener.
Which test is nonverbal?
NNAT is a dedicated nonverbal assessment. Other tests may include nonverbal batteries or sections.
Can scores be converted between tests?
Not directly. Each assessment uses its own norms, scales, forms, and reporting rules.
Does a high score guarantee gifted placement?
No. Local criteria vary, and many programmes consider several sources of evidence.
Compare school and gifted assessments
Read individual guides for CogAT, OLSAT, NNAT and SCAT, plus achievement hubs such as MAP Growth, CAT4 and Canadian CCAT. Use the parent guide and Family Membership when preparing for more than one test. Optional practice: TestPrep-Online gifted test resources, TestPrep-Online Family Membership and TestPrep-Online CogAT practice packs.