What is the CogAT test for sixth graders? What should my child expect on their exam? How should I help them prepare? These are just some of the many questions that may be running through your mind as you think about helping your sixth grader prepare to take their CogAT exam, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
In this article, we’ll help you understand what you should expect from the sixth grade level of the CogAT exam. We’ll provide you with our favorite tips and tricks to help your child crush their exam, as well as break down the structure of the test for you. Don’t worry; we’re here to help!
What Exactly is the 6th Grade CogAT?
What Exactly is the 6th Grade CogAT?The sixth-grade CogAT is one of the many CogAT exams administered to students across the country. CogAT is divided into 18 levels, and the level that corresponds with sixth grade is level 12. This means that your sixth grader will likely take a level 12 CogAT to test into their advanced or accelerated academic program.
The level 12 CogAT exam takes 90 minutes to complete all three batteries or parts. It consists of 176 questions spread out across the three batteries. Just as with all other CogAT exams, the batteries are quantitative, non-verbal, and verbal. We’ll go more into the batteries later on.
How is the 6th Grade CogAT Test Structured?
The sixth grade, level 12 CogAT, is structured just like every other CogAT test, with the test divided into three batteries or sections. Each battery contains a different number of questions which will be focused around the main theme. These are the batteries and their specific number of questions for the level 12 CogAT:
Verbal Battery: 64 Questions
In the verbal battery, students will be asked questions relating to words. They will have to complete analogies between words, and this will account for 24 of the questions. Students will have 20 sentence completion questions to answer. The final section in this battery is the verbal classification, where students will have to figure out what word best fits with the group of words given, and again, there will be 20 of these questions.
Quantitative Battery: 52 Questions
The quantitative battery focuses on relationships between shapes and numbers and will include some basic math. Students will start with number pairings, where they will answer 18 questions completing analogies using numbers instead of words. Next, they will answer 16 number puzzle questions where they will complete basic math functions. The final section in this battery is the number series, where students will have to determine the pattern or relationship and pick the last number in line. They will have 18 of these questions to answer.
Nonverbal Battery: 60 Questions
The nonverbal battery focuses primarily on more abstract relationships between shapes but does include some number relations. The first section is figure matrices, where students will figure out the relationship between numbers located in a 2×2 grid in order to complete the grid. They will have 22 of these questions. The next section is the paper folding section, where students must be able to see an image of a folded paper and visualize what it would look like unfolded. There will be 16 questions in this part. The final section of this battery consists of 22 questions on figure classification.
How to Get Ready for the CogAT Test?
Here are our favorite tips to help you get your child ready for their level 12 CogAT test:
Invest in a study book
With so many different levels of CogAT being offered and so many books on the market, it is essential that you find a CogAT book for sixth grade or one that is specific to the level 12 test. Since each level of the CogAT is different, it won’t make sense for your child to study with a book that does not correlate to their grade level.
Companies like Gifted and Talented Test Prep publish books that are specifically geared towards each level of the CogAT, but they are not alone in that. Take some time to find a book that will work best for you and your child. Make sure it has a few practice tests and many practice questions, but you can always supplement these from other sources if you find the perfect book.
Take lots of practice tests and practice questions
Practice tests are a great way for your student to get comfortable taking the CogAT level 12. They allow your child to practice sitting still and focusing on the test for 90 minutes, which can be a real challenge for many students. Just keep in mind that your child likely won’t do amazing the first time they sit down and take a practice test, but don’t let them get discouraged. With practice and understanding, they will get better.
Practice questions are another great tool to help increase your CogAT scores. They allow you to work through various questions to allow your child to see as many possible questions as they can. By being familiar with all the types of questions they will see on the CogAT, your child is much less likely to feel completely stumped or blindsided by anything they come across on the actual test. You could even turn practice questions on paper folding for the sixth-grade CogAT into a game! Get creative with it!
Teach your child good self-care practices
Yes, it is important to study the material that will be on the test, but you can’t overlook the physical and mental strain associated with taking a 90-minute test. Your job as a parent is to help your child learn how to take care of themselves while preparing for a significant test. This is a skill that they will need for the rest of their academic career.
Make sure your child is eating lots of good food, getting lots of exercise, drinking enough water, and getting enough sleep. If you aren’t helping them take care of their body, which feeds their brain, they won’t be able to function at their highest capacity come the day of the test. This is an essential part of test preparation and should not be overlooked.
CogAT Practice Test for Grade 6
CogAT test prep is important at all ages but can feel more important as your child gets older and is able to take more responsibility for their own preparation. When taking one of the CogAT tests for middle schoolers, either level 12, 13, or 14, it is important to help your child prepare while not creating stress.
There are lots of ways to help your child study, but one of the best ways is by getting your hands on a CogAT practice test. With so many options out there, it can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. More and more reputable free CogAT practice tests are available, so don’t knock a practice test out of the running just because it is free.
Wrapping Things Up: What is CogAT Test for 6th Grade?
From understanding what is covered on the CogAT level 12 sixth grade exam to providing you with our best tips and tricks, we hope that we have answered your questions about your child’s upcoming test. It takes time to prepare for these tests, but don’t worry. Just by being there and supporting your child, you are already well on your way to helping them crush the CogAT sixth grade exam!
