All incoming NOVA students take a Cognitive Abilities Test, or CogAT.

Why the CogAT?

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a nationally normed assessment used throughout the country to screen students for highly capable/gifted programs. It is not an IQ test. It measures learned reasoning and problem-solving skills in three different areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. This assessment indicates how the applicant thinks and manages information and, combined with other information, helps predict NOVA’s capacity to serve the applicant through the middle school years.