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What tests do you use for placement?

The CogAT measures how students process information to reach a solution, and results are based upon each student’s level of cognitive development. Questions require reasoning skills and are not academic in nature.  The Star Assessments and Iowa Assessments measure skills that are taught and practiced in school. 

1st Grade through 11th Grade

Cognitive Abilities Test 7 (CogAT 7)

For Grades 1-11

The Cognitive Abilities Test 7 measures general and specific reasoning abilities in three areas.  The CogAT is administered at one grade level above the student’s grade of enrollment.  This assessment includes the following subtests:

  • Verbal – The CogAT Verbal Battery is used to assess a student’s vocabulary, efficiency and verbal memory, ability to determine word relationships, and the ability to comprehend ideas. The CogAT Verbal test is comprised of three subtests. For lower levels, these subtests are: Sentence Completion, Picture Classification, and Picture Analogies. For higher levels, these three subtests are: Sentence Completion, Verbal Classification, and Verbal Analogies. These three subtests combined make up the CogAT Verbal score.
  • Nonverbal – The CogAT Nonverbal Battery is used to assess a student’s reasoning abilities through the use of spatial and figural content. There is no reading required to complete the CogAT Nonverbal test. These three subtests are: Figure Matrices, Paper Folding, and Figure Classification. These three subtests combined make up the CogAT Nonverbal score.
  • Quantitative –  The CogAT Quantitative Battery assesses students’ quantitative reasoning and problem solving abilities. This section also evaluates the students’ level of abstract reasoning. The CogAT Quantitative Battery is comprised of three subtests: Number Series, Number Puzzles, and Number Analogies. These three subtests combined make up the CogAT Quantitative score.

The CogAT is a paper and pencil test.  First graders bubble the answer directly into the booklet and students in grades 2 – 11 use a separate bubble sheet on which they record their answers. View an example

CogAT 7 Testing Level

Listed below is the test level that we use for your child’s current grade (testing in winter) or for the grade that your child just completed (testing in summer). Please note that the table below represents a test level one grade level above the grade of enrollment. Each subtest is timed at 10 minutes for students in grades 2 – 11. A small break is given after each battery (three 10 minute subtests).

Grade Level Method
1 8 Teacher read, paced*
*up to 15 minutes each subtest
2 9 Student read, timed
3 10 Student read, timed
4 11 Student read, timed
5 12 Student read, timed
6 13 Student read, timed
7 14 Student read, timed
8 15 Student read, timed
9 16 Student read, timed
10 17 Student read, timed
11 18 Student read, timed

CogAT Form 7 Batteries

Battery Subtests
Verbal Picture/Verbal Analogies
Sentence Completion
Picture/Verbal Classification
Quantitative Number Analogies
Number Series
Number Puzzles
Nonverbal Figure Matrices
Figure Classifications
Paper Folding

Star Assessments

For Grades 1-8

The Star Assessments are used to measure reading and math achievement. Star Assessments are computer-based and adaptive, which adjusts the difficulty of questions throughout the assessment based upon students’ responses.  Star is highly rated in regard to reliability, validity, and generalizability, especially for diverse populations. This assessment includes the following subtests:

  • Reading – The program uses traditional reading comprehension passages to assess forty-six reading skills across eleven domains.  The assessment consists of approximately thirty questions. Students are tested on foundational reading skills, literature components, reading informational text, and language.  Students have one minute to answer each question before the program automatically moves them to the next question. The program is adaptive, so the difficulty will increase or decrease based on how a student performs.
    Star Reading Sample Test Items (PDF)
  • Mathematics – The program assesses 49 sets of math skills in 11 domains for grades one through eight. The domains include counting and cardinality, ratios and proportional relationships, operations and algebraic thinking, the number system, geometry, measurement and data, expressions and equations, numbers and operations in base 10, fractions, statistics and probability, and functions. Students have one minute to answer each question before the program automatically moves them to the next question. The program is adaptive, so the difficulty will increase or decrease based on how a student performs. Star Math Sample Test Items (PDF)

The Star test is completed on a laptop with a mouse both at school and when testing with the Advanced Learning Office.

Star Testing Level

The Star is administered at grade level, because it is adaptive, thus moving students to higher level questions based upon successful completion of grade level questions. Each subtest (Reading and Mathematics) is timed at 30 minutes for students in grades 1 – 8.

Advanced Learning collects score data from the three most recent Star test events, if available.

BSD students in grades 3 – 5 take Star Reading in the Fall, Winter and Spring of each year.  Students in grades 6 – 8 take it in the Fall and Spring of each year.

BSD students in grades 1 – 5 take the Star Math in the Fall, Winter and Spring of each year (Star Math is optional for 1st graders in the Fall).

The Star Reading and Math Assessments will be administered to private/home-school students in grades 2 – 8 on their assigned test date.

Iowa Assessments

For Grades 9-11

The Iowa Assessments are used to measure reading and math achievement.  The Iowa is administered at one grade level above the student’s grade of enrollment.  This assessment includes the following subtests:

  • Reading – Reading includes the following sub-categories, each progressing in difficulty as test levels increase:
    • Literary Text
    • Informational Text
    • Vocabulary
    • Explicit Meaning
    • Implicit Meaning
    • Key Ideas
    • Author’s Craft
  • Mathematics – The Mathematics subtest contains these same sub-categories in every level:
    • Number Sense and Operations
    • Algebraic Patterns and Connections
    • Data Analysis, Probability, & Statistics
    • Geometry
    • Measurement

The Iowa is a paper and pencil test.  Students use a separate bubble sheet on which they record their answers.

Learn more on the Riverside Insights Website.

Iowa Testing Level

Listed below is the test level that we use for your child’s current grade (testing in winter) or for the grade that your child just completed (testing in summer). Please note that the table below represents a test level one grade level above the grade of enrollment. Each subtest (Reading and Mathematics) is timed at 40 minutes for students in grades 9 – 11. A small break is given after each subtest.

Grade Level Method
9 16 Student read, timed
10 17 Student read, timed
11 18 Student read, timed
Advanced Learning
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