FCS TAG & CogAT — Parent FAQs
Key dates for FCS families
- August–September 2026: Automatic screening - TAG teachers review current achievement and other qualifying data for all students.
- September 29–October 16, 2026: Fall TAG testing window - Current Fulton elementary school guidance lists the fall TAG testing window for students referred through automatic screening.
- End of first semester: Classroom screening (CISS) - Districtwide 10-day classroom screening window using the Characteristics Instrument for Screening Students (CISS).
- February 23–March 11, 2027: Spring TAG testing window - Current Fulton elementary school guidance lists the spring TAG testing window for students referred through classroom screening.
FCS publishes the systemwide screening rules centrally; exact testing dates are communicated by schools. The fall and spring windows shown above are from current Fulton elementary TAG guidance for 2026–27.
How Does Automatic Screening Work in 2026–27?
Grades K–8: students at or above the 90th percentile on current-year i-Ready Reading or Mathematics may be considered with supporting data.
Grades K–3: students at or above the 90th percentile on the current-year Amira assessment may be considered.
Grades 3–9: Distinguished (Level 4) performance in Reading or Mathematics on the previous year's Georgia Milestones may be considered with supporting data.
Students still need supporting evidence before they are formally referred for gifted testing.
Where Does CogAT Fit?
Once a student is referred for gifted testing and parent consent is received, FCS gathers evidence in four areas: mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Current Fulton school guidance identifies CogAT as one of the standardized assessments that may be used to provide mental-ability data during this evaluation.
This distinction matters for parents: unlike Cobb County, Fulton does not currently administer CogAT universally to all students in a particular elementary grade. CogAT preparation is most relevant when a family has been notified that the child is moving forward to formal TAG testing and CogAT will be part of that assessment battery.
For more information, visit the FCS Talented and Gifted (TAG) page.
How Does TAG Eligibility Work?
Georgia gifted eligibility is based on multiple categories rather than a single test score. Fulton evaluates mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Students must meet the applicable state/FCS criteria for eligibility; qualifying performance in three of the four areas is a common route to eligibility.
Parents receive consent-to-test paperwork before formal testing. After testing, families receive results, and students who meet state eligibility requirements are placed in TAG with parental consent.
What Happens if My Child Qualifies?
- Elementary students may receive gifted resource services at their home school, commonly one day per week.
- TAG instruction emphasizes higher-order thinking, creative problem-solving, advanced communication, research, and interdisciplinary learning.
- Fulton also provides differentiated instruction and other advanced opportunities depending on grade level and school.
What Does CogAT Measure?
- Verbal reasoning: relationships among words and ideas
- Quantitative reasoning: number relationships, patterns, and mathematical problem-solving
- Nonverbal reasoning: figure patterns, matrices, classification, and spatial thinking
CogAT Testing Format
The CogAT assesses your child's cognitive development in three key areas: verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal abilities. Rather than focusing on academic knowledge, it evaluates reasoning skills that your child uses to solve problems and think critically.
Note: There are some variances in the testing format for students in grades 3 and up. If your child is in grades 3–5, click on the Level 3–5 tab below to learn more about the test format for those grades.
This section assesses your child's ability to understand and use language. It includes the following three sections:
Picture Analogies
Picture Classification
Sentence Completion
Which CogAT level should my child prepare for?
CogAT is given only to students referred for formal TAG evaluation when it is part of the assessment battery. The CogAT level for each grade is determined by the school district. Based on recommendations from Riverside Insights, the following table shows typical CogAT levels by grade:
| Grade | CogAT Level |
|---|---|
| Grade K | Level 5/6 |
| Grade I | Level 7 |
| Grade II | Level 8 |
| Grade III | Level 9 |
| Grade IV | Level 10 |
| Grade V | Level 11 |
| Grade VI | Level 12 |
| Grade VII | Level 13 |
| Grade VIII | Level 14 |
Please confirm that CogAT is included in your child's TAG testing battery and verify the correct CogAT level with FCS or your child's school before beginning preparation.
How to Prepare for FCS TAG CogAT Testing
Because CogAT is not Fulton's universal first-step screener, confirm the actual testing battery with your school before beginning CogAT-specific preparation. If CogAT will be used, help your child build broad reasoning skills rather than memorizing a single question type.
- Confirm that your child has been referred for formal TAG testing and that CogAT is part of the battery.
- Practice verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning formats rather than memorizing answers.
- Use age-appropriate analogies, classifications, number patterns, matrices, and visual-spatial puzzles.
- Review missed questions so your child understands the reasoning behind the correct answer.
- Continue strengthening reading and mathematics because TAG screening also uses i-Ready, Amira, and Georgia Milestones data.
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If your child has been referred for Fulton TAG testing and CogAT will be used, AceGiftedTest can help build familiarity with verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning formats. Students receive unlimited full-length practice, detailed explanations, video tutorials, AI assistance, and personalized practice focused on weak areas. Because CogAT is not Fulton's universal first-step screener, families should confirm the actual testing battery with their school before beginning CogAT-specific preparation. No preparation program can guarantee TAG identification.
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Quick FAQs
Does Fulton County Schools use CogAT? Yes. CogAT may be used as a mental-ability measure during formal TAG evaluation, but it is not the universal first-step screener for elementary students in 2026–27.
Does every Fulton elementary student take CogAT? No. All students are screened for TAG, but the initial screening uses existing achievement and classroom data. Only referred students proceed to additional gifted testing.
When does TAG testing occur? Current school guidance lists fall testing September 29–October 16, 2026 and spring testing February 23–March 11, 2027; families should confirm exact dates with their school.
Can parents refer a child? Reported referrals, including parent referrals, are processed through the two system-level screening cycles and require supporting data before formal testing.
Should I use CogAT prep immediately? First confirm that CogAT is included in your child's formal TAG testing battery. If it is, CogAT-specific practice becomes directly relevant.
Official FCS resources
Last reviewed: 2026-08-18
Help your child prepare for FCS testing
AceGiftedTest offers CogAT-style practice across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal sections so students build familiarity with question formats if CogAT is part of FCS TAG evaluation.
Get started with AceGiftedTestCognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®) is a registered trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC. AceGiftedTest and its parent, Lumina Ed, are not affiliated with Riverside Insights, nor is the content on this site promoted or endorsed by Riverside or its affiliates.
AceGiftedTest and its parent company, Lumina Ed, are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Fulton County Schools (FCS). TAG identification, CogAT and other gifted assessments, screening windows, and related policies are set by FCS and the Georgia Department of Education and may change each school year. Families should verify details with their child's school and on official FCS websites.