BCPS Advanced Academics & CogAT — Parent FAQs
Key dates for BCPS families
- Fall 2026–Winter 2027: Grade 2 CogAT screening - All Grade 2 students take the CogAT at their school. BCPS has not published one districtwide test date, so families should confirm the exact schedule with their school.
- Winter–Spring 2027: Review of Grade 2 results - School teams review Grade 2 CogAT results together with achievement data, classroom performance, teacher observations, and parent input.
- By May 1, 2027: Placement notification - Families are notified of recommendations for Grade 3 Advanced Academics placement.
- By mid-May 2027: Appeal deadline - Families wishing to appeal should submit the appeal to the Office of Advanced Academics.
Grade 5 students are reviewed separately for middle-school course recommendations. That process is not Grade 2 CogAT screening and is not the focus of this guide. Always confirm exact testing dates and timelines with your child's school.
Who Takes the CogAT?
All Grade 2 students take the CogAT as part of universal screening for Grade 3 Advanced Academics placement.
Students in later elementary grades may be reconsidered when new academic evidence shows a different level of need.
Students new to BCPS are reviewed so prior gifted identification and appropriate advanced placement can be considered.
How Does BCPS Use the CogAT?
BCPS administers the CogAT in Grade 2. The assessment measures learned reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal areas and helps school teams understand how a student approaches unfamiliar problems.
A Grade 2 score at or above the 90th age percentile on the verbal section supports identification for Grade 3 advanced English language arts, while a quantitative score at or above the 90th percentile supports Grade 3 Advanced Mathematics. Lower scores do not automatically exclude a student; the Review and Referral Team examines the complete body of evidence.
For more information, visit the BCPS Student Identification page.
How Does Identification and Placement Work?
Each school's Review and Referral Team considers several kinds of information, including CogAT, MAP or other achievement data, report card performance, advanced classroom tasks, teacher observations, and an optional parent survey.
The team recommends the instructional setting that best matches the student's demonstrated readiness and potential. Some students may also receive a short diagnostic placement so the school can observe whether an advanced course is the right fit.
What Happens if My Child Is Recommended?
English Language Arts: Students work in flexible groups that provide enrichment or accelerated learning with greater depth, complexity, and abstraction.
Grade 3 Mathematics: Students receive advanced opportunities and may begin selected Grade 4 standards during the final quarter.
Grade 4 Advanced Mathematics: Students learn essential Grade 4 content together with much of the Grade 5 curriculum.
What Does the CogAT Measure?
The CogAT measures how students reason and solve unfamiliar problems in three areas:
- Verbal reasoning: word relationships, analogies, and classification
- Quantitative reasoning: number relationships, patterns, and 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?
The CogAT level for each grade is determined by the school district. Based on recommendations from Riverside Insights, the following table shows the typical CogAT level for BCPS Grade 2 Advanced Academics screening:
| Grade | CogAT Level |
|---|---|
| Grade II | Level 8 |
Please confirm the correct CogAT level for your child with BCPS or your child's school before beginning preparation.
How to Prepare for BCPS CogAT Screening
Help your child prepare for the CogAT by building broad reasoning skills rather than memorizing a single question type.
- Practice verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning rather than memorizing answers.
- Use age-appropriate analogies, classifications, number patterns, and visual puzzles.
- Review missed questions so your child understands the reasoning behind the correct answer.
- Continue building classroom reading and mathematics skills because BCPS considers multiple forms of evidence.
- Use occasional timed practice to build attention, pacing, and confidence.
Practicing daily or every other day makes test-taking second nature to your child
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Learning about the types of questions that are asked in the test.
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Improving speed to make sure the test is completed in time.
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Quick FAQs
Does Baltimore County Public Schools use CogAT? Yes. BCPS administers CogAT in Grade 2 as part of universal Advanced Academics screening.
Are all Grade 2 students screened? Yes. Every Grade 2 student is reviewed through the universal screening process.
Does a CogAT score below the 90th percentile rule out advanced placement? No. BCPS explicitly reviews students with lower scores using the complete body of evidence.
When will families receive placement decisions? Under the current timeline, schools notify families by May 1.
Can parents appeal a recommendation? Yes. Appeals received by May 15 can be considered for placement at the beginning of the next school year.
Official BCPS resources
- BCPS — Advanced Academics/GT
- BCPS — Student Identification
- BCPS — Elementary Advanced Academics Programs and Services
Last reviewed: 2026-07-31
Help your child prepare for BCPS testing
AceGiftedTest offers CogAT-style practice across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal sections so students build familiarity with question formats before BCPS Advanced Academics screening.
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 Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). Advanced Academics identification, CogAT screening, placement recommendations, and appeal procedures are set by BCPS and may change each school year. Families should verify details with their child's school and on official BCPS websites.