CMS AIG & CogAT — Parent FAQs
Key dates for CMS families
- September 8–October 1, 2026: Grade 2 universal CogAT screening - All Grade 2 students participate in universal screening with CogAT. Students who meet district criteria continue with the Iowa Assessments.
- January 25–May 12, 2027: Grade 2 portfolio-scoring windows - CMS holds several Grade 2 portfolio-scoring windows for students who meet traditional, specific-factor, or new-to-CMS criteria.
- March 1–19, 2027: New-to-CMS Grade 2 CogAT makeup - New-to-CMS Grade 2 students who missed the fall screening may take CogAT; qualifying students continue with Iowa.
- April–May 2027: Grade 1 Gifted Rating Scales - All Grade 1 students complete the Gifted Rating Scales, beginning the screening process before Grade 2.
Schools administer assessments within the district windows. Please confirm exact testing dates and other information directly with your child's school.
What Supports Grade 2 Gifted Identification?
CogAT: administered to all Grade 2 students.
Iowa Assessments: for students who meet CMS follow-up criteria.
Gifted Rating Scales (GRS): a universal informal assessment completed in Grade 1 that begins the CMS screening process.
Portfolio review: an additional opportunity for qualifying students who are not identified through the initial measures.
How Does Gifted Identification Work?
CMS applies its 2025–2028 Gifted Identification Rubric to combine aptitude, achievement, and informal assessment data. Students may be identified as Academically Intellectually Gifted, Intellectually Gifted, Academically Gifted, Academically Gifted in Reading, or Academically Gifted in Mathematics.
CogAT contributes evidence about reasoning ability, but students can earn identification points through several pathways. The portfolio option gives qualifying Grade 2 students another way to demonstrate advanced learning characteristics.
For more information, visit the CMS Gifted Identification page.
What Happens if My Child Is Identified?
School-based AIG services: Identified students receive advanced instruction and differentiation matched to their area of strength, with support from AIG teachers and classroom teachers.
Learning Immersion/Talent Development (LI/TD): LI nurtures advanced potential, while the TD program serves identified gifted students in Grades 3–5 through rigorous, full-day instruction that emphasizes higher-level thinking, creativity, inquiry, and problem-solving.
Horizons: Students with exceptionally advanced academic and cognitive needs may be considered for Horizons, a highly accelerated program beginning in Grade 3. The program has separate, more selective eligibility criteria.
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 CMS Grade 2 gifted screening:
| Grade | CogAT Level |
|---|---|
| Grade II | Level 8 |
Please confirm the correct CogAT level for your child with CMS or your child's school before beginning preparation.
How to Prepare for CMS 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, matrices, and spatial puzzles.
- Review missed questions so your child understands the reasoning behind the correct answer.
- Continue building reading and mathematics skills because CMS uses both ability and achievement data.
- Use occasional timed practice to build attention, pacing, and confidence.
Practicing daily or every other day makes test-taking second nature to your child
More
Tests
Fewer
Mistakes
More
Confidence
Higher
Test Score
Test Preparation Journey
Familiarization
Learning about the types of questions that are asked in the test.
Learning
Knowing how to approach the question and what makes an answer correct.
Proficiency
Improving speed to make sure the test is completed in time.
Start practicing today!
SIGN UPWhy AceGiftedTest?
AceGiftedTest helps children strengthen the verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning skills measured on CogAT. Students receive unlimited full-length practice tests, detailed explanations, video tutorials, AI assistance, and personalized practice focused on individual weak areas. These activities also build broader analytical thinking, pattern recognition, and problem-solving abilities that support advanced learning across mathematics, reading, science, and other subjects.
Unlimited full-length CogAT practice tests
Generate unlimited full-length CogAT-style practice tests on the fly using AI so your child can build stamina with fresh verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions.
Personalized practice assignments
Our AI analyzes your child’s weak spots after each test and automatically creates personalized practice assignments so they can improve where it matters most.
Question-specific tutorial videos
Stuck on a tricky question type? Watch tutorial videos tailored to the exact kind of problem your child is working on—so concepts click faster.
Detailed solutions & AI help, anytime
Every question comes with detailed step-by-step solutions. Lumi, our friendly AI assistant, is always available to guide your child through tough problems without simply giving away the answer.
Quick FAQs
Does CMS use the CogAT? Yes. CogAT is one of the formal assessments used in the universal Grade 2 gifted screening process.
Does every Grade 2 student participate? Yes. The official 2026-27 assessment calendar identifies Grade 2 CogAT testing as universal screening at all CMS elementary schools with second graders.
Is CogAT the only factor in identification? No. CMS also considers achievement data, Gifted Rating Scales, and, for qualifying students, a portfolio.
When is Grade 2 CogAT testing? The official 2026-27 district window is September 8-October 1, 2026. Exact school testing dates may vary within that window.
Can students be screened after Grade 2? Yes. Students in Grades 3–12 may be referred for testing through the school's AIG Site-Based Committee.
Does gifted identification guarantee admission to LI/TD or Horizons? No. LI/TD choice schools and Horizons have separate participation or placement requirements.
Official CMS resources
Last reviewed: 2026-08-01
Help your child prepare for CMS testing
AceGiftedTest offers CogAT-style practice across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal sections so students build familiarity with question formats before CMS gifted 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 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). AIG identification, CogAT and Iowa Assessment screening, portfolio review, LI/TD, Horizons, and related policies are set by CMS and may change each school year. Families should verify details with their child's school and on official CMS websites.