Carroll ISD G/T Testing — Parent FAQs
Key dates for Carroll ISD families
- October: Grade 4 CogAT & Iowa Assessment - All 4th grade students will be automatically tested; no referral is needed. Results are used for 5th grade math and G/T placement.
- November 9–20: Grades 1–3 parent referral window - Parents must submit a referral form for their child to be tested.
- November 30 – December 11: Grades 1–3 testing window - Referred students in grades 1–3 are tested during this window.
Testing and referral dates are published annually by Carroll ISD and may change. Confirm the current school year's calendar on the district website or with your campus counselor before making plans.
Carroll ISD Gifted and Talented (G/T) Testing Process
Carroll ISD Gifted and Talented (G/T) Testing Process (Grade 4)
For students entering grade 4 this fall, Carroll ISD will automatically test for CogAT and Iowa in October.
What if my child is selected for the G/T program?
Students identified for Carroll ISD's Gifted & Talented program receive learning opportunities that go beyond the standard curriculum. In elementary school, students participate in Quest, where they develop advanced reasoning, creativity, research, and problem-solving skills through challenging projects and activities. In later grades, gifted services include advanced and subject-specific learning opportunities designed to promote critical thinking and academic growth.
For more information, visit the Carroll ISD Gifted and Talented page.
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. However, based on recommendations from Riverside Insights, the following table shows the typical CogAT level by grade:
| Grade | CogAT Level |
|---|---|
| Grade I | Level 7 |
| Grade II | Level 8 |
| Grade III | Level 9 |
| Grade IV | Level 10 |
| Grade V | Level 11 |
Please confirm the correct CogAT level for your child with Carroll ISD or your child's school before beginning preparation.
How to prepare for CogAT
“Practice not until you get it right, practice until you cannot get it wrong.”
- Take as many tests and practice as possible. One or two practice sessions are not enough. Practice regularly without long gaps—children forget—and the more full-length tests and questions your child completes, the fewer mistakes they are likely to make.
- Practice full-length timed tests to improve speed.
- Review weak or challenging questions and practice them more often to achieve mastery.
- Build confidence before test day.
Practicing daily or every other day makes test-taking second nature to your child
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Tests
Fewer
Mistakes
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Confidence
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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.
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Official Carroll ISD resources
- Carroll ISD — Testing for G/T and Math Placement
- Carroll ISD — Gifted and Talented Information
- Carroll ISD — Accountability & Assessment
Last reviewed: 2026-07-24
Help your child prepare for Carroll ISD testing
AceGiftedTest offers CogAT-style practice across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal sections so students build familiarity with question formats before test day.
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 Carroll Independent School District (Carroll ISD). Testing dates, referral windows, and placement policies are set by the district and may change each school year.