Nonverbal Battery
CogAT Figure Classification, Explained
Three figures share a rule — same shape family, same shading, same count of sides; your child picks the figure that follows the same rule. It is categorical thinking without words.
A worked example
Example: Three figures are shown: a striped triangle, a striped square, a striped circle. Which belongs with them — a white triangle, a striped star, or a dotted square?
Show the answer and reasoning
Answer: the striped star
The three figures differ in shape, so shape is NOT the rule — what they share is the striping. The white triangle tempts by matching a shape; but the rule the group actually shares is the pattern, so the striped star belongs.
An original Archer Anthem illustration of the format — on the assessment these appear as pictures for young test-takers.
Common mistakes
- Latching onto shape when the shared rule is shading, size, or count
- Picking an answer that matches ONE figure instead of the whole group's rule
Parent tip: Ask "what do all three have in common?" before showing answer choices — finding the rule first prevents the match-one-figure trap.
The other CogAT subtests
Start from the beginning: the CogAT parent's guide · NNAT vs CogAT
CogAT practice books
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Sample pages from our practice books by email — see the question style before you buy anything.
Get free samplesNNAT® (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test®) is a registered trademark of Pearson Education, Inc. CogAT® (Cognitive Abilities Test™) is a registered trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC. Neither Pearson nor Riverside is affiliated with, nor do they endorse, Archer Anthem. Archer Anthem materials are independent practice resources in the style of these assessments.