Verbal Battery
CogAT Picture/Verbal Classification, Explained
Three things belong together for a reason; your child picks a fourth that belongs with them (or spots the one that doesn't). It measures forming categories — the heart of verbal reasoning.
A worked example
Example: Apple, banana, grape go together. Which belongs with them — ? (carrot, orange, bread, milk)
Show the answer and reasoning
Answer: orange
Name the category the three share: fruits. Carrot is the classic trap — it's food and plant-grown, but the tightest category the three share is fruit, and orange fits it exactly.
An original Archer Anthem illustration of the format — on the assessment these appear as pictures for young test-takers.
Common mistakes
- Settling for a loose category ("they're all food") when a tighter one exists
- Matching on looks (color, size) when the grouping is about kind
Parent tip: Play "what goes together and why?" with groceries — insist on the because, and ask for a second reason when one comes easily.
The other CogAT subtests
Start from the beginning: the CogAT parent's guide · NNAT vs CogAT
CogAT practice books
Get free printable practice samples
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.