Verbal Battery
CogAT Sentence Completion, Explained
A sentence (read aloud in early grades) is missing its ending or key idea; your child picks the option that completes it logically. It measures listening comprehension and reasoning about meaning.
A worked example
Example: You use an umbrella when it is — ? (sunny, raining, quiet, green)
Show the answer and reasoning
Answer: raining
Listen for what the sentence is really about — what umbrellas are FOR. Two options may sound plausible in some situation; the best answer fits the sentence's own logic, not a story you could invent around it.
An original Archer Anthem illustration of the format — on the assessment these appear as pictures for young test-takers.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an option that is true in general but doesn't complete this sentence
- Losing the beginning of a spoken sentence — attention drift, not ability
Parent tip: Play finish-my-sentence in the car with silly and serious endings — the skill is holding a sentence in mind while judging endings.
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.