NNAT® articles
Basics
What is the NNAT® (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test)?
What the assessment measures, how it is administered, and what a result can and cannot tell you.
Question types
The four NNAT® question types
A parent-friendly guide to Pattern Completion, Reasoning by Analogy, Serial Reasoning, and Spatial Visualization.
Practice and prep
2nd grade NNAT® practice: what actually helps
What the 2nd grade NNAT looks like, how much practice is worth doing for a 7 or 8 year old, and when to start.
NNAT® · Practice and prepHow to prepare effectively for the NNAT®
A practical approach to format familiarity, explanations, short sessions, and complete timed practice.
Scores
What parents misunderstand about NNAT® scores
Percent correct, percentile, local cutoffs, and why the school’s process matters as much as the number itself.
Levels
NNAT® Level C vs Level D: what changes?
What changes between the 2nd grade screening level and the later elementary retake level.
Test week
A calm NNAT® test-week checklist
What to confirm with school, what to practice, and what to leave alone in the final days.
For every gifted test
What parents miss about early GATE testing
Why early gifted screening matters, why bright students miss it, and why an unfamiliar test format can be the real hurdle.
All tests · BasicsNNAT® vs CogAT® vs OLSAT®: what parents should know
How the major gifted tests differ, why districts choose different assessments, and what to ask before preparing.
All tests · BasicsAsk how your school approaches Gifted and Talented
Which test, which grade, eligibility rules, appeals, and services all vary by district. The questions that get clear answers.
All tests · Practice and prepHow to prepare a young child for the gifted test
A gifted screening is among the earliest tests a young child sits. What is actually new about it, and how to prepare calmly.
All tests · ScoresWhat score does my child need to qualify for GATE?
Why qualifying scores vary by district, how percentiles work, and what to ask when results arrive.
Practice all four NNAT® question types.
Short adaptive sets, an explanation after every answer, and eight full practice tests for grades 2 to 4.
Try free NNAT® practiceDistricts that use the NNAT®
38 districts researched. Each row shows the grades tested, the window, and whether GateBuddy practice fits.
California
17 districts| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellflower USDBellflower, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 (universal); 3-6 by referral | Spring, end of school year; exact dates not published | Read the guide |
| Capistrano USDSan Juan Capistrano, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 3 universal; 4-5 retest for some students | Late February-early March | Read the guide |
| Chino Valley USDChino, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 | Late September-October (district has not posted exact dates) | Read the guide |
| Corona-Norco USDCorona, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 | Fall 2026 dates not posted; 2025 window was Nov 12 - Dec 5 | Read the guide |
| Elk Grove USDElk Grove, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 3 (universal) | Fall of 3rd grade, finished by winter break | Read the guide |
| Glendale USDGlendale, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 3 | Spring, 30-min timed | Read the guide |
| Irvine USDIrvine, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 3-5 screened annually; GATE program runs 4-6 | Screening runs through the school year; NNAT given once in 3rd grade; families notified by early July | Read the guide |
| Jurupa USDJurupa Valley, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 (universal) plus referred students | Fall: Oct 19 - Nov 6, 2026; Spring: Mar 1 - Mar 19, 2027 | Read the guide |
| Moreno Valley USDMoreno Valley, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 | Not published | Read the guide |
| Newport-Mesa USDNewport Beach, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 3,4,5,6 | January 2027 (dates sent to parents in December; make-ups February) | Read the guide |
| Oakley Union ESDOakley, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 2 (universal screen) | Not published | Read the guide |
| Ontario-Montclair SDOntario, CA | NNAT (NNAT2)Partial fit, check the guide | 2 | Early February | Read the guide |
| Riverside USDRiverside, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 2 (universal, opt-out); 3-5 by request | January; schedule posted when final | Read the guide |
| Robla SDSacramento, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 2 (universal) | Not published | Read the guide |
| San Bernardino City USDSan Bernardino, CA | NNATNNAT practice available | 3 (fall, by school); 4+ by request | Fall, date set by each school | Read the guide |
| Turlock USDTurlock, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 3 (universal) | December (Dec 1-19 in 2025-26; 2026-27 dates not yet posted) | Read the guide |
| Upland USDUpland, CA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 3 | February | Read the guide |
Florida
1 district| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County SDWest Palm Beach, FL | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 (universal screener) | Not published | Read the guide |
Missouri
1 district| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Public SchoolsColumbia, MO | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | K and 2 (NNAT3), then WISC-V for invited students | Spring cycle March to June; fall cycle September to November for new students | Read the guide |
Nevada
2 districts| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County SDLas Vegas, NV | NNAT (Not published by the district)NNAT practice available | 2 | Not published | Read the guide |
| Washoe County SDReno, NV | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 and 5 (universal) | Aug 31 - Sep 18, 2026 (done); spring referral testing Mar 1-19, 2027 uses the CogAT® | Read the guide |
Ohio
6 districts| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Public SchoolsCincinnati, OH | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 and 6 (whole grade); others by referral | Fall, date set by each school | Read the guide |
| Columbus City SchoolsColumbus, OH | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 (NNAT3); 5 (CogAT®) | November (confirm with school; a 2025 district sheet lists February) | Read the guide |
| Gahanna-Jefferson Public SchoolsGahanna, OH | NNATNNAT practice available | 2 | November | Read the guide |
| Grand Valley Local SDOrwell, OH | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 1 and 4 (whole grade) | Not published | Read the guide |
| Hilliard City SchoolsHilliard, OH | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 4 and 1 (whole grade); others by referral | Oct 5-9 (grade 4); Jan 19-22, 2027 (grade 1) | Read the guide |
| Shaker Heights City SDShaker Heights, OH | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 and 5 (whole grade) | Not published | Read the guide |
Texas
2 districts| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin ISDAustin, TX | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | K and 1 by referral | Referrals Aug 18 - Oct 16, 2026; testing Oct 26 - Nov 20, 2026 | Read the guide |
| Fort Worth ISDFort Worth, TX | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 1 (universal) | Nov 2, 2026 - Jan 4, 2027; referrals through Oct 30 | Read the guide |
Virginia
4 districts| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Public SchoolsArlington, VA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 1 (universal); 9 if no ability score | Nov 4 - Dec 4, 2026 | Read the guide |
| Newport News Public SchoolsNewport News, VA | NNAT (NNAT, then OLSAT)NNAT practice available | 2 (universal); 1 and 3-12 by referral | October (Oct 13-24 in 2025-26); 2026-27 not yet posted | Read the guide |
| Prince William County PSManassas, VA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2, 6, and 9 universal (NNAT3); 3 universal (CogAT®); K-12 by referral | Oct 19 - Nov 20, 2026 (online) | Read the guide |
| Virginia Beach City PSVirginia Beach, VA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 and 5 (universal) | Not published; applications Oct 9, 2026 - Feb 5, 2027 | Read the guide |
Washington
5 districts| District | Test | Grade | Window | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonds SDEdmonds, WA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | Universal in 2 and 6; all other grades by referral form due Oct 31. GateBuddy covers Levels C and D, grades 2-4 | Nov 16 - Dec 10, 2026 (date set by each school) | Read the guide |
| Federal Way SDFederal Way, WA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 | Nov 23 - Dec 18, 2026 | Read the guide |
| Northshore SDBothell, WA | NNAT (NNAT3 or NGAT screener, then Iowa Assessments)NNAT practice available | 1 and 5 universal; 2-4 by referral | 2025-26: grades 1 and 5 Sept-Oct; referred grades 2-4 Oct-Nov; Iowa Nov 24 - Dec 18 (2026-27 not posted) | Read the guide |
| Renton SDRenton, WA | NNAT (NNAT3)NNAT practice available | 2 universal; select 5th graders; K-11 by referral | Sep - Dec 2026 (program page says October) | Read the guide |
| Tacoma Public SchoolsTacoma, WA | NNAT (NNAT3 or NGAT (district pages differ))NNAT practice available | 2 | Late fall 2026; exact dates not published | Read the guide |