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With fall comes admissions testing season, along with a fair dose of panic for parents. If you want your child to gain admission into the competitive NYC Gifted and Talented program, it’s time to start preparing.
As the founder of Altiora Tutoring, I have successfully prepared hundreds of students for this exam. So, I wrote up this guide to help parents understand exactly which question types your child might encounter, and how to effectively prepare for them at home. You can also check out my free practice test here, along with printable sets of affordable practice questions.
Why G&T?
G&T classrooms are desirable because they group talented students together for the bulk of their education, allowing for delivery of teaching techniques and resources that are catered to gifted children.
Gifted programs begin in Kindergarten, and taking the G&T entrance exam is required to place children in programs from K-3rd grade. For 4th and 5th grade G&T programs, a different selection criterion is used.
There are two types of gifted programs: District and Citywide G&T programs. District G&T programs only accept children within the actual geographic district, and Citywide G&T programs can accept children from all over the NYC area.
To be eligible for placement in a District G&T program, your child must score in the 90th percentile. Citywide programs are more competitive, and your child must score in the 97th percentile to be eligible for placement.
How many questions are on the gifted and talented test?
The Gifted and Talented Exam is a 78-question exam that is required for a child to be admitted into a NYC Gifted and Talented class. The most commonly administered version of the test is the one for Kindergarten and 1st grade entry. It’s the same exam, but students are scored against others of their age group. So a 4-year old entering Kindergarten would obviously not be expected to score as well as a 5 or 6-year old entering 1st grade.
So why is the K and 1st grade entry test the most common? It’s simply a matter of available seats. When a student applies for Kindergarten entry, all possible G&T seats are open. Whereas a student applying for something like 2nd grade entry will be competing for just a handful of seats that were given up by the 1st grade students who left the G&T program. So if you want the highest chance of your child placing in a G&T classroom, they should take it in preschool.
For entry into 2nd and 3rd grade, the test will examine the same concepts as the K and 1st grade entry exam. However, the verbal prompts will be longer and more detailed, and the nonverbal puzzles will be more complex. And, as previously mentioned, entrance will be far more competitive.
The exam is given in the late fall and early winter. I personally recommend taking the test at the latest possible date (usually in January), so your child has the maximum time to prepare.
Wait, 78 questions—for a preschooler or kindergartner? You’re joking, right?
It sounds a bit crazy, honestly. But surprisingly, I have rarely seen a student who couldn’t finish. I have found that making test prep fun and positive is key to helping them overcome such a long test.
No matter how many problems a student can finish in a practice session, you should tell them what a great job they’re doing and how proud of them you are for their focus. For the students who need a little extra boost, I give little stickers and stamps after each question (slowly scaling back to each page, each set, etc.)
Just a bit of praise, recognition, and rewards for studying can go a very long way to helping students enjoy problem solving.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the content of the test.
The exam has two sections—the NNAT and the OLSAT
There are 48 non-verbal puzzles (the NNAT2/3), followed by 30 verbal prompts (the OLSAT). Your child will not be timed, and will be able to work through the prompts at his or her own pace, as long as the proctor deems that the child is actively focused on the material. Prompts will be read once without repeating, and the proctor isn’t allowed to deviate from the script to further explain things. However, if there is an external distraction such as a door slamming or a passing siren, the proctor may be allowed to repeat the prompt.
Kindergarten entry students will point to their answers. For 1st through 3rd grade entry, students will bubble in the correct answer with a pencil, and will be allowed to take short notes on the prompts.
The rest of this article will focus on the NNAT questions, with a follow-up article on the OLSAT next week!
The NNAT2/3
The NNAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test) is composed of various nonverbal puzzles, designed to measure problem-solving abilities independent of a child’s linguistic abilities. In previous years, the exam contained questions from the NNAT2.
This year saw Pearson’s release of the NNAT3, which is largely similar to the NNAT2. It has a slightly different color scheme (and has the potential to administer digitally in group settings), but the content is just about the same. However, the NYC Department of Education has NOT issued any announcements on whether they plan to use NNAT3 questions. In any case, whether they decide to keep the NNAT2, add NNAT3 questions, or switch to the NNAT3 entirely, prep will stay largely the same.
You can read the full manual for the NNAT3 here.
The NNAT divides the types of puzzles on the exam into 4 categories. According to the NYC.GOV website, they are sorted as follows:
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Pattern Completion on the NYC Gifted and Talented Test
Measures the ability to visually perceive design patterns and identify the correct missing portions.
Example:
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The best way to teach your child pattern completion is to encourage them to recognize all of the shapes, colors, and lines that are surrounding the empty box. In this example, if they can recognize that the missing piece will have a white bottom right corner , they have already eliminated most of the answer choices. Recognizing that the rest of the piece will be mostly purple will tell them the answer, even if they didn’t pay attention to the green line.
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Example #1
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Example #2
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Reasoning by Analogy
Measures the ability to recognize relationships between geometric shapes.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Example:
Reasoning by Analogy is all about recognizing the “rule” for the top row and applying it to the bottom row. The rule might include up to three changes across each row. In the example above, there is one thing that changes. The child should recognize that in the top row, the hexagon stays exactly the same while the blue background square flips to the opposite corner. They should then be able to reason that in the bottom row, the circle will stay in the same place while the blue background moves exactly as it did in the top row.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.achildgrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SR-2-3×3.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ border_style=”solid” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Encourage your child to verbalize the changes they see. “The blue box moves to the opposite corner. The hexagon stays the same.” Ask them to describe what they think will happen to the next row. If they don’t see one or more of the changes, gently guide them to notice all the relevant details, and help them to eliminate incorrect answers. “If the blue box moves to the opposite corner, and that is the only thing that changes, it doesn’t make sense for the circle to turn into a star, right? Let’s try again. Which answer shows only the blue box moving, with everything else staying the same?”
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Serial Reasoning
Measures the ability to recognize sequences among shapes.
Example:
In a lot of ways, Serial Reasoning is very similar to Reasoning by Analogy. But, instead of a 2×2 matrix, the matrices can be 2×3 or 3×3. While these problems often look more complex, it also provides more examples from which to derive a rule.
The example above is a 3×3 matrix. There are multiple ways to solve this problem: The child can recognize that each circle is followed by a triangle, and each triangle is followed by a pentagon. After each pentagon, it starts over with a circle again. Just recognizing this eliminates three answer choices. If your child also recognizes that all circles are blue with a red background, then they have found their answer.
Your child could also solve it by recognizing that each shape is represented once per row, and each is represented a total of three times in the total matrix. We already have three red triangles with yellow backgrounds, and three yellow pentagons with blue backgrounds, so the only one missing is the blue circle with the red background.
However, many children will find that the easiest way to solve this problem is to recognize the pattern on the diagonal axis. There are identical blue circles running from top left to bottom right. If they learn to look for the pattern on the diagonal, it will be very easy for them to match the remaining blue circle to complete the line. As most 3×3 matrixes will follow this rule, the most efficient way to solve these puzzles is to learn to look for diagonal patterns.
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Spatial Visualization
Measures the ability to recognize how two or more objects would look if combined.
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Spatial visualization tests the ability to track spatial changes in objects. It has a 2×2 matrix setup that is very similar to Reasoning by Analogy. You can even think of it as a subset of that puzzle type, where problems can ask your child to correctly put two shapes together, to rotate shapes, or to fold them. As being able to track these changes comes with a developmental milestone, these are often the most difficult questions for young kids. However, there are only a few of these questions on the actual exam, so don’t worry about focusing all your efforts on this area if your child isn’t ready to learn it yet.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.achildgrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SV.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ border_style=”solid” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]The best way to teach this is by using hands-on activities. Cut out shapes, tape them together, and practice folding them with your child. Describe how things point in the opposite direction when folded over. Cut out puzzle pieces and help your child combine them. Encourage them to describe how the same shapes that made up the outline of the puzzle pieces are now present inside the combined shape. A great analogy that children readily understand is to compare folding shapes to a door hinge.
The above example focuses on recognizing a folded object. As the semicircle folds inwards, it stays the same color. It also stays attached at the hinge, even though it’s now “pointing” a different way. The triangle will also stay attached at the hinge, and it will also “point” in the opposite direction.
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So, how can you prepare for the NNAT at home?
There are several exercises you can do to introduce your child to the logic of the test before you begin formal practice.
To start, you can use manipulatives (or simple toys used for hands-on teaching) to show them the basic concepts behind matrix problems. For a basic set of teaching manipulatives, I recommend unifix cubes, bingo chips, and a set of various colored shapes (Tangrams will work for this in a pinch). It’s especially helpful if there are multiple colors and sizes of each shape—like if they can choose from every color of the small-sized triangles, every color of medium-sized triangles, etc.
You can use colored blocks or unifix cubes to design little puzzles—if this single red block turns into a single blue block, what will happen to the tower of two red blocks? They can build the answer themselves. If this toy yellow triangle turns into a toy yellow square, what will happen to the toy blue triangle? They can hunt for the right shape and complete the puzzle.
Below, two three-year-old students hunt for the missing blue rectangle.
Here, a student hunts for the large red circle to complete the matrix.
You can also encourage them to draw their own puzzles. Simply draw out the matrix for them, and they can fill in the squares themselves. I’ve found this especially helpful with students who get bored of their practice problems easily.
The student in the photo below wanted to integrate letters, numbers, and punctuation into the puzzles he built. While this was out of the scope of the exam, it showed his superior understanding of the material.
To teach pattern completion at home, solving actual puzzles together is key. It develops the necessary skills to look at the colors and shapes surrounding a missing piece, and find the appropriate one. You can also teach it by making geometric coloring pages. After your child finishes the coloring page, you can put a white sticky note over a section of it and ask them to fill in the missing section.
Once your child is familiar with the basic concepts behind the exam, you should go over some practice questions with them, such as the ones found here. I would recommend keeping prep sessions short—no more than an hour. Some students with limited focus may need to start in 30 minute blocks and work their way up.
If you start a few months before the test day, most students are fine with doing practice questions around once a week. With too much prep, students may get burned out and start developing negative feelings about the exam. As with all education, positivity is key!
Don’t be discouraged if your child isn’t able to focus on more than a few questions at first. After all, they’re used to having unstructured play time, so sitting for an exam is new to them. I have successfully brought students who couldn’t do more than 5 questions in an hour to the 97th+ percentile, simply by remaining positive and rewarding their efforts. Even if it means giving a sticker just for getting back in their chair.
Read Part II about how to prepare for the OLSAT section!
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Shay Skobeleva is an educational consultant, and the founder of Altiora Tutoring. She is the author of several educational guides, including Getting Into Medical School: The Ultimate Guide for the Anxious Premed and Altiora’s Free Guide to the Gifted and Talented Exam.
(*Links in bio include Amazon affiliate links)
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