If you have been looking into CogAT courses to help your student make the most of the educational opportunities available to them, Varsity Tutors offers private CogAT classes that are well worth your time. The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is an aptitude test used for admission in the gifted programs at certain schools, to help identify a homeschooled student's academic strengths, and to help identify at-risk youth for further assessment. It assesses a test-taker's learned problem-solving and reasoning skills in three areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal, all of which correlate well to academic achievement. A private CogAT class may give your student more self-confidence heading into the exam.
One of the benefits of investing in a CogAT course is access to a knowledgeable instructor who can answer any questions you have about the test. For example, many parents would like a breakdown of exactly what the Stanine scores the test uses actually mean. The chart below highlights this information:
Score Breakdown
Stanine | % Rank | Description |
9 | 96-99 |
Very High |
8 | 89-95 | Above Average |
7 | 77-88 | Above Average |
6 | 60-76 | Average |
5 | 40-59 | Average |
4 | 23-39 | Average |
3 | 11-22 | Below Average |
2 | 4-10 | Below Average |
1 | 1-3 | Very Low |
One of the CogAT secrets is that it asks questions that students are unfamiliar with in order to assess their cognitive ability. In other words, how will a student react to a new type of problem? Needless to say, experience with the formatting of the exam could provide a significant advantage as students would know what to expect beforehand. For this reason, many students take practice tests during their private CogAT class.
Practice tests may also help identify your student's unique areas of opportunity, or the topics that should focus on in their CogAT prep class. The list below breaks down the types of questions students might see according to grade level:
- Grades K-2
- Oral Vocabulary
- Verbal Reasoning
- Relational Concepts
- Figure Classification
- Matrices
- Grades 3-12
- Verbal Classification
- Sentence Completion
- Verbal Analogies
- Quantitative Relations
- Number Series
- Equation building
- Figure Classification
- Figure Analogies
A CogAT prep course may be a perfect place for your student to prepare for the exact exam they plan to take. There are no time constraints in a private CogAT course, so the student in your life can spend as much time as they need to on any topic. Their instructor may also be able to cater sessions to your student's unique needs. For instance, a visual learner might use visual aids such as counting cubes to prepare for the quantitative questions on the exam, while an auditory learner could benefit more from oral repetition.
Varsity Tutors also strives to make attending our CogAT prep courses as convenient as possible. All instruction happens on our proprietary Live Learning Platform, allowing students to meet with their instructor online instead of a physical location such as a library. We also try our best to connect every student with an instructor who suits their schedule. If school, work, and extracurricular activities limit your availability on Wednesdays, we might try to refer you to a teacher who won't want to meet on Wednesdays. Test prep should fit into your life, not the other way around.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of our CogAT prep classes or are ready to enroll, give us a call today! Expert Educational Directors are currently standing by to assist you any way they can. We look forward to working with you!

Elizabeth: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...English courses for over 25 years, and SAT prep classes for four years, both remote and in-person. I adopted my daughter from Ethiopia when she was 7 years old, and she spoke no English. To prepare her for first grade, I taught her to read using a Phonics curriculum, and she was able to read whole paragraphs in English within just a few months. I love working with students of all ages and abilities and...
Education & Certification
- Boston University - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Emerson College - Master of Arts, Creative Writing
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- SAT
- CLEP
- UK A Level
- +52 subjects

Emily: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...of Haverford College and a current student at Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Law School, I am extremely excited to work with students on topics ranging from elementary school English to college-level World Religion! Whether it's grammar, paper-editing, or exam studying, I'm here to help. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out--I am overjoyed to be a part of the Varsity Tutors team and look forward to working with students!
Education & Certification
- Haverford College - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Harvard University Law School Divinity School - Doctor of Laws, Legal Studies
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ACT
- SAT
- PARCC
- +72 subjects

Sarah: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...brings me joy to help others find their love for these subjects. I have more than 20 years of experience tutoring in these subjects and have spent the last 13 years homeschooling my two children. Before deciding to homeschool I worked as an analyst in an environmental chemistry lab. I truly enjoyed that job, however the education of my two children was lacking, since the older child has executive functioning disorder and the younger one...
Education & Certification
- College of Charleston - Bachelor of Science, Science Technology
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ISEE
- SAT
- PSAT
- +37 subjects

Thomas: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...topics come from as sufficiently as possible, how and why certain techniques work, and applying all of this to specific examples of varying difficulty. I emphasize gaining an understanding as to why skills and techniques work and how they are useful. This emphasis makes it easier for students to tackle novel problems and retain their knowledge. For physics I tutor in basic physics, the SAT subject test in physics, and AP Physics 1,2& C. For...
Education & Certification
- Brandeis University - Current Undergrad, Mathematics, Physics
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +36 subjects

Sarah: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
I recently graduated from Brown University with a degree in American History. I have extensive experience tutoring students to prepare for the SAT and SAT subject tests in US History and Literature, as well as teaching and tutoring students of all ages in after-school programs and religious school. I'm excited to work with you or your child either on standardized test preparation or on generally improving performance in history, English, and social studies!
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelor in Arts, History
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ISEE
- SSAT
- CLEP
- +93 subjects

Maedeh: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...Sciences, and I love using my skills and experiences to help empower others to reach their goals! My teaching philosophy is holistic, so I modify my style based on the individual while being patient and empathetic along the way. There are a number of different reasons why someone might not be improving in a certain subject, so I try to learn more about students so we can troubleshoot and empower them to take an active...
Education & Certification
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- SHSAT
- SSAT
- OLSAT
- +50 subjects

Jeffrey: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...love to play music (I'm a drummer) and I'm obsessed with PCs - I've built my own! I've been told that I'm hard-working and very friendly. I am very passionate about Mathematics and Meteorology. I'm very quick to notice even the slightest mistake in my students' work - I would say that's my best quality - I see a misunderstanding of some sort and can explain it in numerous ways based on the way each...
Education & Certification
- Lyndon State College - Bachelor of Science, Science Teacher Education
- Eastern Connecticut State University - Master of Arts, Education
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ACT
- SHSAT
- PSAT
- +67 subjects

Olivia: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...complete a post-doctorate fellowship at Texas A&M University. I received my Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, Master's degree in Psychology, and PhD in Experimental Psychology all from the University of Vermont. For the past four years, I have tutored high school students in standardized test prep (including PSAT, SAT, and ACT), Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry and Trigonometry. One of the things I love most about tutoring is pinpointing a students' learning style and working hard...
Education & Certification
- University of Vermont - Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
- University of Vermont - Doctor of Philosophy, Biopsychology
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- PSAT
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- +41 subjects

Alyssa: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...the program. I am well-qualified to teach a wide variety of subjects due to the interdisciplinary nature of Harvard's education generally and of each of my majors specifically. For example, Environmental Science & Public Policy majors are required not only to take classes on earth and climate science, but also on economics, biochemistry, calculus, and social sciences. I spent a year on the pre-med track, so I'm well-versed in hard sciences. I also spent two...
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Bachelor in Arts, Environmental Studies
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ISEE
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +61 subjects

Nikola: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
Hello! My name is Nikola Muromcew. I am a current sophomore at Tufts University, where I am pursuing a BA in Mathematics. I have loved math since elementary school and look forward to working with you to foster your love for math as well!
Education & Certification
- Tufts University - Bachelor in Arts, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- ACT
- SSAT
- +19 subjects

Amanda: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
I am a trained historian, with special expertise in Southern History, African American History, and broader narratives of American History. I also have training in American Literature and English composition. My primary tutoring experience lies in high school history and English. My goal is to help your student engage more deeply with their reading and writing assignments so that their grades improve in the short and long term.
Education & Certification
- University of Memphis - Bachelor in Arts, History
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- +65 subjects

Abigail: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...University, where I study how plankton (very small animals in the ocean) move around and catch food. Before coming to graduate school, I did my undergraduate degree in Biology at Tufts University in Medford/Somerville, MA. My hobbies include knitting, running, and, of course, reading! Another one of my long-term interests is education. I worked with preschoolers for a full year in college through an AmeriCorps literacy program in low-income preschools. Later, I worked as a...
Education & Certification
- Tufts University - Bachelors, Biology, General
- Stony Brook University - Current Grad Student, Biological Oceanography
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- SAT
- Writing
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1
- +46 subjects

Cassandra: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...I have successfully tutored dozens of students for the GRE; these students report not only higher scores but deeper understanding of the material, even in areas they have struggled with for years. Many of my students have not taken relevant quantitative courses for years and have forgotten much of their fundamental math skills, but after working with me for a short time, they are able to achieve great GRE quantitative scores. Students also enjoy my...
Education & Certification
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - Bachelor of Science, Geology
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Doctor of Philosophy, Geophysics and Seismology
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- HSPT
- PSAT
- ISEE
- +130 subjects

Dianna: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...Spanish to high school students. Additionally, I have taught Reading in English and Spanish to PreK-Middle school students. I'm passionate about teaching: Reading in English or Spanish; Spanish 1,2,3, 4 using a variety of standard school textbooks; ESL subjects: Conversation, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Listening, Idioms, Grammar, and Business topics. I possess several ESL teaching certificates: TESOL, TKT and SEI (public school) and I completed my U.S. certified, university education in Ecuador, South America, Bachelor of...
Education & Certification
- City College of San Francisco - Bachelor in Arts, Business Administration and Management
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- IELTS - International English Language Testing System
- TOEFL
- UK A Level
- +24 subjects

Ian: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
I am a recent graduate of Clark University with a B.A. in Urban Geography and Women's and Gender Studies. I have a passion for teaching writing, reading, and general social science courses. It makes my day to spark a student's passion for a new topic or help a student grasp a difficult idea.
Education & Certification
- Clark University - Bachelor in Arts, Geography
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ACT
- SAT
- GED
- +51 subjects

Ashley: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...a high school science teacher that teaches multiple science subjects including chemistry, biology, physics and Earth and Space science. I use my knowledge from my BS in Marine Science with a minor in Marine Biology and a Master's of Arts in Teacher. I enjoys working with students to see their full potential and experience real science within their world. Using Project and Place based learning, I engage students in scientific thought and exploration. During my...
Education & Certification
- University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth - Master of Arts, Education
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- GED
- ACT
- High School Biology
- +24 subjects

Rachel: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...Muhlenberg College with honors and a Pennsylvania certification to teach social studies in grades 4 to 8. My teaching is centered around creating connections between content and themes, as well as connections to the students' personal lives, current events, and other content knowledge or media. Learning, especially learning social studies, is most accessible to the student when it becomes relevant. I will work with you to find a door into whatever you are learning -...
Education & Certification
- Muhlenberg College - Bachelor in Arts, American Studies
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ACT
- ISEE
- ASVAB
- +44 subjects

Zachary: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...graduate student at the University of Virginia. My bachelor's degree is in Elementary Education and I am finishing up my Master's degree in Special Education. I completed my student teaching in the city of Pittsburgh, and am a licensed teacher in the state of Virginia, where I have been teaching for several years. While my expertise is working with K-6 students in math, reading, writing and standardized test taking, I've tutored students K-12 on algebra,...
Education & Certification
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus - Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Masters in Education, Special Education
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- NNAT
- GED
- Test Prep
- +52 subjects

Katherine: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
I am a multi-level, multi-subject educator offering 8+ years experience in instruction; consistent performance record and excellent reviews; and innovative instructional methods to maximize student understanding and performance across various learning styles, abilities, and interests. It is my pleasure to educate through Varsity Tutors.... My philosophy in education is that all students are smart. It is my job as an educator to meet each student where they are and to guide them in the achievement of their educational goals. Learning should be personalized and fun.
Education & Certification
- University of St. Thomas - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Loyola Marymount University - Master of Arts, Secondary Education
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ACT
- ISEE
- CAHSEE
- +53 subjects

Britni: Pawtucket CogAT course instructor
...working and growing my students! I am now an at risk coordinator/instructionalist specialist, in this position I work with at- risk struggling students in small groups to help them be successful. I also work with their teachers on helping them develop plans for their struggling students. I have had the privilege to tutor my classroom students and have had a tremendous amount of success with seeing them grow academically. I celebrate all growth with my...
Education & Certification
- University of North Texas - Bachelors, Sociology
- Texas A & M University-Commerce - Masters, Curriculum and Instruction
Subject Expertise
- CogAT
- ISEE
- Middle School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- +23 subjects