What Is the NYC Gifted & Talented Test?
The NYC Gifted & Talented Test is an exam designed for ages 4-7, which determines eligibility for admission into New York City Gifted & Talented schools and programs. It includes both verbal questions taken from the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) and nonverbal questions taken from the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT). Learn more about the test, and how you can prepare with our practice packs.
Prepare for the NYC G&T Test (2024)
With the 2024 NYC G&T testing season just around the corner, we know that stress levels can be high, both for you and your child. We recommend that you learn about the test and familiarize your child with the content and format of the exam in order to reduce anxiety. Below you will find free practice materials, grade-specific practice kits, and useful information.
About the Test
The New York City Department of Education (DOE) administers the NYC Gifted and Talented Test to children between the ages of four and seven, entering grades K-3, to determine eligibility for a coveted seat in an NYC gifted and talented school or program. The Department of Education (DOE) utilizes two tests which make up the NYC Gifted and Talented Test: the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) and Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT). These assessments are widely used throughout the country to test for entry into gifted programs, as they are intended to provide a balanced, thorough, and unbiased insight into a child’s verbal and nonverbal intellectual abilities.
Verbal Section (OLSAT)
The verbal component of the NYC Gifted and Talented Test consists of only the verbal questions from the OLSAT, rather than the test in its entirety. There are 30 verbal questions on the verbal section of the NYC Gifted and Talented Test, which account for half of a student’s composite score. The verbal section includes two general question types: Verbal Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning. Within these two larger categories are several more specific question types. See the table below for the specific question types that fall under each of these two categories.
Verbal Comprehension | Verbal Reasoning |
|---|---|
Following Directions | Aural Reasoning |
Arithmetic Reasoning | |
Antonyms | Logical Selection |
Word/Letter Matrix | |
Sentence Completion | Verbal Analogies |
Verbal Classification | |
Sentence Arrangement | Inference |
The following table details the three specific question types that appear on the Level A, Level B, and Level C NYC Gifted and Talented Test:
Question Type | Description |
|---|---|
Following Directions | Following Directions questions assess a child’s ability to match a verbal description to a pictorial representation. Following Directions questions require children to apply relational concepts such as “above,” “between,” or “next to.” |
Aural Reasoning | Aural Reasoning questions require students to examine characteristics, functions, and classifications. Children partake in a cognitive process in which they visualize a given situation, integrate relevant details, and form a complete picture of what has been described (main idea, details, inferences, and probable outcomes). |
Arithmetic Reasoning | Arithmetic Reasoning questions assess a child’s ability to solve verbal problems that draw upon numerical reasoning for their solution. These questions assess a child’s ability to use numbers in order to infer relationships, deduce computational rules, and predict outcomes. |
Read more about the OLSAT Verbal section and question types.
Nonverbal Section (NNAT)
The nonverbal component of the NYC Gifted and Talented Test replaced the Bracken Test in 2012. The NNAT is a nonverbal test which measures abstract spatial thinking skills. Since the NNAT requires very little spoken language (even in its directions), it is considered a better indicator of raw intelligence as it does not discriminate against children whose first language is not English.
The NNAT accounts for half of a student’s overall score on the NYC Gifted and Talented Test. Students are allotted 30 minutes to complete 48 multiple choice questions. Each section of the exam becomes more difficult than the last.
|
Question Type |
Description |
|---|---|
| Pattern Completion |
In Pattern Completion items students are given a design and asked to identify which portion is missing. |
| Reasoning by Analogy |
In Reasoning by Analogy questions students must recognize relationships between several geometric shapes. |
| Serial Reasoning |
Serial Reasoning questions require students to recognize the sequence of shapes. |
| Spatial Visualization |
In Spatial Visualization questions students must combine two or more objects and find what the resulting figure will look like. |
Should My Child Take the NYC G&T Test?
No matter what your child’s abilities are, it is never a waste of time to take the NYC G&T Test. Keep reading to find out just what your child can gain from this exam:
It can be difficult to identify whether or not your child is recognized as gifted. In this sense, the NYC G&T Test does not only act as an admission tool, but as a way to accurately map out your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Whether your goal is admission to a specific program, or an accurate view of your child’s abilities, it is imperative to properly prepare for this exam. Properly preparing is the best to get the most out of this test.
TestPrep-Online offers a variety of NYC G&T preparation material to help familiarize your child with the G&T question types and topics. Your child will not only be able to learn about the testing material, but to personally gain from it.
NYC G&T Test Scoring
Every student receives a composite score of both the verbal and nonverbal sections of the NYC G&T Test. Each section is worth 50% of the score. The scores are calculated using several steps:
- Firstly, the raw scores of each section are calculated. The raw score is determined by the amount of questions answered correctly. The highest possible raw score for the verbal section is 30. For the nonverbal section, it is 48.
- Next, each student is ranked using age and national norms. These norms are translated into percentiles.
- Norm ranks are then converted using normal curve equivalents (NCE), which are inputted to a scale curve from which an NCE average is calculated.
- Students receive a composite G&T score within the NCE scale ranging from 1–99. Students who place above average may be eligible for various NYC G&T programs.
Visit our NYC scores page to find out more about the grading process!
How Do I Determine If My Child Is Eligible?
For every G&T program your child applies for, high testing scores are essential.
The Gifted and Talented Programs span across all 32 of NYC’s districts. There are approximately 100 of these G&T programs across the city. Students can only apply to one of the programs located in their district of residence to be considered. These schools require a score of 90 and above.
Citywide Gifted and Talented Programs are open to any student within the five boroughs. These programs are more demanding, and they require a ranking of 97 or more to be considered.
For a more detailed overview of the various G&T programs, visit our NYC G&T Programs Explained page.
How Should My Child Prepare?
Eligibility for G&T programs can be highly competitive, and requires exceptional NYC G&T score reports. For this reason, it is essential that your child arrive prepared on test day. This is the best, and most secure way to ensure that your child stands out during the admission process. TestPrep-Online is able to provide your child with top-notch test preparation necessary for this task. Try our comprehensive NYC study packs to guarantee your child is prepared. These study packs include full-length, realistic practice tests, OLSAT and NNAT video tutorials, hundreds of practice questions, and helpful study guides designed to give you realistic examples of the actual NYC G&T Test.
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