Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test Preparation: Introduction by Allen Gammeter, Award-Winning Author and Educator
Giftedness is a broad term with different meanings in different contexts and cultures. There are many ways to define and measure gifted individuals. The Naglieri Non Verbal Ability Test, or Aptitude Test is one of the most popular and culture-fair methods for educators to identify gifted students. This is mainly due to the use of pictorial reasoning questions, which do not require language comprehension, but still measure a students' ability to demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude in reasoning and learning. Bear in mind that the NNAT and NNAT2 measure only a specific range of basic cognitive skills, which provides only one measure of individual intelligence, so relax, and have fun preparing for the challenge.
NNAT and NNAT2 Quick Facts:
The NNAT is administered on paper, generally in a bubble answer sheet format.
The NNAT2 second edition is administered online, or as a pencil and paper test.
The NNAT is a 38 question test.
The NNAT2 is a 48 question test.
The tests assess general reasoning ability.
There are seven levels (A - G) of the NNAT/2 test series.
Tests are administered to students in grades K-12 (5 to 17 years old).
Tests are administered in primary and secondary school settings.
Tests are offered multiple times a year (generally in January and October).
Tests measure general reasoning ability and help to determine gifted program placement.
Tests may be timed or untimed (a 30-minute exam if timed).
The test is non-verbal. Limited oral instruction is given or required.
The results of the NNAT/2 are given in the form of a percentile rank or score in relation to other students who took the same test at the same age. Learn more about the scoring of the NNAT(r);/2 on www.jacknaglieri.com and www.pearsonassessments.com.
NNAT Test Preparation Tips
Your children will mimic the stress you feel in regards to the importance of this test, and the results, so be careful not to shed your testing anxiety onto your child. We recommend keeping the preparation fun, and as game-like as possible, to inspire confidence come test day.
In order to achieve a high score, answering all the questions in the allotted time is essential. According to the publisher, the scoring is based on the number of correct answers, not the number of incorrect or unanswered questions; however, as a general rule, it’s always best to answer as many questions as possible.
Pictorial instructions are used primarily to convey directions, but minimal verbal instructions are given in some versions of the test (and most others) so make sure your child is prepared to listen before and during the exam.
Have your child study the given image(s) before they look at the answer choices. In fact, it’s best to have them visualize the answer in their head before reviewing the answer choices so misleading options are easy to spot, which speeds up the answering process.
For more helpful NNAT preparation tips, and to simulate the real NNAT tests, take the Practice Exam for the NNAT and NNAT2, offered at various grade levels correlated to the actual NNAT exams.
The Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test, or NNAT, is used to measure a student's general reasoning ability. The test is short - about 30 minutes - and uses geometric shapes and designs to assess students. The test is often used to admit students for gifted education programs, and is often used to evaluate students who speak a different language than their teachers, deaf students and those with color blindness. To learn more about the NNAT, read our NNAT Test Guide and our test expert Interview with Tim Sitar.
