NGAT (Naglieri General Ability Tests): what is on it and how to practise

The NGAT (Naglieri General Ability Tests) is a newer gifted screener that a growing number of US districts use. It is designed to be fair to children from every language background: directions are animated, and the only thing a child ever reads is numbers. Here is what each of its three tests looks like.

NGAT at a glance

Three separate tests: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal
Each takes about 30 minutes and is given online to a group
Directions are shown as short animations, without words
Used from kindergarten through middle school; many districts screen in 1st or 2nd grade

The three NGAT tests

NGAT Verbal: six pictures are shown. Five share a concept; your child finds the one that doesn't belong. It sounds easy, but the shared idea can be subtle (things that grow, things that use electricity…).
NGAT Quantitative: a pattern made of numbers and symbols has a missing part. Your child picks which of five options completes it. There are no word problems.
NGAT Nonverbal: shape matrices. Shapes change across rows and columns (sequence, direction, position); your child finds the missing cell from five options.

How to practise NGAT question types

Odd-one-out games: at dinner, name five things and ask which one doesn't fit, and why. Then let your child make one up.
Number patterns: start with simple +1, +2 patterns, then patterns that go up and down, then patterns that mix numbers and shapes.
Matrices: teach "look across, then look down" and check one feature at a time.
Practise sitting for 30 minutes: a few timed runs in the last weeks make test day feel normal.

NGAT-style practice in Brainosaur

Brainosaur has a six-picture Odd One Out, Number Patterns and Number Grid puzzles with five choices, and shape matrices, all read aloud. In the Great Portal you can run a 30-minute trio practice that mirrors this three-part format. Try 5 free puzzles first.

Naglieri General Ability Tests™ (NGAT) is a trademark of its publisher, Multi-Health Systems Inc. (MHS). Brainosaur is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by MHS, Dr. Naglieri or any school district. Our questions are original, and practice cannot guarantee a test result.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the NGAT?

Each of the three tests takes about 30 minutes. Districts may give them on the same day or on different days.

Does my child need to read for the NGAT?

No. Directions are animated and the only text in the questions is numbers.

Is the NGAT harder than the NNAT?

They measure similar reasoning, but the NGAT adds verbal (picture) and quantitative tests, so children need practice with all three kinds of puzzles.

Updated: 2026-10-28 · Tamakala Games