Montgomery County, MD · Gifted and talented · 2026-27 · Checked November 1, 2026

MCPS CogAT and GT identification,
explained for parents

Montgomery County gives the CogAT in December to second graders and to fourth graders not yet identified as gifted and talented. Here are the dates, what the test looks like, and how GT identification and the centers fit together.

Independent guide. iMasterly is not affiliated with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Maryland. Every fact below links to the district's own page.

Quick answer

When is the MCPS CogAT?

MCPS lists the CogAT for grade 2 on December 7-9 and for grade 4 on December 14-16, for students who are not already identified as gifted and talented. The page, updated in September 2026, does not print the year next to the dates. The results feed MCPS’s gifted and talented identification and next year’s instructional recommendations.

Source: MCPS Accelerated and Enriched Instruction · Updated

Montgomery County, MD at a glance

Accelerated and Enriched Instruction (AEI)

What the district says
Ability testCogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test)
Who is testedGrade 2, and grade 4 students not already identified as gifted and talented
WhereAt the child’s own school
Rules it followsMaryland regulation COMAR 13A.04.07 and MCPS Regulation IOA-RA
Elementary programsEnrichment in every school; Centers for Enriched Studies for grades 4-5 (selective); GT/LD programs for grades 3-5 (through an IEP)
QuestionsAEIquestions@mcpsmd.org

Key dates for 2026-27

DateWhat happens
Fall 2026Four-part online family webinar series, including one session on GT identification and the CogAT
December 7-9CogAT, grade 2
December 14-16CogAT, grade 4 (students not already identified)

MCPS prints these dates without a year on a page updated in September 2026. Confirm them with your school.

What gifted and talented identification means in MCPS

MCPS screens students for gifted and talented identification at their own school, and uses the information both for the GT designation and for instructional recommendations for the next school year. MCPS says every student has an equal chance to be considered regardless of special needs, language or culture.

MCPS’s pages describe all grade 2 students being screened, plus some older students who are new to MCPS or not yet identified. The exact older grades differ between MCPS pages, so if your child is in grade 3 or above and new to the county, ask the school whether they will be screened this year.

What the CogAT looks like

The CogAT has three parts: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal. In the younger levels most items are pictures, not reading, which is why children who read well do not automatically score well, and why a few minutes with the item types helps a child not be surprised on the day.

Programs for identified and advanced students

In every elementary school MCPS lists literacy enrichment in grades K-2, enrichment overlays in the grade 3-5 English block, and math enrichment tasks in K-5, all inside regular lessons.

  • Centers for Enriched Studies (grades 4-5): nine regional and four local centers around the county, with a central selection process.
  • Gifted and Talented/Learning Disabled (GT/LD) programs (grades 3-5): for twice-exceptional students, through the IEP process.
  • Middle and high school: advanced courses at every school, plus criteria-based magnet and center programs.

What to do as a parent

  1. Put the December dates in your calendar and make sure your child is in school and rested those days.
  2. Show your child a few CogAT-style picture puzzles so the format is not new on test day. Do not drill.
  3. Watch for the GT identification result from your school, and ask the school how it affects next year’s placement.
  4. If you are interested in a Center for Enriched Studies for grades 4-5, ask your school how and when the central selection happens.

Try five CogAT-style questions

Original items in the CogAT’s question types, not MCPS or Riverside test questions.

Loading sample questions…

Questions parents ask

Does my child have to take the MCPS CogAT?
MCPS gives it to grade 2 and to grade 4 students not already identified as gifted and talented, at their own school, as part of the regular screening.
My child is already identified as GT. Do they take it in grade 4?
No. MCPS lists the grade 4 CogAT for students who are not currently identified as gifted and talented.
How do I find out the criteria for the GT designation?
MCPS explains them in a document called "Understanding the Gifted and Talented Identification Process", linked from its Policy and Processes page. You can also email AEIquestions@mcpsmd.org.
What are the Centers for Enriched Studies?
Selective programs for grades 4 and 5 at nine regional and four local centers around the county. Students are chosen through a central selection process.
Should my child prepare for the CogAT?
Seeing the question types once or twice is enough to take away the surprise. Long drilling is not needed and can make a young child anxious.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from Montgomery County, MD's own pages, read on November 1, 2026. Dates can change during the year, so confirm anything you plan around. Last reviewed .

Other district guides

Fairfax County →Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)Seattle →Highly Capable (HC) servicesNew York City →Gifted & Talented (G&T)Chicago →Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools (SEES)

More districts, with testing windows and referral deadlines: gifted testing dates 2026-27.

Know the format before test day

Short practice in the real question types, with every wrong answer explained, so test day holds no surprises.

CogAT grade 2 →CogAT practiceCogAT scores explained