What is a good NNAT score?
How the NNAT is scored — the NAI, percentile, and stanine — and what score gifted programs typically look for.
The NNAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test) is a popular gifted screener because it uses only shapes and patterns — no reading or language. Here's how to read the score.
The NAI
The headline number is the Naglieri Ability Index (NAI) — a normalized score with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. An NAI of 130 is about the 98th percentile; 120 is about the 91st.
Percentile and stanine
Reports also show a percentile rank (the % of same-age children scored below) and sometimes a stanine (1–9 band). Percentile is the most intuitive: 95th means your child scored higher than 95% of peers.
What's a 'good' score for gifted programs?
Many programs use a cutoff around the 95th–99th percentile (NAI ~125–132+). The exact threshold varies by district and year — confirm with your school's gifted office.
Common questions
What NNAT score is gifted?
Commonly an NAI around 125–132+ (≈95th–98th percentile), but cutoffs vary by district and grade.
Can you prepare for the NNAT?
Yes — practicing pattern completion, reasoning by analogy, and spatial visualization builds familiarity so a child shows their true nonverbal ability.
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