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Free CogAT practice test — Grade 8

10 original CogAT-style questions for Grade 8, with answers and full explanations. No signup needed.

These free CogAT-style practice questions cover all three batteries — Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal — at the level your child will see on test day.

Every question is original, written to the real format, and includes a full explanation. Work through them together, then take the free diagnostic for a complete skill-by-skill readiness picture.

Question 1Verbal Analogies
Complete the analogy: STRING is to GUITAR as WHEEL is to ___
  1. Aflower
  2. Bhouse
  3. Ccar
  4. Dplant
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

The relationship is "part to its whole." string → guitar, so wheel → car.

Question 2Sentence Completion
The new employee was very _____ and completed all her tasks on time.
  1. Asad
  2. Bangry
  3. Clazy
  4. Dpunctual
  5. Etired
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

The sentence describes a positive behavior, and 'punctual' fits the context of completing tasks on time.

Question 3Number Analogies
Find the missing number: 3 → 9 ; 7 → 21 ; 10 → ___
  1. A30
  2. B28
  3. C26
  4. D31
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Each number is multiplied by 3. 10 × 3 = 30.

Question 4Number Series
What number comes next? 2, 5, 9, 14, ___
  1. A18
  2. B22
  3. C20
  4. D23
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

The amount added grows by 1 each step. Adding 6 to 14 gives 20.

Question 5Figure Matrices

Look at how the first figure changes into the second. Which answer changes the bottom figure the same way?

?
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

In the top row, the figure's fill darkens one step and a smaller copy appears inside. Applying the same change to the bottom figure gives A. The others each make a specific mistake: B applies the change twice; C the bottom figure with no rule applied; D applies only one of the two changes; E right change, wrong figure shape.

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Question 6Paper Folding

The square paper is folded in half from the bottom up, and holes are punched through all layers. Which answer shows the paper unfolded?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Unfold the paper step by step, mirroring every hole across each crease in reverse order. 3 punches through 2 layers leaves 6 holes. The other sheets each draw a specific mistake: B shows only the punched folded sheet — never unfolded the paper; C mirrored across the wrong axis; D doubled the count without the on-crease merge; E treated the mirror as a slide — hole positions right, orientation never flips.

Question 7Verbal Classification
Which word belongs with the following: FLOWER, TREE, SHRUB?
  1. ABIKE
  2. BCHAIR
  3. CBUSH
  4. DCAR
  5. EPLANE
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

All the words belong to the category of plants or types of plants. A bush is a type of plant, while the other options are unrelated.

Question 8Number Puzzles
Solve for x: x - 2 = 7
  1. A5
  2. B11
  3. C9
  4. D8
  5. E10
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

To solve for x, we need to add 2 to both sides of the equation, resulting in x = 9.

Question 9Figure Classification

The three figures below are alike in one way. Which answer figure belongs with them?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

What the three figures share: all figures share the same fill. A shares it too. The others don't: B repeats an exemplar's shape but breaks the shared property; C does not share the property; D matches the shapes but not the shared fill; E solid black instead of the shared property.

Question 10Verbal Analogies
Complete the analogy: CATERPILLAR is to BUTTERFLY as SEED is to ___
  1. Aplant
  2. Bfrog
  3. Cbear
  4. Doak
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

The relationship is "what it grows or turns into." caterpillar → butterfly, so seed → plant.

CogAT FAQ

How many questions are on the real CogAT?

A full CogAT has 118–176 questions depending on level, split across the Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal batteries. Younger levels have fewer questions with teacher-read instructions.

What score does my child need for a gifted program?

Most programs look for a composite around the 95th–98th percentile, but cutoffs vary by district — check your program's exact requirement.

Are these real CogAT questions?

No — they're original practice questions written to match the CogAT's question types, difficulty, and pacing. Real test items are confidential; anyone selling 'real questions' should be avoided.

More free CogAT practice

KindergartenGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7🖨️ Printable Grade 8 pack (PDF) →Parent's guide to the CogAT →

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