Gifted Testing in Howard County Public Schools
Ellicott City · Howard County · Maryland
- Students
- 57,325
- Schools
- 77
- Setting
- Suburban
Howard County Public Schools serves about 57,325 students across 77 schools in Howard County. Like most U.S. districts, it identifies students for its gifted & talented program largely through a cognitive ability test. Its own gifted pages name the CogAT. Below is how identification typically works and how to prepare.
Which test does Howard use?
This district's own gifted pages name the CogAT. Start free CogAT practice below — and confirm the current test and timeline with the district's gifted office, since programmes change year to year.
“**All CogAT Percentiles and Composite scores are Grade Percentile Rank (GPR) To learn more about the CogAT assessment’s purpose and format, please refer to the What Is CogAT? resource provided by the publisher, Riverside Insights.”
Try three real CogAT-style questions
From our own bank, at about the level Howard County Public Schools screens. Pick an answer to see the reasoning.
Question 1 · Number Analogies
Find the missing number: 7 → 21 ; 3 → 9 ; 10 → ___Question 2 · Sentence Completion
My jacket has a ____ so I can pull it over my head when it rains.Question 3 · Number Series
What number comes next? 41, 39, 37, 35, ___
Three questions can't tell you where your child stands. The free diagnostic can.
Take the free CogAT diagnosticNo signup needed to start.
How qualifying scores work
Most gifted programs use a percentile cutoff — often around the 95th–98th percentile, sometimes against national norms and sometimes against local (district) norms. The exact cutoff for Howard County Public Schools can change yearly and may differ by grade or program, so confirm the current threshold with the district. We never publish a cutoff we can't verify.
Testing window & official info
Gifted screening is usually scheduled in the fall (around September–October) for the coming school year, though some districts also test in spring. Windows vary — confirm the exact dates with your district.
“The Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) offer various opportunities. For Advanced Mathematics, all Grade 3 students and new students are screened using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Math. Curriculum Extension Units consider MAP and CogAT scores, classroom achievement, and learning behaviors. Primary Talent Development is for all Pre-K through 2nd grade students.”
Read the district's gifted pageFrom the district's own site, read 2026-09-04.
How to prepare
- Take a free diagnostic to see where your child stands on How to Prep for the CogAT — A Parent's Guide (Grades K–8)-style reasoning.
- Practice each question type — verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning — with adaptive, verified questions.
- Build familiarity and pacing so test day feels routine, not stressful.
- Track a readiness percentile and focus practice on the weakest areas.
See where your child stands
A free diagnostic gives a readiness estimate in minutes — no signup needed to try.
Take the free CogAT diagnosticOne practice question + one practical gifted-prep tip each week. No sales pitch — unsubscribe anytime.
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Something out of date here?If you're a parent or an administrator in Howard County Public Schools and the test, timeline, or process has changed, tell us at info@iprepgenius.com and we'll verify it against the district and correct the page. That's the same route our editorial policy commits us to for every claim we publish.
iPrepGenius is an independent study resource, not affiliated with or endorsed by Howard County Public Schools or any test publisher. Program details are a starting guide — always verify current testing windows and cutoffs with the district.