The Talented and Gifted (TAG) program in the Fulton County School System provides enriching experiences for the intellectually advanced and exceptionally creative student.  Gifted services are available in all Fulton County schools for students in kindergarten through grade 12.   
 
For any child who is referred for gifted testing, Fulton County Schools is required to gather information in the following areas:  Mental Ability, Creativity, Achievement, and Motivation  The instruments selected for each area meet the guidelines of Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.38. 
  
What testing instruments may be used to determine if my child is eligible for TAG?   
The local school’s TAG Eligibility Team uses a child’s grade level, former testing experiences, and current classroom performance to determine exactly which testing instruments will be used.  The use of certain instruments requires parental consent before the instruments are administered.  During the testing process, the TAG Eligibility Team may request your consent to administer one or more of the following instruments:  Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT), Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT), and/or Stanford Achievement Test (STAT-10).  Each specific test is only administered once every two years.   
 
What is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)?   
The CogAT is a group-administered mental ability test, typically referred to as an IQ test.  The test has three batteries:  Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal.  The Verbal Battery appraises the child’s verbal inductive and deductive reasoning skills as well as flexibility, fluency, and adaptability in working with verbal materials and solving verbal problems.  The Quantitative Battery appraises high-level problem solving with quantitative symbols and concepts.  The Nonverbal Battery appraises general inductive reasoning skills in using and adapting cognitive strategies.  This battery contains the most novel problems and uses only geometric shapes and figures.  The battery requires no reading and no outside fund of knowledge.   
 
The CogAT is administered in three sections, each lasting approximately 30 minutes.  The resulting score for each battery is reported to parents as a national percentile ranking in the Mental Ability section on the TAG Eligibility Report.  The national percentile ranking allows you to compare your child’s results to others of the same age across the nation.  The typical child will score around the 50th percentile while a 96th percentile is the qualifying score for the mental ability category.  The CogAT is only administered once every two years. 
 
What is the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT)?   
The NNAT is a group-administered mental ability test that only measures nonverbal abilities.  It is similar to, but more in-depth, than the Nonverbal battery of the CogAT.  It consists of four sub-tests that require students to complete patterns, sequences, and analogies as well as combine two or more geometric designs.  The battery requires no reading and no outside fund of knowledge. 
 
The NNAT is administered in one 45-minute session.  The resulting score is reported as a national percentile ranking to parents in the Mental Ability section on the TAG Eligibility Report.  The 96th percentile is the qualifying score.  The NNAT is only administered once every two years. 
 
What is the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT)?   
The TTCT requires responses that are mainly drawing or pictorial in nature.  However, it does not measure artistic talent nor is artistic talent required to do well on the instrument.  The TTCT requires students to use their imagination, solve problems, think of new ideas, and elaborate on their ideas.   
 
 
The TTCT is administered in one 45-minute session.  The resulting score is reported as a national percentile ranking to parents in the Creativity section on the TAG Eligibility Report.  The 90th percentile is the qualifying score.  The TTCT is only administered once every two years. 
 
 
 
What is the Stanford Achievement Test (STAT-10)?   
The STAT-10 is similar to the Iowa Achievement test taken by all FCSS students in grades 3, 5, and 8.  Based upon demonstrated academic strengths, students will take either the reading or mathematics battery.  The STAT-10 measures concepts and skills typically taught at the grade level of the child.   
 
The STAT-10 is administered in 45-minute session.  The resulting score is reported as a national percentile ranking to parents in the Achievement section on the TAG Eligibility Report.  The 90th percentile is the qualifying score.  The STAT-10 is only administered once every two years and only as needed based upon students’ past testing history and grades. 
 
How are class grades used for TAG eligibility? 
Class grades are considered in both the Achievement and Motivation sections.  However, a grade used in one section cannot be used in the other section. 
 
In the area of Achievement, the qualifying score for middle school students is a cumulative average of 90 or greater on a scale of 1100 in an advanced or accelerated core academic course.  The qualifying score for high school students is a cumulative average of 85 or greater on a scale of 1-100 in an honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate course. 
 
In the area of Motivation, the qualifying score for middle school students is a cumulative average of 90 or greater on a scale of 1-100 in an advanced or accelerated core academic course.  The qualifying score for high school students is a cumulative average of 85 or greater on a scale of 1-100 in an honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate course.  In addition, for students in grades 8-12, a qualifying score is a cumulative average of 85 or greater on a scale of 1-100 over the last two years in core content courses. 
 
Is any other data gathered for possible TAG eligibility? 
For all grade levels, an individual first place or win in a district level academic competition can be used in either the Creativity or Motivation section.  This would include competitions such as the Fulton County spelling bee, technology fair, science fair, etc.  The win must be based on individual work, not as part of a team.  A competition win used in one section cannot be used in the other section. 
 
For high school students, a score of 90th percentile or greater on the SAT or PSAT can be used in the area of Achievement. 
 
Why is my child only being recommended for some instruments and not all of them?   
The TAG Eligibility Team will only one test for each category:  Mental Ability, Creativity, Achievement.  Based upon previous testing experiences and/or classroom performance, some students may already have information in their permanent record that can be used in one or more categories.  Students will not be tested unnecessarily.  The TAG Eligibility Team has more than one option of instruments for some categories.  The team will use all pertinent data about the student to select the best instrument.  The team will not exhaust all of its options in each category during this referral process.  If a student is found ineligible now, he or she needs additional time to mature before being referred again for TAG testing. 
 
How can I help my child prepare for these instruments?   
Preparation for any of these instruments cannot be done within a short period of time.  Knowledge or skills needed are developed as a result of all school and life experiences.  It is best for you to ensure that your student is well rested and has a nutritious breakfast for each day of school.