This September, Pine Mountain's 7th graders will take two important national assessments: the CogAT on September 9, and the Iowa Assessments from September 14–17. Here's what these tests are, why they matter, and how families can help students give it their best.
Testing Dates
- CogAT: September 9
- Iowa Assessments: September 14–17
What Is the CogAT?
The CogAT, or Cognitive Abilities Test, is different from a typical subject-area test. It doesn't measure what a student has memorized — instead, it measures how a student thinks and solves problems using words, numbers, and shapes. Schools use CogAT results alongside Iowa Assessments results to get a fuller picture of each student's learning potential and growth.
What Is the Iowa Assessments?
The Iowa Assessments is a national test that has been trusted by schools for more than 85 years. It measures what students have actually learned in reading, language, math, science, and social studies, and tracks academic growth over time.
Why This Testing Matters
These are not tests where students compete against their classmates or their teacher's expectations. Instead, they compare each student's performance to students in the same grade across the entire country. A student's results show exactly where they stand next to thousands of other 7th graders nationwide.
This matters more than students may realize. The same students taking these tests in other states are the students our students will one day compete against for scholarships, college admission, and spots in trade schools and career programs. Colleges, scholarship committees, and employers compare students to peers across the whole country — not just to classmates down the hall. A strong performance now builds a record of achievement that can open doors later.
The results also give parents and students a clear picture of where a child is strong and where they may need to improve. If a student is behind in an area like reading, math, or science, the results show it early — giving families and teachers time to address it before it becomes a bigger gap.
This Is the Last Assessment of Its Kind in K–12
This is worth noting: this is the last time our 7th graders will take this type of assessment during their K–12 experience. There won't be another chance later on to get this same national comparison. The only way to get an accurate picture of where a student truly stands is for the student to take the test seriously and give real effort on every section. We strongly encourage students to treat this testing window as an important opportunity.
How Students Can Earn a Reward
We want to celebrate strong effort and strong results. Any student who scores at the 65th percentile or higher on the Iowa Assessments will:
- Have their name displayed on our Wall of Achievement in the main hallway
- Receive three free drinks to use anytime during lunch
Scoring at the 65th percentile means a student did better than 65 out of 100 students nationwide at the same grade level — a meaningful, achievable goal for students who prepare and give their best effort.
How Families Can Help
Here are a few simple ways to support your student before and during both testing windows:
- Make sure your child gets a full night's sleep before each testing day
- Provide a healthy breakfast on testing mornings
- Encourage your child to read a little each night in the weeks leading up to testing
- Remind your child that their best effort is what matters most
Let's Climb Together
We are proud of our Mustangs and know they are capable of great things. Because this is the last assessment of its kind before finishing school, we want every student to walk away with an honest, accurate result to be proud of.
Questions about testing? Contact Dr. David Nelson, Principal, at 678-594-8252 or david.nelson@cobbk12.org.
