Gifted Test Grades Pre-K–12

Free OLSAT Practice Test

The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) measures abstract thinking and reasoning for learning new material. It's the primary gifted screening test for New York City's Gifted & Talented program and dozens of other districts nationwide.

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Test Structure

What the OLSAT Covers

The OLSAT tests both verbal and nonverbal reasoning across 21 question types. Understanding the breakdown helps you focus your child's preparation on the areas that matter most.

Verbal Section

Tests following directions, aural reasoning, arithmetic reasoning, and logical selection. Verbal questions account for roughly half the test.

Nonverbal Section

Uses figural analogies, series, and classification with geometric shapes. No reading required for this section.

NYC G&T Levels

OLSAT runs in levels A–G by grade. Level A is for pre-K/kindergarten. NYC uses OLSAT alongside NNAT for its gifted screening.

Study Strategy

Prep Tips for Parents

Read aloud together daily

Verbal OLSAT demands strong listening comprehension. Read to your child and ask "what came first?", "why did that happen?" after each page.

Practice direction-following

Give multi-step instructions: "put your left hand on your head, then point to something blue." This directly mirrors OLSAT's Following Directions questions.

Work on word relationships

"What do apple, orange, banana have in common?" and "which doesn't belong: cat, dog, rose, fish?" Verbal classification is a core OLSAT skill.

Do arithmetic word problems

OLSAT arithmetic reasoning is logic, not calculation: "If there are 5 birds and 2 fly away, how many are left?" Work through these verbally.

Time your practice

The OLSAT is timed and test anxiety is real. Practice answering questions under mild time pressure so test day doesn't feel unfamiliar.

Study Materials

Recommended Books

Handpicked study guides to complement your online practice. Affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

OLSAT Practice Test: Level A and Level B Prep

Practice for pre-K through 2nd grade OLSAT levels. Includes verbal and nonverbal sections with parent score guides.

$13.99 View on Amazon →

NYC Gifted and Talented Test Prep Workbook

Combines OLSAT and NNAT prep specifically for NYC G&T. Includes actual-format practice tests for both tests.

$17.99 View on Amazon →

Try a Question

See How You Do

Sample Question Verbal

Which word does NOT belong with the others?

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the OLSAT?

The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test measures abstract thinking, verbal reasoning, and nonverbal reasoning. It's one of the oldest school ability tests in the U.S., most famously used by NYC's Gifted & Talented program.

What districts use the OLSAT?

New York City, Nassau County, and dozens of other districts use the OLSAT for gifted screening. Check your district's website to confirm which test your school administers.

What is a good OLSAT score?

OLSAT results are reported as stanines (1–9). Stanine 7, 8, or 9 is above average. Most NYC gifted programs require a combined OLSAT/NNAT score at the 97th percentile or above.

What age does NYC test for G&T?

NYC tests pre-K (age 4) and kindergarten (age 5) for its Citywide Gifted Programs. Testing happens January–February for the following school year.

How is the OLSAT scored?

Raw scores convert to School Ability Indexes (SAI) then to stanines. NYC reports a composite percentile combining OLSAT and NNAT scores.