Picture Analogies
A bird goes with a nest. A bee goes with…? Kids find how two pictures are related and use the same rule.
Free printable sampler
Get the free Grade 1 practice pack
Ten original picture puzzles to print and solve together, with answers and a short guide for grown-ups. Enter your email and we’ll send you the PDF.
What’s inside
- 10 practice questions covering verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning
- Answer key with a one-line “why” for every answer
- Star score sheet and a certificate your child can color in
- “How to coach” page: what to say when your child is stuck
- 4-week checklist for 10 minutes a day
What kids practice
9 question types in 3 areas
Gifted and talented screeners like the CogAT® look at how children reason with words, numbers and shapes. Our episodes and printables practice the same nine kinds of questions, grouped the same way.
Verbal
Words and ideas, shown with pictures
Sentence CompletionEpisodes soon
A short question is read aloud, and kids pick the picture that answers it.
Picture Classification
Three pictures belong together. Which one belongs with them? Kids name what the group has in common.
Quantitative
Numbers, amounts and patterns
Number Analogies
Spot the change from one amount to the next (like “2 more”), then do the same thing again.
Number Puzzles
Find the missing amount that makes both sides the same.
Number Series
What comes next? Kids find the counting pattern and keep it going.
Nonverbal
Shapes, space and visual patterns
Figure Matrices
Shapes change across a grid. Kids work out the change and pick the shape that completes it.
Paper FoldingEpisodes soon
Fold the paper, punch a hole, open it up. Where do the holes end up?
Figure Classification
Three shapes are alike in some way. Kids find the rule and choose the shape that fits.
At the K–2 levels, test questions are mostly pictures and the teacher reads the directions aloud, so children don’t need to read. Our videos work the same way: every question is spoken by Acorn, our host.
Watch together
Free Grade 1 practice episodes
Each episode is about 6 minutes: 15 original questions, a friendly countdown, and a clear answer with the reason. Pause any time your child wants more thinking time.
Printables
Coming soonPrintable practice packs
Print-and-solve worksheets that match the episodes, with answer keys, score sheets and notes for grown-ups. The packs are almost ready. Join the list to hear first, and get the free Grade 1 pack now.
Grade 1 Sampler
10 questions, answer key, score sheet, coaching page and a 4-week checklist.
Get it free
Unit Packs
One pack per unit (Getting Started, Patterns, Relationships…).
- 5 episode worksheets + answer keys
- Score sheets and a certificate
- Bonus questions not in the videos
Full Grade 1 Pack
Every unit in one download, from first puzzles to test-ready practice.
- All 6 units + 6 challenge reviews
- Parent guide for all 9 question types
- Progress tracker
Be the first to know when the packs are ready.
Join the listFor parents
10 minutes a day is plenty
Short, relaxed practice works best. Here’s a simple routine that fits around school, homework and play.
1
Watch together
Sit with your child for one episode, or print one worksheet page.
2
Pause and point
Let your child point to A, B, C or D before the answer shows. Pause whenever they need more time.
3
Ask “What’s your rule?”
Explaining why builds more reasoning than getting the answer right.
4
Stop while it’s fun
Count the stars, praise the effort, and come back tomorrow.
Short guides for grown-ups
What’s on the test for 1st grade? All 9 question types explainedVideo for parents · coming soon
How to prepare your child: a 4-week Grade 1 planVideo for parents · coming soon
How to use our free videos at homeVideo for parents · coming soon
What is the CogAT?
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT®) is a reasoning test from Riverside Insights. Many U.S. school districts use it, sometimes as a shorter screener, to help find students for gifted and talented programs.
The full test has 9 short subtests grouped into 3 batteries: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal. It looks at how children reason with words, numbers and shapes, not at what they’ve memorized in class. Each district decides how it uses the results.
Which level does a 1st grader take?
First graders usually take Level 7. Your district chooses the level, the form, and whether to give the full test or a shorter screener, so check with your school.
Is it timed?
At the K–2 levels the publisher describes the subtests as untimed: the teacher reads each question aloud and sets the pace for the group, and each battery is usually given in its own session. Ask your school how testing days are planned.
Our videos use a short, friendly countdown just to keep things moving. Pause whenever your child needs more time.
Are these real test questions?
No. Every Gifted Acorns question is original: we write and check each one to practice the same kinds of thinking. We never use or copy real test items or the publisher’s sample questions.
Practice can make the format feel familiar and build confidence, but no practice material can promise a score or a place in a program.
Is Gifted Acorns affiliated with Riverside Insights?
No. Gifted Acorns is independent. CogAT® is a registered trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC (Riverside Insights), and we use the name only to describe the kind of test our practice is designed for.
How do I use the videos?
Watch together, on a big screen if you can. Acorn reads each question aloud. Your child points to or says A, B, C or D, then you watch the answer and the reason together. Pause whenever they need more time, and rewatch an episode a few days later. One episode a day is plenty.
When will my child be tested?
It depends on your district. Many schools test in the fall or in winter (January–February). Check your district’s gifted program page or ask your child’s teacher for dates.