NNAT Practice for California

The NNAT-3 (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, third edition) is California's most popular GATE screener for districts with high English-learner populations. If you're in Cupertino, Fremont, Palo Alto, Irvine, Newport-Mesa, or Tustin, your child is most likely being assessed with the NNAT.

Not sure which test your district uses? Start with our GATE testing in California guide for the full district-by-district breakdown.

Why the NNAT is different

The NNAT is 100% nonverbal — every question is shapes and patterns, no words at all. That makes it:

• Fairer for English Language Learners — no vocabulary disadvantage
• Less coachable — you can't "study vocabulary" your way up
• Quick — only 30 minutes vs. 40+ for OLSAT
• Heavily reliant on visual pattern detection — the entire test is one type of skill

This is why districts with high bilingual populations (much of the Bay Area, Orange County, parts of Sacramento and SF) prefer it.

Which NNAT level will my child take?

Level	Grades	Questions
A	K	48
B	1	48
C	2	48
D	3–4	48
E	5–6	48
F/G	7–12	48

All levels are 30 minutes. Most California 3rd graders take Level D.

The 4 question types on the NNAT

1. Pattern Completion

A picture has a piece missing. Your child picks the option that completes the visible pattern. Easiest type — usually first on the test.

2. Reasoning by Analogy

Two shapes show a relationship; pick the option that completes a parallel relationship for a third shape. Like a verbal analogy ("dog : puppy :: cat : ?") but with shapes.

3. Serial Reasoning

A sequence of shapes follows a rule (rotate, change color, swap positions). Pick the next shape in the sequence.

4. Spatial Visualization

The hardest type. Mentally rotate, fold, or combine shapes. A 2D pattern that becomes a 3D shape when folded; pick which 3D option matches.

Where most kids lose points: Spatial Visualization, especially mental rotation. This is the area where 5-10 minutes of weekly practice can move scores meaningfully.

NAI scoring explained

The NNAT reports a Naglieri Ability Index (NAI), normed to your child's age (not grade). NAI 100 = exactly average. The math is the same as IQ-style scoring.

NAI Range	Percentile	Interpretation
85–115	~16th–84th	Average
116–129	~85th–97th	Above average
130–135	~98th	Most CA GATE cutoff
140+	~99.5th	Highly Gifted programs (Cupertino HGM, etc.)
145+	99.9th+	Profoundly gifted

A 4-week NNAT prep plan

• Week 1: Show your child each of the 4 question types. Use library puzzle books or free sample questions.
• Weeks 2–3: 20-minute sessions, 3-4 times a week. Focus on whichever type they struggle with — usually Spatial Visualization.
• Week 4: Taper to 2 sessions of 15 minutes. The day before: rest, no practice.

The biggest NNAT-specific tip: practice with paper and pencil, not on a screen. The test is administered on paper at most CA schools. Mental rotation feels different on paper.

NNAT vs. OLSAT — which is "easier"?

Neither. They measure overlapping but different abilities. A child can score NAI 135 on NNAT and SAI 110 on OLSAT (strong nonverbal, weaker verbal), or vice versa. Some districts give both and use the higher score; some give only one.

Don't try to "switch tests" by moving districts — qualification doesn't transfer, and prep for one isn't great prep for the other.

For ELL families

The NNAT was specifically designed to reduce language bias in gifted identification. If your child is bilingual or learning English, the NNAT is your best chance at a fair gifted assessment. Many CA districts use NNAT specifically for ELL students even when they use OLSAT for native English speakers — ask your GATE coordinator about this option.

Want the OLSAT or CogAT version of this guide? Read our OLSAT California guide or CogAT California guide.

---

NNAT and Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test are trademarks of Pearson Education. CAASPPTest is independent and not affiliated with Pearson, the California Department of Education, or any official test publisher.