Naglieri Non

Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test

The Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test (NNAT ) is an ability test to determine if a child is gifted. Once a child passes the exam, the child can be placed in the appropriate academic program for advanced learning or classes for gifted children. The test is a matrix-reasoning ability test, which is comprised of diagrams and shapes that form patterns. This test is a Non Verbal Test. Non Verbal Tests are considered culture fair tests or "cultural-fair" and unbiased and can be taken by students who's primary language is not English nor whose ethnic or social background would hinder test results.

The Naglieri uses progressive matrices, which are fair for all examinee including minorities, those with hearing impairments, and those with impaired color vision. In addition, it is ideal for children who do not speak English as their first language and requires no reading, writing, or speaking (the child taking the test just point to the answer they believe is correct). The NNAT requires child to rely on reasoning and problem-solving skills, not verbal skills.

To quote David Wechsler, who developed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), defined general ability as

"The aggregate or global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with his environment."

Although nonverbal tests are especially useful for children with limited English-language skills, their value is not limited to that group. For example, children whose economic or social circumstances have limited their acquisition of knowledge and verbal skills may best be able to display their knowledge through such a test. They should and will earn good scores on tests of general ability. Taking nonverbal tests of ability will afford them the same opportunity to succeed as other children. Nonverbal tests are also useful for evaluating those with impaired hearing.

In summary, nonverbal tests such as the NNAT provide a valid way to measure general ability for all children. Researchers have found that they identify similar proportions of black, white, and Hispanic children as gifted. This suggests that the problem of under representation of minority children in classes for the gifted may be addressed by using such tests. Using nonverbal tests of general ability gives all children an equal opportunity to succeed.

-Jack A. Naglieri, PhD

The NNAT Identifies the Following Items

• Gifted students for whom English is a second language
• Children whose school performance may be considered poor because of limited English proficiency
• To identify At-risk students whose low nonverbal reasoning ability may indicate potential academic problems
• To identify children who may have a learning disability and require further diagnostic testing

Time of Test: The child is given 30 minutes to complete 39 multiple choice questions and the total test time is approximately 40 minutes.

Segments of the Naglieri

For the rest of this quote, please visit Wikipedia.org, The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test is a nonverbal measure of general ability. There are three versions of this test. First is the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test - Individual Form published in 2004. Two versions were published in 2007 and 2008, respectively. This includes the group administered Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test - Second Edition and the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test - Online version. These tests have great utility for fair assessment of ability for students who come from culturally or linguistically diverse populations, and those who are hard of hearing or deaf because the questions do not require reading, writing, or speaking.[citation needed]These tests are particularly effective for identification of gifted minority children."

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