NNAT3 Overview

Northshore School District uses the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3) as one of its screening tools. Screeners are used to identify students with the potential for Highly Capable Program eligibility. Screening results will be communicated to schools and families in the late winter or early spring. 

What is the NNAT3? The NNAT3 is a measure of general ability. 

What level of the NNAT3 will be administered to my student? Level administered is determined by the student’s birth date. Therefore, students within any grade level classroom may receive different levels of the NNAT3. The date of birth is entered during a student’s account creation, and the NNAT3 platform generates the level presented to the student. 

My student is color-blind. Can they still take the NNAT3? The design of the NNAT3 items makes its use fair and appropriate with students who have hearing, language, or motor impariments, or who have impaired color vision. 

How is the NNAT3 administered? The NNAT3 is administered on a laptop. Students take the test during the school day. Students are given 30 minutes to complete the test. Extended time is available for students with documented extended time accommodations. Proctors follow directions for administration in order to ensure district-wide consistency of administration.

When is the NNAT3 typically administered? The department typically administers the NNAT3 each winter. 

How is performance on the NNAT3 measured? The score obtained from the NNAT3 is called the Naglieri Ability Index (NAI). A NAI of 100 is considered average, and 95% of students will score between 68 and 132. The Highly Capable Department uses a student’s National Percentile Rank (NPR) to determine eligibility for further testing. The NPR indicates how the student performed relative to other test-takers in their age group. A student with an NPR of 86 performed as well as, or better than, 86% of their same-age peers. An NPR between 25 and 75 is considered to be within the average range. 

What is the connection between my student’s NNAT3 percentile and classroom performance? The NNAT3 is a measure of a student’s cognitive ability. A student need not read, write, or speak English in order to take part in the test. The NNAT3 is not a measure of classroom performance and is not correlated to the standards and content of focus in a student’s current grade level. It is possible that a student will achieve a high NNAT3 percentile score, yet score differently on tools that measure academic achievement. 

How is the NNAT3 used in the HiCap eligibility process? NNAT3 performance is one data point within a larger portfolio of data. The NNAT3 alone will not qualify nor disqualify a student from potential eligibility for Highly Capable services.