Academic Testing Purpose:
To evaluate what a person knows or has learned in core school subjects.
What it assesses:
● Reading skills (decoding, comprehension)
● Writing skills (spelling, composition)
● Math skills (calculation, problem-solving)
● Oral language (vocabulary, expression)
Cognitive Testing Purpose:
To assess how a person thinks, learns, and processes information—essentially measuring intellectual functioning.
What it evaluates:
● IQ (Intelligence Quotient)
● Memory (short-term, long-term, working memory)
● Processing speed
● Attention
● Problem-solving
● Language skills
● Visual-spatial reasoning
● Executive functioning (planning, organizing, controlling impulses)
How They Work Together:
In psychoeducational evaluations both tests are used together:
● Cognitive testing shows how a student learns.
● Academic testing shows what a student knows or struggles with.
● Comparing the two can reveal gaps between potential and performance, which is key in diagnosing learning differences.