Determine which pictures belong to the same group based on a shared - CogAT Grades K 2

SECTION 1

Why Do We Sort Things Into Groups?

People have always liked to put things into groups. When you clean your room, you put toys in one bin and books on a shelf. That is sorting! Sorting helps us find things and understand the world.

A long time ago, scientists started sorting animals, plants, and rocks so they could learn about them. Today, your brain sorts things every day. When you see a dog, a cat, and a fish, your brain says, "Those are all animals!" That is grouping.

Long Ago • People Sort Food

Early people sorted berries, nuts, and seeds to know what was safe to eat.

In School • Kids Learn to Sort

Children learn to sort shapes, colors, and sizes in class.

On Tests • Grouping on the CogAT

The CogAT test asks you to look at pictures and find which ones go together.

Every Day • You Sort All the Time!

You sort your crayons by color, your clothes by type, and your toys by kind.

On the CogAT, you will see a row of pictures. You need to figure out what they share. Then you pick another picture that belongs in the same group. Let's learn how!

SECTION 2

What Does "Shared" Mean?

When pictures belong to the same group, they have something in common. That means there is something the same about all of them. We call that a shared feature.

Same Category

The pictures might all be the same kind of thing. A dog, a cat, and a bird are all animals.

Same Use

The pictures might all be used for the same thing. A fork, a spoon, and a knife are all for eating.

Same Place

The pictures might all be found in the same place. A bed, a pillow, and a blanket are all in a bedroom.

Same Shape or Color

Sometimes pictures share a shape or color. A ball, a globe, and an orange are all round.

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of it like a toy box with a label. If the box says "Things That Fly," then an airplane, a bird, and a kite go in the box. A shoe does NOT go in the box because shoes do not fly!

SECTION 3

See How Grouping Works

Look at the picture below. It shows how we find a group. First, we look at the pictures we are given. Then we ask, "What do they all share?" Finally, we pick the answer that fits.

The top row shows an apple, a banana, and grapes. They are all fruit. The orange is also a fruit, so it belongs in the group. The car and book do not.

See how it works? You look at the top pictures first. You think about what they all are. Then you find the answer that matches.

SECTION 4

Steps to Solve a Grouping Question

Every time you see a grouping question, you can follow the same easy steps. Think of these steps as your secret plan!

Look at All the Pictures

Name each picture in your head. Say what you see: "I see a hat, a shoe, and a glove."

Ask: What Do They Share?

Think about what is the SAME. A hat, a shoe, and a glove are all things you wear!

Check Each Answer

Look at every answer choice. Ask: "Is this something you wear too?"

Pick the Best Match

Choose the picture that fits the group best. A scarf is something you wear. A table is not!

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Helpful Tip!

If you are stuck, try to give the group a name. Say, "This is the animals group" or "This is the things that are round group." Naming the group makes it easier to pick the right answer!

SECTION 5

Different Kinds of Groups You Might See

On the CogAT, you will see many kinds of groups. Some are easy to spot. Some need a little more thinking. Let's look at the different kinds so you are ready!

This chart shows five different kinds of groups: animals, vehicles, clothing, food, and kitchen things. Each group has a name that tells you what the pictures share.

Notice that each group has a name. When you can name the group, you can find the right answer. Some groups are about what something is (like animals). Other groups are about where something is found (like things in a kitchen) or what something does (like things that fly).

SECTION 6

Let's Solve One Together!

Let's try a grouping question step by step. Imagine you see pictures of a piano, a drum, and a guitar. Your answer choices are: a chair, a trumpet, and a tree.

Finding the Group: Musical Instruments

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Step 1 — Name Each Picture

Say what you see: "I see a piano, a drum, and a guitar." Now say the answer choices: "I see a chair, a trumpet, and a tree."
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Step 2 — Find What They Share

Ask yourself: What do a piano, a drum, and a guitar all have in common? They all make music! They are all musical instruments.

Group name: Musical Instruments
3
Step 3 — Check Each Answer

Is a chair a musical instrument? No. Is a trumpet a musical instrument? Yes! Is a tree a musical instrument? No.
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Step 4 — Pick the Best Match

The trumpet is the only one that makes music like a piano, drum, and guitar. The answer is the trumpet!

Answer: Trumpet ✓

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REMEMBER THIS!

Always give the group a name first. Once you know the name, checking the answers is easy! It is like knowing the password to a secret club — only the right pictures can get in.

SECTION 7

Watch Out for Tricky Parts!

Some questions try to trick you. Let's learn what to watch out for so you don't get fooled!

Tricky Part	What It Looks Like	What To Do
Two answers seem right	A sun and a lamp both give light, but only one is a star like the moon and planets.	Pick the one that fits the BEST group name.
The group is not obvious	A key, a door, and a window — they do not look alike but they are all parts of a house!	Think about where you find them or what they do.
Pictures look similar	A ball and an orange are both round, but the group might be about fruit, not shapes.	Check ALL the pictures in the group, not just one.

Common tricky parts and how to handle them

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KEY TAKEAWAY

If you feel stuck, look at ALL the group pictures together. The right group name must fit EVERY picture, not just one or two. It is like a puzzle — every piece must fit!

SECTION 8

Getting Even Better at Grouping

As you practice more, the groups might get harder. Here is what easier and harder questions look like.

Easier Questions	Harder Questions
The pictures look alike (all are animals).	The pictures do NOT look alike but share a hidden link (all found in a park).
Only one answer could be right.	Two answers seem close, but one fits better.
The group name is a simple word ("toys").	The group name needs more thinking ("things that use electricity").

How questions get harder over time

Don't worry! The same four steps always work. Look, think, check, and pick. The more you practice, the faster your brain will find the group name. Soon it will feel easy!

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Fun Practice Idea

Try playing a grouping game at home! Pick three things from your room and ask a friend or family member to guess what they have in common. Then switch and let them pick three things for you.

SECTION 9

Practice Problems

Now it is your turn! Try these five problems. Think about the steps: look, think, check, and pick. The answers are below each question.

Question 1: CONCEPTUAL

You see pictures of a dog, a cat, and a hamster. Which one belongs with the group: a table, a rabbit, or a pencil?

Show answer

The answer is the rabbit. A dog, a cat, and a hamster are all animals that people keep as pets. A rabbit is also a pet. A table is furniture, and a pencil is a school supply. They are not pets.

Question 2: BASIC CALCULATION

You see pictures of a crayon, a marker, and a paintbrush. Which one belongs: a cup, a colored pencil, or a fork?

Show answer

The answer is the colored pencil. A crayon, a marker, and a paintbrush are all things you use to draw or paint. A colored pencil is also used for drawing. A cup is for drinking, and a fork is for eating.

Question 3: INTERMEDIATE

You see pictures of a bed, a couch, and a chair. Which one belongs: a lamp, a table, or a butterfly?

Show answer

The answer is the table. This one is tricky! A bed, a couch, and a chair are all furniture — things you find inside a house that you sit or lie on. A table is also furniture. A lamp gives light but is not furniture you sit on. A butterfly is an animal that lives outside.

Question 4: APPLIED

You see pictures of rain, snow, and a cloud. Which one belongs: a book, sunshine, or a shoe?

Show answer

The answer is sunshine. Rain, snow, and a cloud are all types of weather — things you see in the sky that tell you what it is like outside. Sunshine is also a type of weather. A book is something you read, and a shoe is something you wear. They are not weather.

Question 5: CRITICAL THINKING

You see pictures of a key, a scissors, and a coin. Which one belongs: a ball, a nail, or a cloud?

Show answer

The answer is a nail. This is a tough one! A key, scissors, and a coin are all made of metal. A nail is also made of metal. A ball can be made of rubber or plastic, and a cloud is made of water drops in the sky. The shared feature here is the material they are made of, not what they do.

SUMMARY

Let's Review What We Learned!

Summary

On the CogAT, you will see pictures and need to find which ones belong to the same group. The pictures in a group share something called a shared feature. This could be the same category (like all being animals), the same use (like all being for drawing), or the same place (like all being in a kitchen).

Remember the four steps: look at all the pictures, think about what they share, check each answer, and pick the best match. Giving the group a name makes it much easier. You can do this!