In short
In Ontario the CCAT is a group screener given in class, usually in grade 3. The WISC-V is an individual test given one-on-one by a psychologist or psychometrist to children who scored high on the screener.
The CCAT decides who goes forward. The WISC-V result goes to the identification committee. In York Region, the bar at that stage is a General Ability Index at or above the 98th percentile.
You can prepare for the format of the CCAT. The WISC-V is different: it is built so that practice changes very little, and psychologists ask families not to rehearse it.
Key facts
| CCAT 7 | WISC-V | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Group test in the classroom | One-on-one with an examiner |
| Who gives it | Teachers or school staff | Psychologist or psychometrist |
| Stage | Stage 1 screener | Stage 2 assessment |
| Who takes it | Usually all grade 3 students in boards with universal screening | Students who scored high on the screener |
| What it measures | Verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning | Verbal comprehension, visual spatial, fluid reasoning, working memory, processing speed |
| Key score | Age-based score and percentile | Full Scale IQ and General Ability Index (GAI) |
What does each test decide?
The CCAT is a filter. It is cheap to give to a whole grade and catches children whose reasoning stands out. It does not identify a child as gifted on its own.
The WISC-V is the detailed look. In York Region, a child needs a GAI at or above the 98th percentile on the WISC-V before going to the Identification, Placement and Review Committee, the IPRC, which makes the formal decision.
How are the two tests different for a child?
The CCAT feels like a long worksheet: the whole class works through multiple-choice questions with time limits. The WISC-V feels like a conversation and puzzle session with one adult: blocks, pictures, spoken questions and memory tasks, usually over about an hour or more.
A child who freezes in a quiet classroom may do better one-on-one, and a child who is shy with adults may do better in a group. Both are normal.
What is the General Ability Index?
The GAI is a WISC-V score built from the verbal comprehension, visual spatial and fluid reasoning parts. It leaves out working memory and processing speed. Boards use it for gifted decisions because it reflects reasoning more than speed.
A child with a strong GAI and a lower processing speed score is common, and the GAI is the number that counts in York Region.
Can you prepare for the CCAT and the WISC-V?
For the CCAT, familiarity helps: knowing what a figure matrix or a number series looks like means your child spends time on reasoning, not on reading instructions. The Toronto District School Board asks families not to practice the test itself, and original practice questions with the same formats are a different thing from real items.
For the WISC-V, the honest answer is to let your child arrive rested and relaxed. Rehearsing WISC tasks can make a result invalid, and psychologists ask families to avoid it.
Can you get a private WISC-V?
Yes. Families can pay a registered psychologist for a private assessment, and boards often consider it. Fees vary widely between clinics, so ask for a written quote and ask whether the report will include the GAI and the percentile your board uses. Before booking, ask the school how they treat private reports and whether timing matters.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the CCAT result is the decision. It only decides who goes forward to the next stage.
- Comparing a CCAT score with a WISC-V score directly. Different tests, different scales. Look at percentiles and at what the board asks for.
- Coaching for the WISC-V. It can make the result unusable.
- Booking a private test without asking the school first. Boards have rules about timing and which reports they accept.
- Missing the IPRC letter. Parents are invited to the meeting and can bring questions. Read the letter as soon as it arrives.
What to do next
If grade 3 screening is ahead, read how Ontario grade 3 gifted screening works and how the CCAT relates to the CogAT. If you already have a WISC-V report, this guide to the 98th percentile explains what the numbers mean.
FAQ
The CCAT is a group screener given in the classroom, usually in grade 3 in Ontario. The WISC-V is an individual test given one-on-one by a psychologist or psychometrist. The CCAT decides who goes forward, and the WISC-V result goes to the identification committee.
York Region District School Board asks for a General Ability Index at or above the 98th percentile on the WISC-V. That is roughly a GAI of 130 to 131. The case then goes to the Identification, Placement and Review Committee for the formal decision.
Usually not. In boards such as York Region and Toronto, a high CCAT score leads to an individual assessment. The formal identification comes later, at the Identification, Placement and Review Committee, based on the full results.
The General Ability Index combines the verbal comprehension, visual spatial and fluid reasoning parts of the WISC-V. It leaves out working memory and processing speed, so it reflects reasoning more than speed. Many boards use it for gifted decisions.
No. The WISC-V is designed for children who have not rehearsed its tasks, and practicing them can make the result unusable. Let your child arrive rested and relaxed. Practice with general puzzle formats is fine for the CCAT stage.
Yes. A registered psychologist can give a private WISC-V, and many boards consider private reports. Ask the school first about timing and which reports they accept, and ask the clinic whether the report includes the GAI and percentiles.
It usually takes about an hour or more, one-on-one with an examiner, sometimes split into sessions. The child works with blocks, pictures, spoken questions and memory tasks. The psychologist then scores it and writes a report for parents and the school.
Sources
York Region two-stage process and the 98th percentile GAI: YRDSB Gifted Screening Procedure. Toronto universal screening and the request not to practice the test: TDSB Universal Screening. CCAT 7 structure: Nelson, CCAT 7. Board procedures change, so confirm details with your school. Checked 30 October 2026.
Prep4Gifted practice questions are original and written by our team. Prep4Gifted is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Riverside Insights (CogAT), Nelson (CCAT) or Pearson (WISC, NNAT, OLSAT). Test names are trademarks of their owners.
Getting ready for the CCAT? The free readiness check uses original questions in the same formats and shows which areas feel easy and which need practice.
