Cognitive Assessments: What to Expect & FAQs
A cognitive assessment helps us understand how a child thinks, learns, and processes information. It identifies strengths, areas of difficulty, and the type of support that may be helpful at school or home. Our Educational Psychologists aim to make the experience relaxed, supportive, and reassuring for both children and parents.
Before the Assessment
No preparation is required. There is no need to practise or revise beforehand. You can explain to your child that they will be doing some puzzles, games, and questions with a psychologist to help understand how they learn. There is no pass or fail.
If your child feels anxious, please don’t worry. We are experienced in working with anxious children and will take time to help them feel comfortable.
We ask parents/ guardians and where appropriate, the school, to answer questionnaires about the child’s development, to paint a wider picture of their home and school life.
During the Assessment
Your child will work one-to-one with Katherine for approximately two hours. The session may include:
puzzles and problem-solving tasks
memory and thinking activities
questions or discussions
reading and writing tasks, where appropriate
The assessment is structured but informal, and breaks are offered as needed. The pace is always adapted to your child.
After the Assessment
Following the session, the psychologist will analyse the results and prepare a detailed written report. The report explains your child’s cognitive profile in clear language and includes practical recommendations to support learning and development at home and in school.
Reports can be shared with schools or other professionals if you choose
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the assessment take?
Most cognitive assessments take around two hours.
Is this like an exam?
No. The tasks are designed to be engaging and supportive, not test-like.
Will this lead to a diagnosis?
A cognitive assessment helps identify learning profiles and areas of difficulty. Further assessment may be needed for formal diagnoses, depending on the concern.
What tests are used?
We use recognised, evidence-based tools such as the Wechsler scales and other standardised measures.
Is everything confidential?
Yes. All assessments and reports are treated as strictly confidential.