Education

Cognitive Abilities Test 3

Students at work

Performance Indicators

At a glance

What it is:

CAT tests numerical, non-verbal and verbal reasoning and provides indicators of future results in national tests.

Who it’s for:

7 years 6 months – 17+. CAT is administered by teachers and SENCOs.

Format:

Print and Digital

Introduction

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT) is the most widely used test of reasoning abilities (numerical, non-verbal and verbal reasoning) in the UK. Used to understand individual pupil potential and learning styles, CAT will help to inform your decision-making and target-setting.

CAT measures the three principal forms of reasoning – verbal, non-verbal and numerical – as well as an element of spatial ability, allowing you to test the full range with an entire class or year. The data that CAT3 provides can be used to enhance all aspects of the teaching and learning process, from organising classes to predicting future educational attainment.

Two thirds of all secondary schoolchildren in the UK take CAT every year, not least because its results are used to build understanding of individual potential and learning styles, and to assess the most effective teaching methods for individual children.

CAT Digital is the digital version of the test, available via the Testwise portal, that gives you and your pupils faster results, a more motivating test experience and greater flexibility in administering the tests.

Benefits

CAT Benefits

Provides indicators of outcomes at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, including 30 GCSEs, 24 Scottish Standard Grades and 19 AS or A level subjects.
Identifies pupils’ strengths, needs and learning preferences.
Standardised scores allow you to compare your pupils’ results.
Informs target-setting and the development of individual learning plans.
A sound basis for year-on-year comparisons.
A measure of the added-value that your school creates for its pupils.
Tests various reasoning abilities - numerical, non-verbal and verbal reasoning

CAT Digital Benefits

Teachers get the same quality, rigour and reliable information delivered by CAT paper tests.
CAT Digital removes the burden of test administration, as all practice, instructions and timings are computer administered.
Instant scoring gives you results at the touch of a button.
Fast feedback is motivating for pupils and saves you hours of marking time.
Flexible digital format enables you to analyse results with ease and integrate them with other school information.
Computer-based assessment feels more relevant and less formal for pupils.
CAT provides full continuity of data for schools moving from paper to digital assessments.

Which CAT levels to use

The following table shows the recommended levels to use for different year groups. There are a few exceptional situations in which a school or college may choose to use a lower or higher level of CAT with a group of students. Examples include: a selective school testing highly able pupils where the next level up may be used; or a school/college with a predominantly less able intake, where the next level down may be appropriate. It must be emphasised that such cases are the exception rather than the rule.

CAT Level	Age Range	England and Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland
A	7:06 to 9:11	Year 4	Primary 5	Year 5 (P5)
B	8:06 to 10:11	Year 5	Primary 6	Year 6 (P6)
C	9:06 to 11:11	Year 6	Primary 7	Year 7 (P7)
D	10:06 to 12:11	Year 7	Secondary 1	Year 8 (F1)
E	11:06 to 13:11	Year 8	Secondary 2	Year 9 (F2)
F	12:06 to 14:11	Year 9	Secondary 3	Year 10 (F3)
G	13:06 to 15:11	Year 10	Secondary 4	Year 11 (F4)
H	14:06 to 17:00+	Year 11 +	Secondary 5+	Year 12 (F5)+