At a glance
- Publisher
- GL Assessment
- Batteries
- Verbal, quantitative, non-verbal, spatial
- Ages
- About 6 to 17+, levels X, Y, Pre-A, A to G
- Average SAS
- 100 (standard deviation 15)
- Preparation
- GL says none is needed
The four batteries and their tests
| Battery | Tests | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | Verbal Classification, Verbal Analogies | Reasoning with words: important for language-heavy subjects |
| Quantitative reasoning | Number Analogies, Number Series | Using number relationships to solve problems, beyond school arithmetic |
| Non-verbal reasoning | Figure Classification, Figure Matrices | Problem solving with shapes and diagrams, with little reliance on language |
| Spatial ability | Figure Analysis, Figure Recognition | Thinking about shapes in space and holding images in mind: linked to many STEM subjects |
Source: GL Assessment CAT4 page and CAT4 administration guide. The youngest levels use fewer tests.
Levels by year group (England and Wales year groups)
| Level | Target year group | Age range of norms |
|---|---|---|
| X | Year 2 | 6:00 to 7:11 |
| Y | Year 3 | 7:01 to 8:11 |
| Pre-A | Year 3 | 6:06 to 8:11 |
| A | Year 4 | 7:06 to 9:11 |
| B | Year 5 | 8:06 to 10:11 |
| C | Year 6 | 9:06 to 11:11 |
| D | Year 7 | 10:06 to 12:11 |
| E | Year 8 | 11:06 to 13:11 |
| F | Years 9 and 10 | 12:06 to 15:11 |
| G | Year 11 and above | 14:06 to 17:00+ |
Source: CAT4 administration guide, recommended year groups. Ages are in years:months. Schools sometimes use a different level for a particular group.
How to read the scores
| Score | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Age Score (SAS) | Compares your child with others of the same age in years and months. Average 100, standard deviation 15. About 68% of children score 85 to 115 and about 95% score 70 to 130 | SAS 115 is well above average for age |
| Stanine (1 to 9) | Nine broad bands. 5 is the middle 20%; 4 and 6 are average too; 7 to 9 above average; 1 to 3 below average | SAS 112 to 118 is stanine 7 |
| National Percentile Rank | The percentage of children of the same age scoring the same or lower | NPR 84 means scoring as well as or better than 84% of the age group |
| Profile | One of seven categories from extreme verbal bias through no bias to extreme spatial bias, comparing the verbal and spatial batteries | A mild spatial bias suggests a child may learn well from diagrams and models |
Source: CAT4 administration guide, guidance on scoring and reporting. Levels Pre-A to G report SAS from 59 to 141; levels X and Y from 69 to 131.
What the question types look like
These are our own examples in the style of each test, so you can picture the format. They are not CAT4 questions.
- Verbal classification: three words share a link (apple, cherry, mango). Which of these belongs with them: carrot, grape, bread, milk? Answer: grape, because the three are fruits.
- Verbal analogy: hot is to cold as tall is to ...? Answer: short, because the pairs are opposites.
- Number analogy: 4 goes to 12, 6 goes to 18, so 9 goes to ...? Answer: 27, because each number is multiplied by 3.
- Number series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ...? The gaps are 4, 6, 8, 10, so the next gap is 12 and the answer is 42.
- Non-verbal and spatial items use shapes: finding the rule that links a set of figures, completing a pattern grid, imagining a folded and punched paper unfolded, or spotting a shape hidden in a more complex design.
Timing and format
In the digital edition for levels A to G, the tests are usually given in three sittings: two figure tests (about 30 minutes including instructions), the verbal tests with Number Analogies (about 41 minutes), and Number Series with the spatial tests (about 41 minutes). Each test has fixed time limits of 8 to 10 minutes, and every test begins with untimed examples and practice items so children understand the format. Paper editions also exist. GL's page describes the test as 45 minutes for each of three sessions, and two 30-minute sessions for ages 6 to 8.
GL's reports can include indicators of likely outcomes at later stages, such as GCSE, A-level and IB indicators. They are probabilities based on similar students, not predictions for an individual child.
Common misunderstandings
- Treating the SAS as an IQ score. GL's guidance specifically warns against this; the stanine is often a clearer way to talk about results.
- Panicking about one low battery. A difference between batteries is what produces a profile, and it tells teachers how a child may learn best.
- Drilling practice papers. GL says CAT4 has no direct connection to the curriculum and students do not need to prepare. Heavy coaching can distort the result the school uses to support your child.
- Reading indicators as fixed. GL's guidance says cognitive abilities can develop through experience and practice.
- Comparing a child's SAS with an older sibling's raw score. SAS is already adjusted for age; raw scores are not.
Where tutoring fits, honestly
We do not recommend tutoring for the CAT4 test itself. Where lessons help is after the results, using them as the school does: to understand how your child learns. A child with a strong spatial and weaker verbal profile may benefit from vocabulary work and from explanations that start with diagrams; a child with low quantitative reasoning may need number fluency and pattern work in maths. A tutor can read the report with you, then plan one-to-one lessons in the subject that needs support, such as primary maths or English, using the shared whiteboard to suit the way your child thinks.
Questions to ask the school about a CAT4 report
- Which level did my child sit, and when?
- How do the four battery scores compare with my child's class work?
- What does my child's profile suggest about how they learn best?
- Are there any gaps between CAT4 and attainment that the school is acting on?
- Will CAT4 be repeated, and in which year?
Common questions
What is a good CAT4 score?
A Standard Age Score of 100 is exactly average for your child's age. Scores from about 89 to 111 fall in the average stanines (4 to 6). A score of 127 or above is stanine 9, the top 4% of the age group.
Can my child prepare for CAT4?
GL Assessment states that students do not need to prepare, because the test is not connected to the curriculum. Every test begins with untimed examples and practice items so children understand the format. A good night's sleep and a calm explanation are the best preparation.
Why do Gulf schools use CAT4?
Schools use it to understand a new student's reasoning strengths regardless of the curriculum or language they came from, to set expectations, and to spot children who may need more challenge or support. Ask your school how it uses the results.
Is CAT4 an IQ test?
No. It is a test of reasoning abilities reported against children of the same age. GL's own guidance cautions against treating the Standard Age Score as an IQ score.
How do LiveTutor lessons help after a CAT4 report?
A tutor can go through the report with you and plan one-to-one, 60-minute lessons in the subject that needs support, at $15 a lesson. You choose 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly, and the first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.