So you have helped your child through their KS2 SATs and they’re going to secondary school in September. Now you learn they’re going to do CATs shortly after starting...

What are CATs?
CATs (Cognitive Abilities Tests) are essentially intelligence tests that secondary schools use to set baselines and stream subjects. Many secondary schools use CATs to assess year 7 pupils’ potential within the first few weeks of term. CATs generally assess pupils in three distinct areas:

• Verbal Reasoning – Thinking and problem solving with words.
• Non-Verbal Reasoning – Thinking and problem solving with shapes and space.
• Quantitative Reasoning – Thinking and problem solving with numbers.

Why do they use CATs?
CATs help schools identify stronger and weaker pupils regardless of what they have learned in primary school. Unlike Key Stage 2 SATs they don’t attempt to test knowledge, only ability.

Can I prepare my child for CATs?
CATs are designed to be taken without any preparation so they give an accurate representation of a child’s current abilities and potential. That said, we think it’s important for children to have some familiarity about what might be asked.

Past CATs papers are not available to buy or download however children can gain familiarity with the types of questions asked by using some of our 11+ range of books.

Contact Education Matters on 01161 728 2000 or [email protected] if you want to book your child in for tutoring tfor towards the CATS. We are open throughout the school holidays.