HOW TO GET A CAT SCORE IN A STATE SCHOOL

[outofthebox]

son was in a private school, now at least for 1 term, he will be in a state school.

The school said they dont 'do' cat scores but the next school we want to apply to said they are required.

Is there a way to take this test?

Thanks

Why do you want it though?

A state school can't "require" a CAT test as a condition of entry. Is that what you mean? Or do you mean that CAT tests are done for all students at that school.

At my son's state comp. they sat them early in the first term of Y7. It wasn't a bid deal and certainly not something they needed to prepare for. I think the results were used for setting in conjunction with the Y6 SATS results.

Whether his school does them or not, they really aren't something to worry about.

big not bid

Yes, contact your local authority. It’s a well-established process in my area if you apply for out-of-borough schools. They are held on Saturdays.

Why do you need a cat test? Tbh we found the results a bit meaningless in isolation. If you feel he needs assessing go to an EdPsych .

Sorry- to clarrify, the STATE SCHOOL says they dont do cat testing and the PRIVATE SCHOOL we intend to send him to in the future say CAT SCORES are required.

Can the potential future school not assess him, it seems an odd precondition. Cats are far from routine even in the independent system. How old is the child?

Ask the school that requires CAT scores for advice on where to get the tests done. They must have some idea or have referred other parents in the past.

I'd ask the target school too. The tests are external so I'm not sure how they can be done independently. There is a site for the company that sets them - I haven't looked our a long time though.

Yes ask the next school what to do.

We applied to loads of private schools from a state primary and weren't asked for CAT scores once!

If the school wants a CAT test result, they will have to administer the test to your DC.

Many Prep schools give their kids CAT tests and put the scores on their references. Schools then do take notice as entrance exams have often been crammed for and might not be a very accurate reflection. Independents like to build a picture of a child based on entrance exam, reference from previous Head plus any data like CATs they can supply.

I have never heard of a school telling a child that in order to apply they must get a CAT test score. Usually such tests are sat through the school - it's. It something individuals just put in for.

Do you have an actual offer or are you at the pre-application stage?

I would email the school and say that your DC has not sat a CAT test and as you understand it, children only do it via schools. Ask for clarification about what they are asking you to do and how to go about it. There will always be children applying to schools without such test scores and schools usually just accept whatever data a child brings with them or doesn't.