CAT scores. Brain ache

[Dancefloortragedy]

Hi. I've got my Son's year three CAT scores and despite me looking at loads of posts and online info, I have a worrying inability to process what they actually mean (I suspect my scores would be rubbish!). Can anyone with more sense/knowledge than ne please interpret them. I know this subject has been covered before but, like I say, I'm a bit dim at understanding these things! My son is at a private school if that makes any difference.
Verbal reasoning: 135
Quantative reasoning: 104
Spacial: 104
Non verbal reasoning: 122

Thanks so much

Sorry, forgot to say, his mean score is 116

That's quite an average profile with a big spike in the verbal reasoning. Does he have any SEN? 100 is the average across the U.K. but would be low for a selective prep. Most selective preps seem to be more like 115-120.

My understanding is that CAT scores are meant to test native intelligence instead of taught abilities/knowledge, so some schools use them as entrance exams. They are graded out of 141 and 100 is the average. Having said that scores can and do change over time and ‘poor performance’ in a test can just be because they were tired/ill etc. it’s great your son’s school is taking the tests from y3, as you’ll be able to track his progress and see how he performs next time he takes the tests. I’ve added my son’s y4 results as an example, here he did ok in spatial - one year (and in an entrance exam too!) he got 116… his response “it was the 4th test and I was tired!” 🤦‍♀️

All of ours have improved their CAT scores significantly over the years. They learn to take the test. DS2 started at 112 mean in year 3 and now in yr. 6 is at 132.

Oh that’s interesting that they tend to improve.
I have DD’s results from early in y4 and assumed they would stay much the same as they are not knowledge based. But guess as you say it’s practice, test technique, timing etc.

Verbal and nvr are both above average but the others are probably slightly low for a private school cohort and overall he is probably ok unless it is a very selective school. Is he stronger at English than Maths?

I would just say that my DD literally jumped 30 points from year 5 to year 6 so don't listen to anyone who tells you they never improve.

I'll put her scary year 5 results down to it being post first lockdown and long summer...but still.

Agree that your sons quant and spatial are going to be on the lower side for targeting entry for top secondary schools, but I wouldn't worry about it too much as it's only year 3. You may want to have a chat with his teachers about his maths and see if he needs a bit more support.

Year 3 is the earliest preps start tracking CAT scores. By yr 5/6 you want need around 120 average, with top selective 130+.

Your son has a strong bias to VR / English a key strength and valuable skill.

Maths is currently weaker, however revise a few base principles and the score will quickly lift.
Spatial/ NVR are closely linked and probably just new concepts.

Play with 3 D shapes, Lego, and patterns. Ask school what resources they would suggest to support. A little effort now will see the average trend upwards quickly.

Cats in y3 are very prone to random results... they will get more consistent and, on average, higher over the next few years.

I would also work on supporting spatial early... with lego, construction toys, giving directions, rubiks cube, playdo shapes. I think the others are more teachable later, but that sense of space is a bit more innate, so help them early whilst playing and having fun :-)