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Original poster

cat 4 tests?

14 replies

listsandbudgets · 12/10/2022 20:58

What on earth...

DS is doing an entrance exam for a local school on Saturday. I've just received an email sayign that they're changing their test from English, creative writing and maths to something called "Cat 4 Test". I've googled and it seems to be some kind of multi choice thing but with really weird questions.

This for example asks which belongs with the group of 3 words. Apparently the answer is bike because they are all things that can be learnt. As far as I'm concerned bike is a noun and I do not see how you can learn a noun???

Read Calculate Swim
A. See
B. Bike
C. Abilities
D. Feel
E. Dream

Then all sorts of strange things about folding paper and punching holes in it and working out what it will look like when unfolded. why anyone would actually waste their time doing this beats me!

The maths and non verbal reason look vaguely normal - number sequences, shape rotation etc.

What is this test? Please can someone explain.

It seems almost callous to change at such short notice - DS's school thought he may get the maths scholarship to this one which is why we're trying but this is a real curve ball and puts me off the whole idea.

OP posts:

ItsRainingTacos79 · 12/10/2022 21:01

Is this for 7+ assessment or 11+?

Original poster

listsandbudgets · 12/10/2022 21:10

11+

I want to try to make it sound positive for DS somehow though I think it's scuppered his chances as he's dyspraxic with poor spatial awareness so at least 2 sections seem heavily biased against him to be honest :(

OP posts:

ItsRainingTacos79 · 12/10/2022 22:30

Don't be disheartened @listsandbudgets. His spatial awareness may be compromised on physical tasks but it may not affect him so much on these assessments. My DS is also dyspraxic, he's only 9 but he's had to do things very similar to this for an Ed Psych assessment and his scores for fluid reasoning, verbal comprehension and processing speed were in the 'extremely high' category. While visual spatial and working memory scored 'high average'. I knew he was smart but his ability to demonstrate what he knows on paper was always challenging.

Your DS may find the tests work out better for him than just the standard exams.

Original poster

listsandbudgets · 13/10/2022 14:11

Thank you for the reassuring reply. I posted last night in a bit of a panic. When I spoke to DS he looked at me as if I had two heads and pointed out that the questions were probably similar to stuff he'd done in the 11+ and multi choice is simpler than writing an essay anyway and if he doesn't know, he can always just guess!!

He said he'll ask his teacher about it today.

I do think it was unreasonable of the school to give so little notice though. It seemed to be almost an ambush.. The email said that because so many children were being heavily tutored the exam wasn't really giving a reflection of their true abilities which meant some struggled in school. Thankfully we've not tutored DS, we tend to take the view he'll get in or he won't. I suppose they sent it very late so there'd be no to little time to tutor

OP posts:

watcherintherye · 13/10/2022 14:17

Read Calculate Swim
A. See
B. Bike
C. Abilities
D. Feel
E. Dream

I suppose it can be a verb, in that you can say “he biked over”, instead of “he cycled over”?

ItsRainingTacos79 · 13/10/2022 14:26

I'm glad some schools are moving to this method, DS will be doing the 11+ next year and it would certainly remove the challenges he has.

Maslinka · 16/10/2022 23:26

It's a bit like an IQ test, it's meant to look for potential rather than what the child has been taught. You can help him more by modelling not overthinking it IMO. Don't obsess over individual questions being "unfair".

The punching and folding will be assessing their spatial ability probably. You know this varies a lot between different people - some people can replay whole chess games in their heads with no effort, but it's not the norm. It's not a failure to not follow some of the questions, it's normal even among those who get offers. You just need to prep him not to be put off by it.

Original poster

listsandbudgets · 17/10/2022 08:44

Well he did the test and said he had to guess a few but it wasn't terrible with exception spatial awareness which he literallyxdoes not have despite best efforts of OT. It was done on a computer and it crashed after one of the sections so he had to go back and redo it which shook him. He was not the only one with that problem though.

I did try to be positive about it but it was hard and its completely put me off the school because the late notice seemed almost vindictive. I've also found out children in lower school knew at the start of term and have been practisng it 3 times a week every since.. equal playing field.. not really!!

He said maths was simple though which was positive..Thankfully we weren't counting on him passing just hoping

OP posts:

ItsRainingTacos79 · 17/10/2022 09:44

@listsandbudgets fingers crossed for your DS 🤞🏽.

Don't worry too much re other children practicing. From what I hear, familiarising yourself with the format doesn't massively increase your score in the various areas.

After the Ed Psych assessment for DS, we were told the score variation each time he does the tests will remain the same throughout his lifetime.

ItsRainingTacos79 · 17/10/2022 09:50

Sorry, meant to say his score will remain the same throughout his lifetime.

Seebee · 19/10/2022 09:13

I echo @itsraining , we had an unplanned switch to the Iseb (covid year) and though a bit more warning (month or so), i I was still worried since I felt some children will have been practising it for ages.

I got my child an atom sub (platform that offers training in the Iseb), to see how it goes, honestly there was almost no progression. In his case, he started at the top and stayed at the top.

I thought there was actually something wrong with atom since I assumed this was something you’d get better with, after familiarisation. (Else why would atom exist?) In the event, he passed everything, so atom had judged him right.

Similar, no real progression, with this cat test I assume? Hopefully it (like the Iseb) tests comprehension and so on, learnt elsewhere.

That said, That’s a horrible question you posted (I wouldn’t guess bike either). But worth remembering all kids will find it horrible. However, in this case, it’s also quite odd and I’m not clear on what a qu like that really tests… as a child, I’d probably just take pot luck!

the Iseb was much more clearly testing spag and maths and comprehension. If the whole cat test has questions like those you pasted, it’s a lost cause! And another reason for (trying) not to worry. It looks so odd, I’m not sure you can really prep for it either! That all said, surely the cat test must be carefully thought out, and at least some questions are clearer?!?

Original poster

listsandbudgets · 24/10/2022 10:16

Flabbergasted. Overjoyed. Just got letter...

He got the scholarship!!!

Can I have a little cry of relief now please?

OP posts:

ItsRainingTacos79 · 24/10/2022 10:58

🎉🎉🎉🎉 I'm so happy for you and your DS @listsandbudgets

Well done to him. I hope you're both going to celebrate the end of all the assessments. News like this is so encouraging - I always worry about my DS who'll be sitting them next year.

Hope you both enjoy half term!

Pieceofpurplesky · 24/10/2022 11:14

Congratulations to your DS.

To return to the question - bike is a noun all of the others are abstract nouns - they can't be touched/learned.

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