So what do the CATs mean

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Hello. Please be gentle with me - this is my first trip into G&T. Normally I hang out in Chat and AIBU, so I'm a senstive soul . DS is in year 3 and has recently had his CAT results. I think he's pretty great at maths in particular and I wanted to know if anyone had any advice. His results were 8 (verbal) and the 9s for quantitive and non-verbal, with marks of 139 for both of those. It's not the done thing at our school to discuss actual makrs with other parents adn my question about where he is in his year was met with a silence on parents evening. So, I think these sound like high marks - can any one offer an opinion please? TIA

These are really high but CATs don't normally start until Yr 4 (GL assessment) or 7 and 6 months. Just been googling this last week. Sas scores of 139 should both be on stanine 9, the top group,it indicates the child's potential I believe and are used for target setting. Yes your right many people seem to dislike these and they seem to be taboo to talk about!

Thanks for the reply. It is really hard to get any sort of idea when no-one discusses! I didn't realise CATs don't normally start till yr4 - they all do them in Yr3 here. Although he's now 7 and 7 months, and young for his year, so maybe they do them in year 3 after Feb, when everyone will be 7 and 6 months. Just curious really!

I would just relax your DS has great potential and will do great in secondary I don't know what part of the country you live in with reference to grammars and independent schools as we live in Wales where there are no grammars and few independents. This part sounds really stressful to me. Get the basics at primary and enjoy your time with your DS teach him all you know have fun learning and he'll be absolutely fine. Don't forget socialising and soft skills are really important these days. Enjoy him!

139 are very high indeed.Relaxing is all very well but bright children need stimulation beyond primary school curriculum - chess? Or may I recommend music?

Yes relax my DS found chess on the computer at 4 and taught himself and then proceeded to pester every one for a game. Volunteered himself for the double bass at school (nightmare) IME (ok very limited granted) if they are truly "able" they are self motivated,constantly asking questions and will hothouse themselves.

Thanks for the replies. Pianomama, it's intereting you should say chess - he's just started teaching himself and now can easily beat me (think he has a brain that thinks ahead well for strategies, which I, um, do not!). He's also good at a couple of sports, so does get to exercise his brain out of school too. THanks for confirming what I thought about the CAT scores too. I shall keep a close eye. Lelly88, I see your point about relaxing - it's interesting as we are in a grammer selection area here, and I am definitely on the more (relatively!) relaxed end of the scale!! THanks again.