CAT scores year 3

[Nomdemare]

DS in Yr 3 at prep school has had his CAT scores - but they are all really ?average?

Apologies for what’s likely to be a silly question, but am very new to this. Not sure how to interpret this, other than to say I feel somewhat disappointed given the huge financial sacrifices we are making to send him to the school.

Verbal 112
Quantitative 105
Non verbal 104
Spatial 109

Overall 108

Am surprised as he reads lots and has a natural curiosity.

I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent - but I’m a little disappointed…

I hear your concern OP.

I think it's a great moment to take stock. I have seen people with low CAT scores in low sets at the school I attended end up in Harvard/Oxford. This is rare of course but it truly means nothing.

If he is engaged and happy that's most important. Which senior schools are you considering? They aren't awful scores but I dont think St Pauls would be considering them to be frank.

I wouldn't read too much into Y3 scores to be honest. They can change a lot as kids move up the year groups.

CATs are meant to be a test of intelligence really and that’s not something the school can change…I actually think it’s the average kids who get the most from private school. Also his scores will move up and he’ll likely land at 115 which is good enough for quite a few selective schools.

The CAT exams/scoring is usually taken in year 4.
So if he did a CAT exam in year 3 it's probably in preparation for more testing and right now just practice papers to get use to the format.

Yes the scores will improve once the kids know the format/timing and the type of material that is going to be covered.

very much like the 11+ a lot of the grading is technique and familiarity with exam like conditions.

I would ask what the year average is as this will tell you a bit more? And ask for their averages over each year of prep? It is a new format for most (unless they did ATOM etc).

My daughter moved schools at year 3 and her CAT scores that year were all over the place as she found it really hard to settle - come year 4 and the next two years her average was about 128 (from something like yours in year 3) so this could also be a reason?

My kids scores varied so much year to year but I think my DS averaged 115-120. He missed his first choice school but is at another very similar school and now in Y11 predicted all grades 7-9.