Talk to me about CAT scores and private schools

[thesunday]

Hello!

Please enlighten me on CAT scores, especially for selective London schools. Alright, the super-selectives go for a CAT of 135+, makes sense.

Now our DS has a CAT of 115-119 and we're wondering whether a school with an average pupil CAT of 125 is right for them. DS tried this school for the 11+ (and didn't get in) and now it has been suggested by our headmaster to apply again for the 13+. The administration officer also said why not try again as DS 'fits the profile'.

I'm full of questions.

• Our DC has a verbal CAT of 108, which might be too low altogether to even be able to pass a private secondary exam in London?

• Can one improve on verbal CAT score (through VR, reading, etc)?

• Is there a big difference between CAT 119 and 125 and do DS's come into their own?

And please excuse that I sound like a calculator (I genuinely ask on here because I want to do what's best for my child, and will not try to mould him into something he's not. On the other hand 10/11 years is very young and I don't want to pass on any opportunities that he is too young to understand)

Headmaster says go for the 13+ again, DH thinks CAT 119/120 is state secondary level and that's where DC is meant to be (even though he'd be delighted for DC to go to that private school).

And I'm still debating all this so please do let me know any comments, feedback, experiences. I'd be very very grateful.

@Globaliser
thank you

Hi what do you think about St Albans. We have been told 128ish +.

Hello, My sun did a CAT test in Y6 in 2021. Does anyone know what the number of questions were in that year? His mean score was 121. Does anyone know what 'PTE' (score of 130) stands for. And what PTM (112) stands for?

Many thanks for any insights.

1. Your child’s scores are way above average.
2. You are placing way too much importance on the CATs.
3. If your child can secure a place at a certain school then he is clever enough to be there.
4. It sounds like you and particularly your DH have unrealistically high expectations of how your child should be doing academically. The average child is CAT 100. Grammar schools intake around 113. Super-selective grammars such as Judd (in top 5% of country for results) take around 125-130. Your child is way above average. Start appreciating him!

Thank you all and @LeCarre you got it right. We are appreciating him.

Our only route to any of the top secondaries would have been trying for occasional places. He wasn't keen to keep studying so he joined the local comp in YR 7 where he is thriving.

just thought I'll give an update!