CAT (Cognitive ability Testing) and SPLD/Dyslexia

[Treyofswords]

I have just received CAT results for DS in year 7 at Secondary School. CAT tests are believed to be a relatively accurate indicator of ability, according to the research that I have done. (I am reserving judgment on this, at the moment)

How accurate are CAT results for children with a SPLD or dyslexia?
Should children have access arrangement for CAT tests?
If so what access arrangements should be considered?

I did try to ask GL assessments these questions directly, only to be told by customer services 'its up to the school, we just sell the tests'.

Any help on this would be appreciated.

.

.

I read your post as my son has profound literacy/numeracy issues, so bumping for you,but I don't know anything about CAT tests. The only test results we get is WRAT 4. I hope someone else can help!

Thank you BigBird69

Two things about CATs

• these are written tests, probably on a computer, with self adjusting questions and a finite time decided by the system. No opportunity is given for extra time. Unlikely the school introduces human readers if child's reading is weak. So the results will be lower than if these special arrangements were permitted. The CAT tests won't have been standardised with access arrangements - giving the arrangements for about 10% of what was a fairly small sample would mean that "scores" would be pretty inaccurate as predictors.
• CAT are NOT VERY accurate as regards predicting performance in (KS3 SATS, if school does them or) GCSE which is nearly 5 years away. They are sold to schools on this basis - predictions for the future. Subject teachers are not likely to be taking too much notice, in my experience, though there will be deputy head somewhere drawing up a big spreadsheet. More accurate predictions from Yellis - though I think schools are dropping these as performance is now measured by pupils moving through "levels".

Access arrangements should be considered on the basis of subject teachers' observations of pupil performance in class and with homework.

We were told that CATs are like the 11+ which we have round here.

11+ tests were originally designed to identify kids with learning difficulties, and did this pretty successfully for my two, ie they scored as you would expect a kid with dyslexia/poor visual memory to perform.

They used to be marketed by NFER as an intelligence test that you cannot prepare for but I did hear that preparation can inclreas your score by 10 points (out of a possible 140).

So my guess is that CATs will underscore a year 7 with dyslexia, but if needs are met, will produce a pleasing uplift for the school further down the line. Just keep an eye on the needs being met - bright kids with dyslexia can get very frustrated with being treated as being less clever than they are.

Good Luck

My good friend's DS's CATS were very poor - way below average. He has mild dyslexia and has just got AAA in his A Levels.

DS has dyslexia and has also had proper individual IQ test from qualified psychologist. His CATS were way lower than this IQ test and as such, his GCSE targets are very low. In fact, his chance of getting an A* at Core Science is around 1% and his chance of an A is around 5%. At the moment, he is on track for an A!

So, CATS are definitely to be taken with a pinch of salt!

gardenfeature, well done your son, doing well. It;s nice to hear that. My son is struggling at the moment but we will get there.

Btw, IQ tests aren't really a great measure of intelligence and even less use when it comes to dyslexia. The problem is they haven't really defined what is intelligence and the tests all measure different things under the same name with different uncomparable thresholds. Also they don't take into account emotional intelligence which is understood even less.
Many psychologists argue that it doesn't really identify and measure the difficulties / advantages dyslexics experience. Personally, as a dyslexic, reading and writing are the least of the challenges I have and work through. It's problems with organizing (or as I like to call it driving other people crazy), memory and most frustratingly knowing my left and right, lol.