If you have any questions, feel free to contact Eitan — TestPrep-Online's CAT4 expert — at ask_eitan@testprep-online.com
Free CAT4 Sample Tests |
Full CAT4 Practice Packs |
CAT4 Level F Full PrepPack | |
Watch this short video to learn everything you need to know about the CAT4 exam:
The fourth edition of the Cognitive Abilities Test (known as CAT4) is the UK's most widely used reasoning ability assessment test, designed to help schools understand students' abilities and develop them. It is administered throughout the UK and Ireland and by many international schools worldwide to students aged 6 to 17.
Developed and delivered by GL-Assessment, based on years of thorough research, this edition of the CAT4 helps identify individual students' strengths and weaknesses while also monitoring the performance of groups of students. It is designed to measure cognitive reasoning skills while demanding little reading comprehension and arithmetical skills, thus making the test less biased towards native speakers. Cronbach's Alpha formula confirmed the CAT4's reliability.
If you are a teacher or tutor, we recommend checking out this page!
GL-Assessment administers the CAT4 in 10 different test levels, with each level aimed at other age groups. The following table presents all test levels and their matching target year group and age range:
CAT4 Level |
England & Wales |
Scotland |
Northern Ireland |
Ireland |
Age Range |
Year 2 |
Primary 3 |
Y3 (P3) |
1st class |
6 – 8 |
|
Y |
Year 3 |
Primary 4 |
Y4 (P4) |
2nd class |
7 – 9 |
Pre-A |
Year 3 |
Primary 4 |
Y4 (P4) |
2nd class |
6.5 – 9 |
Year 4 |
Primary 5 |
Y5 (P5) |
3rd class |
7.5 – 10 |
|
Year 5 |
Primary 6 |
Y6 (P6) |
4th class |
8.5 – 11 |
|
Year 6 |
Primary 7 |
Y7 (P7) |
5th class |
9.5 – 12 |
|
Year 7 |
Secondary 1 |
Y8 (F1) |
End of 5th class/6th class |
10.5 – 13 |
|
Year 8 |
Secondary 2 |
Y9 (F2) |
End of 6th class/1st Year |
11.5 – 14 |
|
Year 9 & 10 |
Secondary 3 & 4 |
Y10 & Y11 (F3 & F4) |
2nd and 3rd Year |
12.5 – 16 |
|
Year 11+ |
Secondary 5 & 6 |
Y12+ (F5+) |
4th/TY/5th class |
14.5 – 17+ |
Except for the three lowest test levels (X, Y, & Pre-A), which are designed for very young children and thus administered in a different format and structure, the content of each of the higher levels (A to G) is similar in terms of format and question types. The main distinction between them is in their increasing difficulty level, which corresponds to the overlapping configuration of target year groups.
GL Assessment's CAT4 has both paper-based and computer-based versions; each takes approximately two hours to complete. The primary test levels (A-G) have four different batteries, with each containing two subsections:
Verbal Reasoning Battery |
Verbal Classification |
Quantitative Reasoning Battery |
Number Analogies |
Non-verbal Reasoning Battery |
Figure Classification |
Spatial Ability Battery |
Figure Analysis |
The test is administered in three parts, each divided into two or three short tests:
Sub-Test |
Number of Questions |
Test Time |
Part 1 |
||
Figure Classification |
24 questions |
10 minutes |
Figure Matrices |
24 questions |
10 minutes |
Part 2 |
||
Verbal Classification |
24 questions |
8 minutes |
Verbal Analogies |
24 questions |
8 minutes |
Number Analogies |
18 questions |
10 minutes |
Part 3 |
||
Number Series |
18 questions |
8 minutes |
Figure Analysis |
18 questions |
9 minutes |
Figure Recognition |
18 questions |
9 minutes |
Students are allowed to solve the questions from the same battery in any order they'd like but can only answer questions from one battery at a time.
Here is some detailing about the type of questions covered in CAT4. The questions in the test are all multiple-choice questions:
Find out more about the CAT4 different sections and question types.
Schools use the CAT4 to adjust the learning experience to student-group and individual needs. As a result, teachers gain insight into subjects that students find difficult and can adequately support them. Moreover, CAT4 questions require reasoning skills other than relying on mathematical or verbal solid skills, thus allowing students with a language barrier or dyslexia to do well.
CAT4, as the name suggests, is a cognitive test, and as such, it measures skills that are also being tested in gifted children's programs. The CAT4 informative reports help teachers identify those talented children and support their studying in an environment that will further foster their abilities.
An additional value the CAT4 has is identifying students who are having difficulties. Due to its unique structure, students who receive low scores in the CAT4 reports often do so for a reason. For example, the reports allow the teachers to check if the child randomly guessed questions or had difficulty with a specific subject.
As in many cognitive assessments, the CAT4 has specific recurring patterns, and getting familiar with these patterns increases the chances to score higher.
In addition to getting familiar with the test's patterns, enriching vocabulary can help score high on the verbal analogies and verbal classification sections. Moreover, enriching your vocabulary is possible within a relatively short time and can even be fun.
Lastly, remember that the test day is usually accompanied by anxiety, impacting the student's performance on the test. Getting familiar with the CAT4's content and format and practicing under the same time limit as in the real test is likely to reduce anxiety and impact the student's performance. Hence, the results of the test will more accurately reflect the ability of the student.
This Cognitive Ability Test has a unique question format and strict time limitation, making it seem daunting to many students. However, proper preparation before the exam can help the student feel more comfortable and at ease with CAT4's testing format and expectations.
Practicing with CAT4 sample questions and explanations allows students to familiarize themselves with the test and gives them the confidence to succeed. Properly preparing also has the advantage of recognizing strengths and weaknesses and functioning without stress under time constraints.
View and download free CAT4 Sample Papers. This printable practice test includes sample questions from all the various question types in the actual CAT4, along with elaborated solutions and thorough explanations. Solving this sample test is an excellent starting point for preparing for the upcoming CAT4 exam.
Are you looking for other levels? Have a look at our CogAT Packs, containing a thorough preparation process for the US popularly used cognitive ability test, which features many similar materials to the ones used on the CAT4. Although the CogAT has slightly different and some missing components compared to the CAT4, if you are missing the required CAT4 level, practicing with CogAT materials, alongside some basic CAT4 materials, can make for a great combination that can give your child the edge.
Contact us at ask_eitan@testprep-online.com if you are having trouble deciding which practice packs are right for you, and we will help you get the materials you need.
The CAT4, CogAT, and other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders is affiliated with TestPrep-Online or this website.