CAT4 Testing for Grades 7 and 10 on 3rd Dec

ISD will continue with the CAT4 assessment tool this year, with testing for grade 7 and 10 students occuring during Homeroom and 30th block on December 3rd. The Cognitive Abilities Test 4 (CAT4), is a digital test and having a charged laptop is essential. Once completed, the report will be available on Managebac.

What is the CAT4 test? (from the CAT4 Information for Parents webpage)

“The Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) is an assessment that is designed to help students and their teachers understand how they learn and what their academic potential might be. It assesses how students think in areas that are known to make a difference to learning.

CAT4 is designed to give schools a much broader, more rounded view of each child, their potential and how they learn. Results help teachers decide about the pace of learning that is right for a student and whether additional support or challenge is needed.

Tasks involve thinking about shapes and patterns (Non-Verbal Reasoning), words (Verbal Reasoning), numbers (Quantitative Reasoning) and some questions are answered by mentally generating and transforming visual images (Spatial Ability).”

How will ISD use the CAT4 assessment report?

The CAT4 test is used to predict student success through the evaluation of verbal, non-verbal, mathematical, and spatial reasoning. ISD will use this data along with achievement testing data from the MAP assessments to identify students needing acceleration or additional support. 

Students who complete the assessment are given predicted scores in SL and HL IB courses and this information will be used when determining a student’s grade 11/12 pathway and course selection. ISD also uses current grades and past academic performance, teacher feedback, MAP scores, and ATL performance to make final decisions about a student’s pathway and courses. The CAT4 test will be administered again to ISD students in grade 10.

Should my child revise or train for CAT4? Can I get practice tests? (from the CAT4 Information for Parents webpage)

“We strongly advise against any kind of practice ahead of a CAT4 test as this will alter the reliability of test scores. The point of CAT4 is that it is not a test of learnt knowledge and it needs to be as unaffected as possible by any external factors, such as practice. Think of it like an eye test; if you practice ahead of an eye test and memorise the card, your diagnosis may not be correct and valuable information may be missed.”