Senior School CAT4 - The what and why?

Senior School CAT4 - The what and why?

As parents, we often hear about standardized tests and assessments that our children undergo during their school years. One such assessment that DBS has just done for Years 9 and 11 is the Cognitive Abilities Test Fourth Edition (CAT4). It's essential to understand that CAT4 is not just another test; it serves the main purpose in helping teachers support your child's learning journey.

CAT4 is designed to provide educators with valuable insights into a student's cognitive abilities. These abilities encompass reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Unlike traditional exams that measure subject knowledge, CAT4 assesses how well your child can process and apply information across various subjects. To this end, the primary purpose of CAT4 is to identify a student's strengths and areas that may need improvement in terms of cognitive abilities. Armed with this information, teachers can tailor their teaching methods to meet individual learning needs. It helps create a more personalised and effective learning experience for your child.

I am often asked what preparation students can do for CAT4 and my answer is simple: they need to listen to instructions and then just be themselves.