A Guide to the CAT4 Test Level D: Tips & Examples

The CAT4 Level D is a cognitive ability test used by a number of UK secondary schools. Typically taken by pupils in Year 7, the CAT4 Level D tests a child’s verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning skills to give an accurate picture of their learning potential.

Designed and published by GL Assessment, the Cognitive Abilities Test – better known as CAT4 – is an assessment series used by primary and secondary schools across the UK.

The CAT4 test is administered at different levels ranging from A to G, each level appropriate for a different age group.

• Year 2: Level X (6–7 years)
• Year 3: Level Y (7–8)
• Year 4: Level A (8–9)
• Year 5: Level B (9–10)
• Year 6: Level C (10–11)
• Year 7: Level D (11–12)
• Year 8: Level E (12–13)
• Years 9 + 10: Level F (13–15)
• Years 11+: Level G (15–17+)

This article looks specifically at the CAT4 Level D.

It covers everything you need to know about the test and how to help your child prepare. It also includes some CAT4 Level D sample questions for practice.

What Is the CAT4 Level D Test?

The CAT4 Level D test is the version of the CAT4 aimed at pupils aged between 10 years, six months and 12 years, 11 months – i.e. those in Year 7 if at school in England and Wales, Senior 1 pupils in Scotland, and those in Year 8 in Northern Ireland.

The CAT4 Level D is not a compulsory test, so not every student will sit this assessment.

It is however used by a growing number of schools. This is because it looks at capacity for learning rather than learned knowledge, giving teachers and parents a better idea of each child’s potential.

CAT4 Level D results can be used to understand a pupil’s learning style, where they might excel or where they might need additional support.

They can also be used to place pupils in the right ability sets for subjects like English and Maths, and to indicate performance potential for compulsory exams like GCSEs.

What Does the CAT4 Level D Measure?

All CAT4 levels test the same key areas of cognitive ability, the CAT4 Level D included. These are:

• Verbal reasoning – The ability to both interpret and express ideas through words
• Non-verbal reasoning – The ability to solve picture-based and diagrammatic problems
• Quantitative reasoning – The ability to solve problems by working with numbers
• Spatial reasoning – The ability to think and work in three dimensions

These skills are not subject-specific. For example, though it relates to language use, verbal reasoning is not just a useful skill for English. It is also useful for other language-heavy subjects like History and Geography.

Quantitative, spatial and non-verbal reasoning skills are required for multiple subjects including Maths, Science and Design and Technology.

What Type of Questions Are on the CAT 4 Level D?

The cognitive abilities measured by the CAT4 Level D are referred to as test batteries. Each one of these batteries has two question types associated with it.

For the verbal reasoning battery, these question types are:

• Verbal classification – Pupils must identify a link between three words and find a fourth word with a similar meaning.
• Verbal analogies – Pupils must identify the relationship in a complete word pairing and use it to find the missing part of an incomplete word pairing.

For the non-verbal reasoning battery, the question types are:

• Figure classification – Pupils will see three shapes with a common link between them. They must then choose a fourth shape that shares that same characteristic.
• Figure matrices – Pupils will need to spot rules and relationships in one figure pairing to complete a second.

For the quantitative reasoning battery, the question types are:

• Number analogies – Pupils will see three pairs of numbers, two complete and one incomplete. They’ll need to work out how the numbers in the first two pairs are related to each other to find the missing number from the third.
• Number series – Pupils must work out the rule of progression in a sequence of numbers to find the next number along.

For the spatial reasoning battery, the question types are:

• Figure analysis – Pupils must mentally work out how a square that has been repeatedly folded and hole punched would look when unfolded.
• Figure recognition – Pupils must analyse five line drawings to determine which one contains a given target shape.

How Is the CAT4 Level D Test Structured?

The CAT4 Level D is split into three individual tests. These are taken with breaks in between, or sometimes over three consecutive days so as not to overwhelm pupils.

How the test is administered will be down to the school in question.

Each of the three tests is around 45 minutes long. This includes the time it takes to:

• Get pupils settled in their seats
• Issue instructions
• Take a short CAT 4 Level D practice test
• Complete the official test itself

The three parts of the CAT 4 Level D are structured as follows:

CAT4 Level D Part 1:

• 24 Figure Classification questions in 10 minutes
• 24 Figure Matrices questions in 10 minutes

CAT4 Level D Part 2:

• 24 Verbal Classification questions in 8 minutes
• 24 Verbal Analogies questions in 8 minutes
• 18 Number Analogies questions in 10 minutes

CAT4 Level D Part 3:

• 18 Number Series questions in 8 minutes
• 18 Figure Analysis questions in 9 minutes
• 18 Figure Recognition questions in 9 minutes

Each part of the test is multiple-choice, with pupils given five possible answers for every question.

The CAT4 Level D can be issued as either a paper or digital test. The same structure applies to both versions.

CAT4 Level D Sample Questions

Verbal Classification

Verbal Analogies

Number Series

You can access sample questions for figural classification, matrices, analysis and recognition, in the GL Assessment Guide.

How Is the CAT4 Level D Scored?

If taken digitally, the CAT4 Level D is marked automatically as soon as a pupil completes the test.

For the paper version, all answer sheets must be sent off to be marked by a computer.

Educators are then given a comprehensive score report for each pupil.

CAT test scores are given in various forms. First, a raw score is given for each part of the test. This shows how many questions the pupil answered correctly.

These raw scores are then compared with the CAT test scores of other pupils in the same age range to provide three normative scores – National Percentile Rank (NPR), Standard Age Scores (SAS) and scores on the Stanine Scale.

Year 7 CAT Scores Explained

Below you’ll find each of the normative CAT test scores explained in more detail:

• National Percentile Rank – This shows how many pupils in the same age range achieved an equivalent score or below. For example, if your child achieves a percentile rank of 80, it means they scored as highly as or higher than 80% of pupils in their age group.
• Standard Age Score – These are scores given on a standardised scale where the average score is set at 100, with a standard deviation of 15. Scores between 112 and 126 are considered above average, with a score of 127 or above very high.
• Stanines – Stanine is perhaps the easiest score to interpret. A score is awarded on a standardised scale from 1 to 9, with 1 considered very low and 9 very high. Scores of 4, 5 and 6 are considered average

If you need your child’s Year 7 CAT scores explained further, their teacher should be able to provide more information on how they are interpreted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

By measuring cognitive ability instead of subject-specific knowledge, the CAT4 Level D shows educators what each pupil is capable of achieving so they can better support their learning.

As the parent of a child preparing for the CAT4 Level D, it’s important to reassure them that it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience and that improving their cognitive abilities can be fun.

Provided you make the right activities a part of daily life, and make sure your child has plenty of time to both play and relax, they should have no trouble performing at their best on the day of their CAT4 Level D test.