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CAT4 Practice Tests 2026: Free Samples, Scores, Levels and Parent Guide
Find the right CAT4 practice for your child’s school year, understand the four reasoning batteries and eight subtests, interpret CAT4 scores, and prepare calmly without wasting time on unsuitable materials.
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CAT4 explained
What is the CAT4 test?
CAT4 stands for Cognitive Abilities Test, Fourth Edition. Schools use it to understand how pupils reason with words, numbers, shapes and spatial information, rather than simply testing what they have memorised in class.
What CAT4 helps schools understand
- A pupil’s relative reasoning strengths
- Areas where extra support or challenge may help
- Patterns that may inform setting or target-setting
- Academic potential alongside attainment evidence
- How confidently a pupil approaches unfamiliar problems
How CAT4 may be used
- Admissions or selective entry decisions
- Scholarship consideration
- Baseline assessment after joining a school
- Setting, streaming or teaching support
- Identifying uneven cognitive profiles
The four CAT4 batteries
What does CAT4 measure?
The assessment combines four broad reasoning batteries. A child may show a balanced profile or marked differences between batteries, which can be as informative as the overall score.
Verbal reasoning
Understanding relationships between words, meanings and verbal concepts.
Typical tasks: verbal analogies and verbal classification.
Quantitative reasoning
Recognising numerical relationships, transformations and patterns.
Typical tasks: number analogies and number series.
Non-verbal reasoning
Finding rules and classifications using shapes rather than language.
Typical tasks: figure matrices and figure classification.
Spatial reasoning
Visualising, rotating, combining and mentally transforming shapes.
Typical tasks: figure analysis and figure recognition.
Choose the right practice
CAT4 levels by school year
Use the school year as your starting point. Schools can vary in the level they administer, so confirm the level directly when possible.
| School year | Typical age | Typical CAT4 level | Practice guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 6–7 | Level X | Year 2 CAT4 practice |
| Year 3 | 7–8 | Level Y | Browse Year 3 resources |
| Year 4 | 8–9 | Level A | Year 4 CAT4 practice |
| Year 5 | 9–10 | Level B | Year 5 CAT4 practice |
| Year 6 | 10–11 | Level C | Year 6 CAT4 practice |
| Year 7 | 11–12 | Level D | Year 7 CAT4 practice |
| Year 8 | 12–13 | Level E | Year 8 CAT4 practice |
| Year 9 | 13–14 | Level F | Year 9 CAT4 practice |
| Year 10 | 14–15 | Level F or G | Year 10 CAT4 practice |
| Year 11 | 15–16 | Level G | Year 11 CAT4 practice |
Do not choose practice by difficulty alone. Age-appropriate materials should reflect the likely CAT4 level, visual presentation and reasoning demand. Beginning with a free sample is often the best way to check whether the format and level are suitable.
Year-by-year CAT4 practice guides
These shorter guides keep year-specific search intent separate from this flagship hub, while giving parents a direct route to the most relevant preparation.
Year 4 CAT4
Introduce the question families gently and prioritise understanding before timed work.
Year 5 CAT4
Build consistency across all four batteries and identify less familiar visual question types.
Year 6 CAT4
Combine method practice with short timed sets as pupils approach secondary transition.
Year 7 CAT4
Prepare for a common secondary-school CAT4 level using balanced battery practice.
Year 8 CAT4
Focus on efficient pattern recognition, careful checking and steady time management.
Year 9 CAT4
Use realistic mixed practice after targeted work on weaker reasoning batteries.
Year 10 CAT4
Practise higher-level reasoning accurately before placing stronger emphasis on pace.
Year 11 CAT4
Prepare for older-pupil and sixth-form contexts with challenging age-matched items.
Not sure where to start?
Use a free sample to assess familiarity, confidence, timing and the suitability of the level.
CAT4 results
What is a good CAT4 score?
CAT4 results are commonly reported as Standard Age Scores, or SAS. The score is adjusted for age so that a pupil’s performance can be compared fairly with pupils of a similar age.
| SAS | Broad interpretation |
|---|---|
| Below 90 | Below the average range |
| 90–110 | Broadly average range |
| 111–120 | Above average |
| 121–129 | Very high |
| 130+ | Exceptionally high |
A Standard Age Score of 100 is the centre of the scale. It is not a poor result. It represents average performance for age.
Schools may consider the four battery scores, the overall mean and differences within the profile. A single headline score cannot explain every aspect of a child’s reasoning profile.
Interpret CAT4 scores in context. A pupil may have a high overall score but a weaker battery, or an average overall score with one notable strength. School expectations, the purpose of testing and other attainment evidence all matter.
Question types
The eight CAT4 subtests
Each reasoning battery contains two subtests. Practising them separately helps pupils learn the relevant rules before completing mixed, timed papers.
Verbal analogies
Identify how one word relates to another, then apply the same relationship to a new pair.
Verbal classification
Identify the shared concept connecting several words and choose another word that belongs to the same group.
Number analogies
Work out the numerical transformation in one pair and use it to complete another.
Number series
Recognise the rule governing a sequence and select the number that comes next.
Figure matrices
Find the visual rule operating across a grid and select the figure that completes the matrix.
Figure classification
Identify the visual feature shared by several figures and choose the option governed by the same rule.
Figure analysis
Imagine how a folded and punched shape will look when unfolded.
Figure recognition
Find a target shape hidden within a more complex design, despite rotation or surrounding detail.
Preparation plan
How to prepare for CAT4 effectively
Good preparation improves familiarity, method, confidence and time management. It should not become an attempt to memorise answers or over-coach a child until the practice no longer reflects their own reasoning.
Confirm the likely level
Use your child’s year group and ask the school which CAT4 level is being administered.
Start with a short sample
Observe which formats are unfamiliar and whether your child rushes, guesses or becomes stuck.
Teach the method
Practise one question family at a time until your child understands the underlying rule.
Review errors properly
Discuss why an option was wrong and what clue should guide the next attempt.
Add timing gradually
Accuracy comes first. Introduce time limits only after the approach is secure.
Finish with mixed practice
Use realistic papers to practise switching between batteries and maintaining concentration.
A sensible weekly rhythm
- Two or three short sessions rather than one long session
- One weaker subtest plus one stronger subtest per session
- Immediate review of a small number of mistakes
- A timed mixed set only after methods are understood
- A lighter final few days before the school assessment
Common preparation mistakes
- Using the wrong age level
- Repeating full papers without reviewing errors
- Ignoring spatial reasoning because it feels unfamiliar
- Introducing strict timing too early
- Creating anxiety by treating CAT4 as a pass-or-fail verdict
Expert author
CAT4 guidance from a Chartered Psychologist
This guide is written by Rob Williams, a Chartered Psychologist and psychometrician with more than 25 years of experience designing reasoning tests, assessment content and selection measures. The advice focuses on valid familiarisation: helping pupils understand question formats and apply sound reasoning methods without presenting CAT4 as a test that can be mastered through memorisation.
Frequently asked questions
CAT4 questions answered
What is CAT4?
CAT4 is the Cognitive Abilities Test, Fourth Edition. It assesses verbal, quantitative, non-verbal and spatial reasoning rather than relying mainly on curriculum knowledge.
What is a good CAT4 score?
A Standard Age Score of 100 is average. Scores above 110 are above average, while scores above 120 are very high. Interpretation should also consider individual battery scores and the purpose for which the school is using CAT4.
Can a child improve their CAT4 performance?
Practice can improve familiarity, confidence, method, checking and time management. Preparation is most useful when it targets unfamiliar question types and reviews errors rather than relying on repeated drilling.
How long does CAT4 take?
Schools normally administer CAT4 in several shorter sections, often totalling around two hours. Arrangements can vary, so parents should check the information provided by the school.
Which CAT4 level is used in Year 7?
Year 7 pupils commonly take Level D, although schools can vary according to the age at testing and their assessment arrangements.
Which CAT4 level is used in Year 8?
Year 8 pupils commonly take Level E. Confirm the level with the school before buying or downloading extensive practice materials.
Is CAT4 an IQ test?
CAT4 is a standardised cognitive abilities assessment, but it is designed for educational use and reports a profile across four reasoning batteries. It should not be reduced to a single informal label about a child’s intelligence.
Should CAT4 practice be timed?
Not at first. Pupils should understand each question type before timing is introduced. Once methods are secure, short timed sets can build pace and decision-making.
Do all schools use CAT4 for admission?
No. Some schools use it in admissions, while others use it after entry for baseline assessment, setting, target-setting or identifying learning needs.
Choose realistic CAT4 practice for your child
Begin with a free sample, check the likely level and then use focused practice to strengthen unfamiliar question types before moving to mixed timed work.
Practise all eight CAT4 question types
Each of the four CAT4 reasoning batteries contains two subtests. Use a mixed sample first, then move to focused question-type practice when one area is less familiar or consistently weaker.
Reasoning with words and concepts
These tasks focus on relationships between words, meanings and verbal concepts.
Reasoning with numbers
These tasks require pupils to identify, test and apply numerical relationships.
Reasoning with abstract figures
Pupils identify visual rules, common properties and relationships without relying primarily on language.
Visualising and manipulating shapes
These tasks require accurate mental manipulation, recognition and visualisation of shapes.
If a mixed CAT4 sample identifies one consistently weaker subtest, practise that question family before returning to another full paper.
Which CAT4 practice should I use?
Match the practice to the problem. The most efficient route is usually sample → correct year or level → weaker battery → specific subtest → realistic mixed practice.
- Try a free sample. Start here when CAT4 is unfamiliar. Look for formats that cause confusion rather than focusing only on the total score.
- Check the year and level. Use the pupil’s school year as the starting point and confirm the likely CAT4 level with the school where possible.
- Find the weaker battery. Compare verbal, quantitative, non-verbal and spatial performance to see whether the difficulty is broad or isolated.
- Target the subtest. Move to Number Series, Figure Analysis or another specific guide when the error pattern is concentrated in one question type.
- Return to mixed practice. Once methods are secure, use broader practice to develop switching, pacing and sustained concentration.
How to use a CAT4 practice test diagnostically
A practice score is useful when it tells you what to teach next. Record performance by question type, identify the cause of errors, use targeted practice and then retest after a delay.
1. Score
Record accuracy separately for each question family rather than relying only on one total percentage.
2. Diagnose
Decide whether the difficulty is knowledge, vocabulary, method, visualisation, carelessness or time pressure.
3. Target
Practise the actual weak skill instead of immediately completing another unrelated full CAT4 paper.
4. Retest
Return to mixed practice later and check whether the same pattern of errors remains.
CAT4 time-management strategy
CAT4 timing is not simply about working faster. Good performance depends on understanding the question type, choosing an efficient method and maintaining a controlled pace.
- Understand the question type first. Time pressure magnifies weak methods. Build reliable approaches before adding strict timing.
- Do not get trapped by one item. One difficult question should not consume a disproportionate share of a short subtest.
- Develop a steady pace. Use short timed sets after accuracy is secure. The aim is controlled decision-making, not frantic speed.
- Practise switching between tasks. Verbal, numerical and visual reasoning demand different approaches.
- Record answers accurately. Avoid losing marks through skipped items, misalignment or accidental response selection.
- Find the cause of slow responses. Slow work may reflect vocabulary, arithmetic fluency, visual-rule detection or excessive checking.
Extended parent guide
CAT4 Test Explained for Parents: Practice Questions, Scores and How to Prepare
If your child is due to take the CAT4 test, it is natural to have questions. Many parents want to know what the test measures, whether practice really helps, what the scores mean, and how schools use the results. Those are exactly the right questions to ask.
The first thing to understand is that CAT4 is not a normal school exam. It does not mainly assess how much English, maths or science a child has learned. Instead, it looks at how a child reasons when faced with unfamiliar questions. That distinction matters because it changes how parents should think about preparation.
This guide explains CAT4 clearly and practically. It is written from a psychometric perspective, so the aim is not just to give generic preparation advice, but to explain what the assessment is actually designed to measure and what kind of preparation is most worthwhile.
For additional expert guidance, visit
CAT4 test practice.
What Does CAT4 Measure?
CAT4 measures reasoning ability across verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial domains. It is designed to assess how a child thinks when solving unfamiliar problems, rather than how much curriculum content they have learned.
Is CAT4 a School Exam?
CAT4 is a cognitive reasoning assessment, not a traditional school exam. It focuses on problem-solving and reasoning rather than testing learned classroom knowledge.
Can You Prepare for CAT4?
Yes, children can prepare for CAT4 by becoming familiar with common question types and improving reasoning strategies. Effective preparation focuses on understanding patterns, relationships and logic, not memorising answers.
What CAT4 Actually Measures
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning looks at how well a child can think with words. This may include verbal relationships, classifications, analogies and patterns in language. It is not simply a vocabulary test. A child needs to identify the relationship between words and use logic to solve the problem.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning involves abstract pattern recognition using shapes, symbols and visual information. These questions often feel more like puzzles than academic questions. The child has to spot rules or transformations without relying mainly on language.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative reasoning uses numbers and numerical relationships, but again the emphasis is on reasoning rather than routine classroom maths. The child needs to identify number patterns, relationships or logical rules.
Spatial Ability
Spatial reasoning assesses the ability to visualise and mentally manipulate shapes. This may involve rotation, folding, combining or imagining how a flat form becomes a 3D object. Some pupils who are not obviously strong in traditional subject tests perform especially well here.
Why Schools Use CAT4
Schools use CAT4 for a range of reasons. The exact use varies by school, but common uses include identifying a pupil’s reasoning profile, supporting setting or streaming decisions, spotting underperformance or hidden potential, informing discussions about learning support, and comparing reasoning data with classroom attainment.
In other words, schools are often interested not just in what a child is achieving now, but in the pattern of cognitive strengths behind that achievement.
What Most CAT4 Practice Gets Wrong
A lot of CAT4 practice materials look useful because they contain plenty of questions. But question volume is not the same as good preparation.
The most common mistake is treating CAT4 as if it were a normal revision subject. Parents are encouraged to run through question after question and assume that repetition automatically means improvement. That approach may help with familiarity, but it often misses the main point.
CAT4 is about reasoning quality, not just answer exposure.
CAT4 Practice Questions With Answers Explained
Example 1: Verbal Reasoning
Which word is the odd one out?
Dog, cat, fish, table
Answer: Table.
Explanation: Dog, cat and fish are animals. Table is an item of furniture, so it does not belong in the same category.
Example 2: Non-Verbal Reasoning
Which shape comes next in the sequence?
Imagine a shape rotating 90 degrees each time.
Answer: The next shape is the one rotated a further 90 degrees.
Explanation: The underlying rule is transformation, not appearance alone.
Example 3: Quantitative Reasoning
What number comes next?
3, 6, 12, 24, ?
Answer: 48.
Explanation: Each number doubles, so the next number is 24 multiplied by 2.
Example 4: Spatial Reasoning
Which 3D shape could be made from this net?
Answer: The correct option is the one whose faces can fold together without overlap.
Explanation: Spatial reasoning requires mental manipulation. The child has to imagine how the flat net changes when folded into a solid shape.
10 More Worked CAT4 Examples
Example 5: Verbal Analogy
Book is to read as music is to:
- hear
- listen
- sing
- play
Answer: listen
Explanation: You read a book. You listen to music.
Example 6: Word Classification
Which word does not belong?
Triangle, square, rectangle, apple
Answer: apple
Explanation: The first three are shapes. Apple is not.
Example 7: Number Series
What number comes next?
5, 10, 20, 40, ?
Answer: 80
Explanation: Each number doubles.
Example 8: More Complex Number Pattern
What number comes next?
2, 5, 11, 23, 47, ?
Answer: 95
Explanation: Each number is doubled and 1 added.
Example 9: Non-Verbal Pattern
A shape moves one position clockwise each time. Which comes next?
Answer: The option with the shape moved one further position clockwise.
Example 10: Mirror Image
Which option shows the mirror image of the shape?
Answer: The correct option is the one reflected exactly across the mirror line.
Example 11: Spatial Folding
Which cube could be made from this net?
Answer: The cube whose faces meet correctly when folded.
Example 12: Verbal Relationship
Puppy is to dog as kitten is to:
- cat
- rabbit
- mouse
- horse
Answer: cat
Example 13: Quantitative Comparison
Tom has 12 marbles. Sarah has twice as many. How many does Sarah have?
Answer: 24
Example 14: Shape Sequence
A black square becomes white, then black, then white. What comes next?
Answer: Black.
CAT4 by Year Group
Year 4 CAT4
Year 4 CAT4 is often used as an early baseline. Preparation should be gentle and confidence-building, focusing on simple patterns and reasoning tasks.
Year 5 CAT4
Year 5 CAT4 often introduces more complex reasoning questions. Children benefit from beginning to understand the logic behind answers rather than just completing questions.
Year 6 CAT4
Year 6 CAT4 is often linked to transition to secondary school. Schools may compare CAT4 results with SATs and other attainment data.
Year 7 CAT4
Many schools use CAT4 in Year 7 to build a picture of a pupil’s reasoning strengths and likely learning needs after transition to secondary school.
Year 8 CAT4
Year 8 CAT4 is often used to inform GCSE pathway discussions, intervention and setting decisions. Preparation usually needs to be more targeted and strategic.
Year 9 and Beyond
Some schools continue to use CAT4-style measures beyond Year 8 to support longer-term planning and subject choices.
How Schools Use CAT4 Results
1. Setting and Grouping
Schools often use CAT4 to help decide which class or set may suit a pupil best.
2. Identifying Hidden Potential
Strong CAT4 scores alongside lower attainment may suggest that a child has untapped potential.
3. Identifying Support Needs
CAT4 may help schools identify where a child needs more support or a different teaching approach.
4. Comparing Potential With Attainment
Schools often compare CAT4 reasoning scores with classroom attainment to understand why a pupil may be overperforming or underperforming relative to expectations.
5. Supporting Conversations With Parents
CAT4 results often provide a useful basis for discussions between schools and parents about strengths, weaknesses and future support.
CAT4 Scores Explained Simply
CAT4 reports often use Standard Age Scores. These compare a child’s performance with other children of the same age.
Schools also often look at the pattern across verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning rather than relying only on one overall score.
What CAT4 Scores Do Not Mean
CAT4 does not provide a complete picture of a child. It does not directly measure motivation, effort, wellbeing or long-term success.
A lower score does not define a child permanently, and a high score does not guarantee future success. CAT4 is only one part of the picture.
Why What CAT4 Measures Matters
CAT4 is one of the most widely used cognitive assessments in UK schools, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood.
Many parents assume CAT4 is simply another academic test. It is not. Others assume it is something children can revise for in the same way as English or maths. That is not quite right either.
What CAT4 Is Designed to Measure
CAT4 is designed to measure patterns of reasoning rather than learned curriculum knowledge. In simple terms, it is more about how your child thinks than what they have already been taught.
The four main batteries usually discussed are:
- verbal reasoning
- non-verbal reasoning
- quantitative reasoning
- spatial reasoning
Why That Distinction Matters
This matters because parents often prepare in the wrong way. If you think CAT4 is mainly testing school knowledge, you may focus too heavily on curriculum revision. But CAT4 is more about recognising patterns, relationships, logic, and reasoning structure.
What CAT4 Does Not Measure
CAT4 is not a straightforward test of how hard your child has revised. It is not a direct measure of classroom attainment. It is not a pure test of memory or subject knowledge.
That is why some children who do very well in school can still find particular CAT4 question types unfamiliar at first, while other children respond well once they understand the format.
Why Schools Use CAT4
Schools use CAT4 for different reasons, including understanding strengths, supporting placement decisions, informing teaching, and gaining a broader picture of cognitive profile.
For parents, the practical takeaway is this: the test is trying to reveal reasoning strengths and patterns, not just reward recall.
Can CAT4 Be Prepared For?
Yes, but not in the same way as a standard curriculum test.
Preparation is usually most useful when it focuses on:
- becoming familiar with question formats
- understanding timing and pace
- building confidence across the four batteries
- reducing avoidable confusion
That is why structured practice can still help. It does not replace reasoning ability, but it can reduce format shock and help pupils show their ability more clearly.
What Most Parents Get Wrong
They either overplay CAT4 as a revision-heavy exam or underplay it as something preparation cannot help with at all.
The better view is in the middle. Children benefit from understanding the question types, pacing, and reasoning demands, even though CAT4 is not testing curriculum knowledge in the usual way.
How to Prepare More Effectively
- Use accurate CAT4-style materials. Children do better when the formats actually resemble the assessment they will face.
- Build familiarity across all batteries. One weak area can affect confidence, so balanced preparation matters.
- Focus on reasoning, not rote learning. Pattern recognition and logic matter more than memorising facts.
- Keep preparation calm and structured. The goal is readiness, not panic.
Looking for accurate CAT4 preparation?
Start with The Most Accurate CAT4 Practice Tests for All Levels.
Then try our partner’s CAT4 verbal reasoning practice tests.
For more advanced psychometric interpretation, visit RWA CAT4 test practice.
Turn CAT4 practice into a useful preparation plan
The most useful CAT4 practice does more than produce a score.
It helps you identify which type of reasoning is causing
difficulty, why mistakes are happening and what the pupil should
practise next.
Sample
Begin with examples from all four CAT4 batteries rather than assuming
you already know which area needs work.
Diagnose
Record accuracy, hesitation, confidence and whether the pupil can
explain the reasoning rule.
Target
Use focused question-type practice for the one or two formats causing
the greatest difficulty.
Retest
Return to mixed practice later and check whether the original error
pattern has actually improved.
CAT4 tutor observation checklist
Tutors can make practice much more informative by recording the
reason for an error, rather than simply marking an
answer right or wrong.
| What you observe | What it may indicate | Useful tutor response |
|---|---|---|
| Pupil answers correctly but cannot explain why | Guessing or an insecure reasoning method | Ask the pupil to explain the rule before accepting the answer as secure. |
| Accuracy is good but performance is slow | Method is understood but not yet efficient | Use short sets and gradually introduce timing. |
| The same question type repeatedly causes errors | A specific format or reasoning process is unfamiliar | Move temporarily from full tests to targeted subtest practice. |
| Visual questions are much weaker than verbal questions | A possible difference between reasoning batteries | Compare non-verbal and spatial performance separately before deciding what to practise. |
| Performance deteriorates late in a practice test | Fatigue, concentration or pacing rather than reasoning difficulty | Use shorter sessions and practise maintaining a steady pace. |
| Errors increase sharply under timing | Rushing or excessive checking | Return briefly to accuracy-first practice and then introduce shorter timed sets. |
Do not treat an unstandardised practice percentage as an official CAT4
Standard Age Score. Use practice results to decide what to work on next;
use the child’s official CAT4 report for standardised score interpretation.
Best CAT4 resources across our sites
Use each resource for a different purpose: practical CAT4 preparation
on School Entrance Tests, reasoning-skill development on Mosaic and
psychometric interpretation on Rob Williams Assessment.
CAT4 Practice Tests
The main parent and tutor hub for CAT4 levels, year groups,
practice tests and all eight question types.
Free CAT4 Samples
Try examples covering all eight CAT4 subtests before deciding which
areas need additional practice.
CAT4 Scores & Reports
Understand Standard Age Scores, battery scores and differences across
a child’s CAT4 profile.
CAT4 Non-Verbal Reasoning
Develop visual rule-finding skills used in Figure Matrices and
Figure Classification.
CAT4 Quantitative Reasoning
Focus on the numerical relationships and pattern-recognition skills
used in CAT4 quantitative reasoning.
CAT4 Spatial Reasoning
Develop the mental visualisation skills relevant to Figure Analysis
and Figure Recognition.
CAT4 Psychometric Guidance
Go deeper into CAT4 assessment design, reasoning measurement and
psychometric interpretation.