What is a good CAT4 score?

Practise all eight CAT4 question types

CAT4 contains eight subtests grouped into four reasoning batteries.
A full CAT4 practice test can show which broad areas are easier or
harder for your child. You can then move to the relevant question-type
guide for more targeted practice.

Verbal Reasoning

Reasoning with words and concepts

The Verbal Reasoning battery contains two subtests. Both require
pupils to identify relationships between words and verbal concepts.

Quantitative Reasoning

Reasoning with numbers

The Quantitative Reasoning battery assesses how pupils identify and
apply numerical relationships rather than simply whether they can
perform routine arithmetic.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Reasoning with abstract figures

The Non-Verbal Reasoning battery uses abstract visual information.
Pupils identify common properties and relationships without relying
primarily on words or numbers.

Spatial Reasoning

Visualising and manipulating shapes

The Spatial Reasoning battery requires pupils to create, retain and
manipulate mental images accurately.

Use targeted practice selectively.
If a full CAT4 sample shows that one question type is consistently
causing difficulty, move to that subtest rather than repeatedly
completing whole papers.

Which CAT4 practice should I use?

Choose CAT4 practice according to the problem you are trying to solve.
Not every pupil needs the same amount or type of preparation.

1
Start with a free sample

Use a short sample when CAT4 is completely unfamiliar. The aim is
to see which formats are immediately understood and which require
explanation.

Try free CAT4 samples

2
Move to the correct year

If you know the pupil’s school year, use age-appropriate guidance
so that practice matches the most likely CAT4 level and expected
difficulty.

See CAT4 year guides

3
Identify the weaker battery

Compare Verbal, Quantitative, Non-Verbal and Spatial performance.
A broad weakness suggests that practice should focus on that
reasoning family.

Compare the four batteries

4
Target the specific subtest

If the problem is concentrated in Number Series, Figure Analysis
or another individual subtest, use focused practice rather than
repeating unrelated questions.

Open the eight subtest guides

5
Finish with realistic mixed practice

Once methods are secure, use broader CAT4-style practice to develop
pacing, switching between reasoning tasks and sustained
concentration.

Explore CAT4 practice

A useful sequence is:
free sample → correct year/level → weaker battery → specific subtest
→ realistic mixed practice.

How to use a CAT4 practice test diagnostically

A CAT4 practice score is most useful when it changes what you do next.
Instead of simply recording the percentage correct, identify the cause
of the errors and choose the next practice task accordingly.

Score

Complete a representative sample or practice set and record
accuracy separately for each question type.

Identify the cause

Ask why the question was missed. Was it unfamiliar vocabulary,
weak arithmetic, a misunderstood visual rule, rushing or simple
misrecording?

Target practice

Use focused practice to address the actual difficulty rather than
immediately giving another complete CAT4 paper.

Retest

Return to mixed practice after a delay and check whether the same
error pattern remains.

Observed problem	Possible cause	Best next step
Low Verbal Analogies or Classification accuracy	Vocabulary weakness or difficulty identifying conceptual relationships	Vocabulary-in-context work plus targeted verbal practice
Slow Number Series performance	Weak number fluency or trying too many possible rules	Practise common numerical relationships and systematic rule checking
Errors in Number Analogies	Arithmetic errors or transferring the wrong relationship	Identify the completed relationship first, verify it, then apply it
Figure Classification errors	Choosing by overall appearance rather than the defining rule	Describe number, position, shading, direction and relationships before answering
Figure Matrices errors	Missing one part of a multi-step visual transformation	Track changes across rows or columns one feature at a time
Figure Analysis errors	Difficulty mentally reversing folds or reflections	Use untimed fold-and-unfold practice before adding speed
Figure Recognition errors	Weak mental rotation or being distracted by extra lines	Identify anchor features and trace the target systematically
Accuracy falls only when timed	Rushing, excessive checking or poor pacing	Use short timed sets and increase duration gradually

Do not confuse a practice score with a CAT4 Standard Age Score.
Practice percentages from third-party resources are useful for
diagnosis, but they are not equivalent to an official CAT4 SAS.
See the

CAT4 Scores & Reports Guide

for score interpretation.

CAT4 time-management strategy

CAT4 contains a sequence of relatively short reasoning subtests.
Good time management is therefore not simply a matter of answering
faster. Pupils need an efficient method, a steady pace and the ability
to move on when one question becomes disproportionately difficult.

Understand the question type first
Time pressure magnifies weak methods. A pupil who has not understood
how Number Analogies, Figure Analysis or another subtest works is
unlikely to solve that problem simply by working faster.
Avoid getting trapped by one question
One unusually difficult item should not consume a disproportionate
amount of the available section time. Build the habit of making a
decision and moving forward.
Develop a steady pace
Use short timed sets after accuracy is secure. The goal is controlled
decision-making rather than frantic speed.
Practise switching between subtests
Verbal, numerical and visual questions require different reasoning
approaches. Pupils need to reset their method as they move from one
reasoning task to another.
Practise accurate response recording
Where answers are selected using a multiple-choice interface or
answer-recording system, accuracy matters. Avoid losing marks because
the pupil has skipped an item or selected the wrong response position.
Review why responses are slow
Slow performance may reflect weak vocabulary, slow arithmetic,
difficulty spotting a visual rule or excessive checking. Address the
underlying cause rather than simply demanding greater speed.

Accuracy before speed.
Introduce timing only after the pupil can explain and apply a reliable
method. For a fuller preparation programme, see the

CAT4 Preparation Guide for Parents
.

CAT4 practice questions answered

These are the CAT4 questions parents most often ask when deciding
whether, what and how much to practise.

What is CAT4?

CAT4 is a cognitive abilities assessment that profiles reasoning
across Verbal, Quantitative, Non-Verbal and Spatial batteries.
For the broader parent explanation, see

CAT4 Tests Explained
.

What does CAT4 measure?

CAT4 samples reasoning with words, numbers, abstract figures and
spatial information through four batteries containing eight subtests.

Is CAT4 an IQ test?

CAT4 is a standardised cognitive abilities assessment rather than a
conventional single-score IQ test. Schools receive a profile across
several reasoning batteries rather than one simple intelligence
score.

What are the eight CAT4 subtests?

Verbal Analogies, Verbal Classification, Number Analogies, Number
Series, Figure Classification, Figure Matrices, Figure Analysis and
Figure Recognition.

Compare all eight CAT4 question types
.

Which CAT4 level will my child take?

CAT4 levels are linked to age and school year. Use the appropriate
year guide and confirm the level with the school where possible.
The main CAT4 Practice Tests page includes year-by-year guidance.

What is the average CAT4 score?

CAT4 Standard Age Scores are centred on 100. A score needs to be
interpreted alongside the battery, age-standardisation and the wider
CAT4 profile.
See the

CAT4 Scores & Reports Guide
.