CAT 4, ISEB, and CEM assessments are all different types of standardised tests that are used to assess the cognitive abilities of children and young people. This insight provides information on all three, which are used by independent schools to determine whether a child has the intellectual ability and potential to enter their school.
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CAT 4
CAT 4, or the Cognitive Abilities Test 4, is a test that is designed to measure a child’s cognitive abilities in the areas of verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative and spatial reasoning. The test is suitable for children aged 7 to 16 and is often used in schools to identify children who may be gifted and talented or who may need additional support in their learning. The test is taken when the child is in Year 6 (aged 10 or 11), and along with assessing academic performance, it can also determine which child will receive scholarships or bursaries.
It is considered that a score between 89-111 are in the average bracket, yet the top independent schools look for scores of around 125. The test is a 72 minute timed assessment, taken under exam conditions, presented in a multiple choice question format.
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ISEB
ISEB, or the Independent Schools Examinations Board, is an independent organization that provides a range of tests and assessments for children in independent schools in the UK. These tests include the Common Pre-Test, which is designed to assess the cognitive abilities of children aged 7 to 13, and the Common Entrance Exam, which is used to assess the academic ability of children aged 13 to 14 who are seeking to enter independent schools.
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is used by many independent schools such as Charterhouse, Eton, Dulwich, Harrow, Stowe and Tonbridge. All use this as a means to test children’s ability in English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning and is usually taken in Year 6. The tests are online and adaptive in a multi-choice format. To find more on the ISEB Pre-Test, please have a read of one of our previous insights here.
CEM
CEM, or the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, is a research and development organization based at Durham University in the UK. CEM provides a range of assessments and tests for children and young people, including the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT), which is similar to CAT 4 but is suitable for children aged 5 to 16.
From September 2023 and onwards, CEM will change from a paper-based test to an online assessment. Currently, CEM assesses Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal reasoning. The papers take 45 minutes each to complete and smaller subsections within each paper are separately timed. Unlike the CAT 4 and ISEB, their questions are non-adaptive and as a consequence, are less predictable than the aforementioned. Independent schools that currently use CEM are Henrietta Barnett, St Paul’s Girls’ and Eton.
Overall
In summary, CAT 4, ISEB and CEM assessments are all different types of standardised tests that are used to assess the cognitive abilities of children and young people. While they may have some similarities, they are designed to meet different needs and are used for different purposes. It is important to understand that all schools assess their prospective pupils differently; therefore, it is wise to research your school of choice testing methods.
Ultimately, it is imperative that your child performs well in the respective 11+ assessments to ensure that they are given the best possible chance of a successful entry.
Contact Think Tutors
Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process for private education. With a 100% school admission success rate, our tutors are adept at enhancing performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building.
We can either provide hourly or full-time tuition, in addition to homeschooling. We can organise tuition wherever and whenever, with the option of in-person or online tuition. Please contact us if you are interested in finding a tutor to help your child feel confident and succeed in their studies.