Your 2025 Guide to the CAT4 Level A Test – What to Expect and How to Prepare
May 12, 2025
What Is the CAT4 Level A?
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) is similar to an IQ test and is given to students throughout the UK and Ireland between the ages of 6 and 17, with test levels from Level A to Level G. The test is used by more than 50% of UK secondary schools.
The CAT4 exam was developed by GL Assessment and is often used as an entrance exam to private and public schools. Its aim is to identify the abilities and learning potential in students.
While the test can highlight weaknesses and a child's ability, it also identifies how students best understand and learn. This allows teachers and staff to offer better support as well as tailor some of their teaching to the needs of their students.
The CAT4 Level A exam is based on the work done in Year 4 in the UK, or Primary 5 in Scotland, aimed at children aged seven to nine.
Prepare for CAT4 Level A Test with TestPrep-Online
What Does the CAT4 Level A Exam Contain?
There are several sections and subsections on the CAT4 Level A test.
Four types of questions are separated into three parts:
- Part one looks at figure classification and figure matrices and consists of 24 questions to be answered in 10-minute blocks, totalling 20 minutes.
- Part two consists of three sections: verbal classification, verbal analogies and number analogies. The verbal sections take eight minutes each and contain 24 questions for each section. The number analogies part has 18 questions to be answered in 10 minutes.
- Part three includes number series, figure analysis and figure recognition, with each section to be answered in eight, nine and nine minutes respectively.
The test includes four 'batteries' that are simply different subject areas.
CAT4 Level A Verbal Reasoning
This battery aims to measure:
- Verbal comprehension
- Logic
- Reasoning
- General vocabulary
The battery also examines connections between words.
1. Please choose the word that best fits the relationship:
'Feet' are to 'running' as 'hands' are to:
a) eating
b) clapping
c) tapping
d) rubbing
e) clenching
The correct answer is: b) clapping. Both 'running' and 'clapping' are fast motions.
2. Which word describes the three words listed?
Ants, butterflies, bee, grasshopper
a) Bugs
b) Insects
c) Things that are small
d) Arachnids
The correct answer is: b) Insects.
3. Choose the word that best fits the relationship:
‘Book’ is to ‘read’ as ‘pen’ is to:
a) write
b) draw
c) grip
d) colour
The correct answer is: a) write
A book is something you read; a pen is something you write with.
4. Which word describes all three?
Sofa, chair, bed
a) wood
b) seats
c) furniture
d) rest
The correct answer is: c) furniture
All three are types of furniture.
Prepare for CAT4 Level A Test with TestPrep-Online
CAT4 Level A Non-Verbal Reasoning
This battery examines problem-solving skills as well as pattern recognition using shapes. Both of these skills are used in mathematics and science.
1.
The four shapes at the top all relate to each other. Figure out the relationship and choose the image that fits in this group.
The correct answer is: c).
2. Choose the image that completes the pattern:
The correct answer is: a)
The number of squares increases by one each time.
3.
The correct answer is: b) A white triangle
All the others are colored; this one is white.
Prepare for CAT4 Level A Test with TestPrep-Online
CAT4 Level A Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative reasoning focuses on numbers and basic math. It examines simple problem-solving that uses basic calculations.
1. Please choose the next number in the sequence:
14.5, 13, 11.5, 10, 8.5, ___
a) 7.5
b) 7
c) 6.5
d) 9
The correct answer is: b) 7. The number sequence is decreasing by 1.5.
2. Please choose the number to make the equations equal.
(3 x 4) + 5 = (2 x ?) + 7
a) 10
b) 5
c) 3
d) 6
The correct answer is: b) 5, making each equation equal 17.
3. Find the missing number:
4, 7, 10, 13, ?
a) 15
b) 16
c) 17
d) 14
The correct answer is: b) 16
The sequence increases by 3 each time.
4. Choose the number that completes the equation:
(2 × 6) + 3 = (3 × ?) – 1
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 4
The correct answer is: b) 5
(2 × 6) + 3 = 15
(3 × 5) – 1 = 15
Prepare for CAT4 Level A Test with TestPrep-Online
CAT4 Level A Spatial Reasoning
Mental rotation, recognition of shapes within larger figures and more are all tested here. The ability to carry out tasks and think in three dimensions is tested.
1. Please find the hidden shape.
The correct answer is: b).
2. Take a small square piece of paper and fold it. Punch a hole in the paper. What will the paper look like when unfolded?
The correct answer is: c)
3.
The correct answer is: a)
Each rotation moves the arrow 90° clockwise.
4.
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
The correct answer is: b) 2
Folding symmetry causes two identical cut-outs when unfolded.
How Is the CAT4 Level A Scored?
Knowing how the CAT4 assessment is scored can be important to passing it. The tests are marked as a raw score and moderated into a final score using a comparison with a national percentile score. It is then grouped into a stanine score.
The raw score of your CAT4 results reflects the number of questions with correct answers. The scores are then compared to the scores of other students who are the same age.
Three normative scores are calculated to look at how the student performed:
- Standard age scores (SAS). For each age group, the average is set to 100 and the standard deviation is set to 2. If two students from different age groups receive the same SAS score, they have done equally well compared to students of the same age. A student has also done equally well on both if receiving the same score on two different batteries.
- National percentile rank (NPR). An NPR score shows the percentage of students who scored less than they did. If a student scores an NPR of 80%, they scored better than 80% of students in their age group and 20% of students scored higher than they did.
- Stanines (ST). The stanine score is a division of scores into nine bands. Each band equals a different SAS score and illustrates a different level of performance.
Prepare for CAT4 Level A Test with TestPrep-Online
How to Pass the CAT4 Level A in 2025
Taking any type of test can be stressful for children. Taking an entrance exam such as the CAT4 could be even more nerve-racking. There are some ways you can help your child to prepare.
Practice Tests
Not knowing what to expect can cause anxiety. Having your child sit a CAT4 test practice, under the same time constraints as the real test, can help your child in a few ways.
A CAT4 practice tests can give them an idea of what to expect on the day of the test, and it can identify areas of strength and weakness in the questions. This can help pinpoint areas to study further.
Read the Questions
Encourage your child to read the questions as many times as they need to understand what is being asked. Taking the extra time in practice to gain an understanding will help your child move quicker when taking the actual test.
Integrate Study Into Everyday Life
Try to work some study into things your child may already do. Instead of looking through YouTube, have them play some educational games, put some educational apps on their phone or iPad and provide them with more educational reading material.
Move Steadily
Don’t spend more time than needed on any one question. Remember that the test is timed and any extra minutes spent on a question or section will take time away from the rest of the test.
Tackle the easier questions first and then move on to the harder ones, which you can devote a bit more time to.
Sleep Well Before the Test
A good night’s sleep will help your child feel well rested, less anxious and more prepared to focus.
Be as Prepared as Possible
Fill out any necessary forms well in advance so you do not need to take care of it on the test day. Eat a healthy breakfast and have clothing set out ready to wear to start the day off as stress-free as possible.
Prepare for CAT4 Level A Test with TestPrep-Online
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the CAT4 Level A test?
The CAT4 Level A assesses a child’s cognitive abilities, such as pattern recognition, verbal reasoning, and numerical skills. It’s used by schools to understand how children learn best and where they may need extra support. The test is often part of entrance or placement procedures in UK schools.
Who takes the CAT4 Level A test?
The CAT4 Level A is typically taken by children aged 7 to 9, usually in Year 4 (England) or Primary 5 (Scotland). It’s often used as part of the admissions process for private or selective schools, or to assess learning potential in mainstream education settings.
How long does the CAT4 Level A take to complete?
The full CAT4 Level A takes around 60–75 minutes, split into timed sections. Each section covers a different reasoning type, such as verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, or spatial reasoning. Breaks are usually included between parts when the test is administered in schools or testing centres.
Can you prepare for the CAT4 Level A test?
Yes, although it’s not based on school curriculum, preparation can help children feel more confident. Practice tests, logical puzzles, and familiarity with question types can improve performance. Time management and understanding instructions are key skills to build through preparation at home or with tutors.
How is the CAT4 Level A test scored?
Scores are based on the number of correct answers, then standardised by age group. Results are reported using a Standard Age Score (SAS), National Percentile Rank (NPR), and a Stanine score (1–9). These show how a child’s performance compares to others of the same age.
Prepare for CAT4 Level A Test with TestPrep-Online
Final Thoughts
The CAT4 test is more than simply an aptitude test; it can assess areas of strength and weakness. This can be helpful for students looking for areas to improve upon and it can be helpful for teachers to know which students need help in which areas.
Knowing what the test contains, how long it is and how long to spend on each section, as well as practicing some sample questions, can all help a student feel more prepared.
A prepared student is a successful student, not only on the CAT4 Level A test, but on future tests as well.
