Assessment for Incoming First Years Saturday 27 January 2024

Dear Parents/Guardians & Students,

Our CAT 4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) Assessment for our incoming First Year Students takes place on Saturday 27 January 2024 from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Please note the following information:

• No preparation is required in advance of the assessment. Students are simply asked to complete the assessment to the best of their ability
•  Students must attend in their Primary School Uniform
• The test will take place in three different centres. Students will be directed to their centre on arrival
• Students do not need any stationery and will be provided with a pencil and an eraser
• Students will have two short breaks during the morning
• Students are asked to bring a light snack for each break

Parents are asked to note that First Year classes in Glanmire Community College operate strictly on a mixed ability basis.

What does CAT4 do?

CAT 4 results provide a rounded profile of student ability so that we can target support, provide the right level of challenge, and make informed decisions about their progress. Reports indicate strengths and weaknesses across four domains:

• Verbal Reasoning – the ability to express ideas and reason through words is essential to subjects with a high language content, and the most obvious skill picked up by traditional assessment.
• Non-verbal Reasoning – problem-solving using pictures and diagrams; skills which are important in a wide range of school subjects, including maths and science-based subjects.
• Spatial Reasoning – the capacity to think and draw conclusions in three dimensions, needed for many STEM subjects, but not easily measured by other datasets.
• Quantitative Reasoning – the ability to use numerical skills to solve problems, applicable well beyond mathematics.

What can CAT4 tell us?

The CAT4 offers a comprehensive understanding of a student’s capabilities, pinpointing those with the potential for higher achievement and those in need of support in specific subjects. For instance, a low quantitative score may indicate challenges in mathematics, while a low verbal score may suggest difficulties accessing the curriculum. These valuable insights enable us to tailor learning programmes in school. CAT4 Assessments help us to gauge your child’s strengths and weaknesses. When combined with the primary school STen scores and their second-level assessment results, CAT4 profiles are used to monitor your child’s progress and ensure they are performing to their potential. For more details on CAT4 assessments, please refer to the video below. Additional information on the CAT4 and related Data Protection details can be found through the provided links.

For more information explaining CAT4 assessments please view the video below:

For further information on the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) and related Data Protection information please click on the links below:

Information for parents – GL Assessment (gl-assessment.co.uk)