For each test a student is given a score between 60 (low score) and 140 (high score). The mean score for each test is 100. A score between 87 and 113 would be classified as “normal”.

A student would be considered “gifted” if s/he achieved a score above 129 in any of the three tests. Any child who achieved these very high scores would be eligible to join the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth at Warwickshire University. The College will contact all parents of eligible children directly about this during this term. St Mary’s staff, over a number of years, have developed differentiated work and opportunities for gifted students.

A student who has very low test scores or whose test scores show very large differences (between a high non-verbal test score and low verbal test score) will be reviewed by our Inclusion Department to see if additional support is required or remedial work needed.

CAT scores show a student’s academic potential. It is possible for a student to have a “bad day” when the tests are taken. For this reason we re-test all students at the end of Year 9 as well as using other information alongside CAT scores to place students in sets.

Every year, across the country, students with similar CAT scores achieve very different Key Stage 3 SAT results/GCSE results. Whilst CATs are useful in showing a student’s academic potential, this potential will only be realised if a student develops the capacity to learn.