Alongside CAT4, many schools use GL Assessment's Progress Tests once a year: Progress Test in English (PTE), in Maths (PTM) and in Science (PTS). Where CAT4 is about reasoning, these are about attainment: what your child has actually learned.
The scores
- Standard age score. As with CAT4, 100 is average for the child's age, and most children score between 85 and 115.
- Stanine from 1 to 9, where 4 to 6 is average.
- Progress category. Some reports show whether a child has made more, less or the expected progress since the last test.
The useful part is underneath
The headline score is a summary. Schools can also see how a child did on each strand and, in detail, on individual questions. In maths, for example, a child might be secure on number but weak on fractions, or fine on facts but stuck on multi-step problems. In English, comprehension might be strong while spelling and grammar lag behind.
If you ask one thing of the school, ask for the strand or question-level breakdown. It turns "she got 104 in maths" into "she's losing marks on fractions and word problems".
Progress tests and CAT4 together
- Both around the same level: the child is broadly working to their ability.
- Progress tests well below CAT4: the child is capable of more. Look for the specific gap.
- Progress tests above CAT4: the child is working hard and well taught. Keep it up, and watch for stress.
What to do next
- Ask for last year's and this year's results, so you can see the trend, not a single point.
- Ask the teacher which strands they'd focus on first.
- Make sure any support at home follows the same priorities, rather than adding a second programme.
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