The CAT4 test (Cognitive Abilities Test) is widely used in schools worldwide to assess how students reason with words, numbers, shapes, and space. Rather than testing what students know, it provides insight into how they think — helping teachers support learning more effectively.
This guide offers clear, up-to-date information about the CAT4 test in 2025, including how it works, how results are used, and what to expect during the testing process. It is written for parents, students, teachers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this assessment tool.
What is CAT4 Test?
The Cognitive Abilities Test – Fourth Edition (CAT4) is a diagnostic assessment used by schools to understand how students learn, think, and approach problem-solving. Unlike traditional school exams that focus on facts and curriculum knowledge, the CAT4 is designed to reveal a student’s reasoning ability — their potential to learn, rather than what they have already learned.
At its core, the CAT4 is not a test of English (although it involves using English), maths, or science. Instead, it is a structured way to look inside a child’s mind and understand their strengths across four essential areas: verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning. These areas together provide a cognitive profile that helps educators make more informed decisions about teaching strategies, classroom support, and academic development. And since the CAT4 does not rely heavily on language or previous knowledge, it can be particularly valuable for identifying potential in students who are new to the language of instruction or who haven’t had access to strong academic preparation.
One of the most important things to understand about the CAT4 is that it’s not just for high-stakes selection. While the CAT4 is indeed heavily used in admissions for selective or independent schools, many schools also use it to better support their students in everyday learning. For example, a student might be quiet in class but have excellent spatial skills which can be further developed— the CAT4 can uncover that hidden strength.
Originally developed by GL Assessment, the CAT4 is now used by over 8,000 schools in more than 100 countries, including the UK, Ireland, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, and many other countries across Europe and Asia. It is especially common in international schools and private institutions – mainly for admission purposes, but many UK state schools also use the test to guide curriculum planning and track student progress. Whether a child is preparing for a transition between key stages or simply being assessed for support needs, the CAT4 offers schools a powerful, objective tool to understand a student.
In short, the CAT4 test answers a fundamental question: How does this student think? And once that question is answered, teachers and parents can begin to tailor a learning plan that actually fits the student.
CAT4 Levels and Age Appropriateness
The CAT4 test is offered in 10 levels:
- CAT4 Level A-G: used in primary and secondary years.
- CAT4 X, Y, and Pre-A: used for lower school years and younger students.
Each CAT4 level is designed to match a specific age group or school year. This ensures that students are tested with age-appropriate questions and given a fair opportunity to show their thinking skills.
The types of questions and the test format are the same across CAT4 levels A-G. The change between the levels is in the difficulty and complexity that progresses as you go up the levels. The CAT4 lower levels (X, Y, and Pre-A) slightly differ from the higher levels (A-G) in the question types and test format.
As noted above, the CAT4 is administered in many different countries and school systems, and it creates differences in terminology and may lead to confusion. Here is a breakdown of the different CAT4 levels and their corresponding age groups and school years in the UK and Ireland:
CAT4 Levels – UK & Ireland
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| Row 1 | Data 1 | Data 2 | Data 3 | Data 4 | Data 5 |
| Row 2 | Data 1 | Data 2 | Data 3 | Data 4 | Data 5 |
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