CAT4 Level X: A Guide with Tips & Examples

Testing is commonly used throughout the education system to monitor the progress and ability of students. It is a vital tool in ensuring that pupils can achieve their full potential and can help educators to quickly spot areas of need.

This means that interventions can be put in place more effectively.

CAT4 testing is one of the most commonly used assessment methods for cognitive ability. There are different levels of tests available depending on the age of the students taking them.

The CAT4 Level X test is used for children aged between six and seven.

In this article, you will learn more about the CAT4 Level X test, how it’s scored, as well as get tips for success and answers to frequently asked questions.

What Is CAT4 Level X?

CAT4 Level X is a cognitive abilities assessment used to evaluate students aged between six and seven.

Tests are taken under exam conditions, with strict time limits. There are three separate sections to the CAT4 Level X that assess four different areas of cognitive skill.

These papers can be administered separately or together. 

Teaching staff use the information gained from CAT4 Level X testing to identify students in need of additional support as well as those exceeding expectations.

This means that work can be tailored more effectively to help individual students achieve to the best of their ability.

CAT4 Level X Test Components

The CAT4 Level X test is designed to assess four key areas of cognitive ability: 

• Verbal reasoning
• Non-verbal reasoning
• Quantitative reasoning
• Spatial reasoning

Questions relating to each of these areas are split between two, individually-timed sections. These papers can be administered together or separately. 

Paper One has 48 questions with a 22-minute time limit. This paper focuses on non-verbal and verbal reasoning questions.

Paper Two comprises 36 questions with a time limit of 21 minutes. This paper focuses on quantitative and spatial reasoning questions.

Verbal Reasoning

This section of the CAT4 Level X aims to assess how well a student can form conclusions from written information.

It tests comprehension skills as well as the ability to deduce information from written text.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

These questions are targeted to assess how well a student can infer information from charts and images.

The results from this section can identify a child’s ability in areas such as geography, math, and IT.

Quantitative Reasoning

To assess numeracy skills, students will be asked a range of quantitative reasoning questions with varying difficulty.

These are designed to consider how well a child can understand standard mathematical concepts as well as their ability to answer questions. 

Spatial Ability

The spatial ability section of the CAT4 Level X test is designed to assess problem-solving and pattern-recognition skills.

This is usually done by providing students with a series of shapes and asking them to correctly select the next object in the pattern. 

CAT4 Level X: Example Questions and Practice

1. Verbal Reasoning

Identify the word that is most opposite in meaning to the word: "Obfuscate"

a) Clarify
b) Complicate
c) Disguise
d) Confuse

The correct answer is: a) Clarify

The word "obfuscate" means to make something unclear or obscure. The opposite of this would be "clarify," which means to make something clear and understandable. 

2. Non-Verbal Reasoning

Which shape completes the sequence?

The correct answer is: a)

The pattern involves the shading of one square at a time, moving clockwise around the larger square. The sequence goes from the top left, top right, bottom right, and bottom left squares being shaded in that order.

Since the pattern is cyclic, after the bottom left square, the sequence would start again with the top left square being shaded.

3. Quantitative Reasoning

A factory produces 1,200 units of a product in 10 hours with 15 workers. How many workers would be required to produce 3,600 units in 8 hours at the same rate of productivity?

a) 45 workers
b) 57 workers
c) 60 workers
d) 72 workers

The correct answer is: b) 57 workers

First, calculate the rate of production per worker per hour:

The factory produces 1,200 units in 10 hours with 15 workers.

To find the rate per worker per hour:

• Divide 1,200 units by 15 workers and then by 10 hours.
• This gives 8 units produced per worker per hour.

Now, determine how many total worker-hours are needed to produce 3,600 units:

• Divide 3,600 units by the production rate of 8 units per hour.
• This means the factory needs 450 worker-hours to produce 3,600 units.

Finally, calculate how many workers are needed:

• Divide 450 worker-hours by 8 hours.
• This results in 56.25 workers. Since you cannot have a fraction of a worker, round up to 57 workers.

4. Spatial Ability

Which of the following 3D objects can be formed by folding the given net?

The correct answer is: c)

Tips for Success in CAT4 Level X 

Speak to Your Child

Sometimes the simple things are the most important ones. Speak to your child ahead of the CAT4 Level X test to explain what they will be doing and what the tests will mean. 

Answer any questions they might have, and reassure your child that as long as they do their best, that’s all that matters. 

Take Paid for or Free CAT4 Level X Practice Tests

Several websites offer paid for or free CAT4 Level X practice tests and sample questions. Alternatively, your child’s school may be able to offer resources so that you can practice at home. 

Familiarizing your child with the format and style of questioning they will encounter during the CAT4 Level X test can help reduce anxiety. 

Additionally, the results from CAT4 Level X practice tests can identify areas of weakness, enabling you to more effectively focus revision. 

Sleep and Nutrition

Numerous studies have shown that there is a link between sleep, nutrition, and focus. This is why you should never underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep and a balanced breakfast before a test or exam.

These simple steps can help your child to feel more relaxed and focused going into an assessment, enabling them to retain information more effectively and perform to the best of their ability.

Puzzle Books

Practice doesn’t just have to involve CAT4 Level X practice test questions. Puzzle books and games can be a fun way to brush up on core cognitive ability skills without it feeling like hard work.

Managing Anxiety

Anxiety around tests is common, but it can cause problems with focus and recollection. Teaching your child some easy mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises can help them to manage their anxiety.

Focus on Answering as Many Questions as Possible

The CAT4 Level X test is timed. This is why it’s better to have a go at as many questions as possible. 

If your child finds that they get stuck on a question and then don’t have enough time to get to the end of the paper, make sure they know that they can skip a question and go back to the tricky one at the end if they have time.

How to Interpret CAT4 Level X Scores

Once your child has completed their CAT4 Level X assessments, you will receive a report with scores presented in a range of ways.

Each score will have a slightly different meaning, so it’s important to understand what they mean.

Stanine Score

Stanine scores are unique to CAT4 testing. Scores are provided for each section of the test as well as overall. 

Your child will be given a score between one and nine, with one being low and nine being high. A score between four and six is considered average.

Overall Score

This is the overall number of correct answers provided by a student. Overall scores are given for each paper as well as a total across both tests.

This score is why it’s so important to answer as much of the CAT4 Level X test as possible, rather than running out of time by being stuck on a question.

Percentile Score

Percentile scores compare the results of all of the children who take the CAT4 Level X test. Scores are averaged and your child will be given a percentile rank. 

The number they are given will relate to how well they performed in comparison to their peers. For example, a percentile rank of 63% indicates that a child scored better than 63% of other students taking that particular test. Percentile scores are given for individual papers as well as overall. 

Once you have been able to evaluate and digest your child’s score, you will be able to see whether there are any specific areas they are exceeding or falling behind. 

In both of these cases, it can be a good idea to speak to your child’s teacher. There may be additional support that can be put in place for those students who didn’t score very well. 

Alternatively, you might want to know whether the school can put things in place to further challenge your child if they did well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Level X mean in CAT4?

Level X refers to a specific CAT4 test paper. There are different tests for different ages. The CAT4 Level X test is administered to children aged between six and seven.

What is CAT4 Level X?

CAT4 Level X is a specialized version of the Cognitive Abilities Test, tailored for specific assessment needs, often for adults or special cases.

Is CAT4 Level X hard to pass?

CAT4 Level X is not pass/fail; it assesses cognitive strengths and weaknesses rather than passing a specific threshold.

Where can I prepare for CAT4 Level X?

Preparation resources may include answering CAT4 Level X practice test questions, or using cognitive training apps or specialized preparation guides for non-traditional test-takers.

How many questions are on CAT4 Level X?

There are 84 questions in total, split between two papers:

• Paper One – 48 questions
• Paper Two – 36 questions

Is the CAT4 Level X timed?

Yes. There are two papers, each with a separate time limit:

• Paper One – 22 minutes
• Paper Two –21 minutes

Can you retake the CAT4 Level X test?

Retake policies depend on the administering institution or organization, but retakes are usually limited.

Where can I get sample questions for the CAT4 Level X test?

Sample questions are available online, through educational websites, or by contacting the test provider.

How to pass the CAT4 Level X test?

Focus on practicing reasoning skills, familiarize yourself with the question types, and manage time effectively during the test.

What is a good score for the CAT4 Level X test?

A stanine score between four and six is considered average. Any score above six would be considered a good score.

Where can I get a complete study guide for the CAT4 Level X test?

Complete study guides may be available through specialized publishers, educational websites, or by contacting the test provider directly.

Final Thoughts

Testing is a vital tool for those working within the education system. It provides an insight into the progress of individual pupils as well as an opportunity to consider the progress of a year group as a whole.

If your child is due to take the CAT4 Level X test, the most important thing you can do as a parent is to talk to them about it. Answering questions they have and working together to strengthen core cognitive skills will help them to feel confident ahead of their assessments. 

No matter how your child scores in the CAT4 Level X test, spending time practicing and preparing will mean you can confidently reassure your child that they did their best.