CAT4 results explained for parents
Type the scores from your child's report to see GL's band, stanine and description for each one, and what every term means.
CAT4 · Standard Age Scores
Type a score from the report
A Standard Age Score of 100 is average for a child of the same age. GL groups scores into nine stanines, from very low to very high.
- Share of children nationally
Every term on the report
Standard Age Score (SAS)
Your child's raw score adjusted for their age in years and months and placed on a scale compared with a UK sample of children of the same age. The average is 100.
National Percentile Rank (NPR)
The percentage of children in the sample who scored at or below this score. An NPR of 50 is average; 95 means the score is in the highest 5%. It is printed on the report: we do not work it out.
Stanine (ST)
A broad band from 1 (low) to 9 (high). Stanines 4 to 6 are described as average and cover 54% of children.
Group Rank (GR)
Where your child came within the group tested at their school, such as their year group. An = sign means a joint rank. It depends on who else was tested.
Profile or learning bias
A comparison of the Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Ability scores, described as a mild, moderate or extreme verbal or spatial bias, or no bias. Two thirds of children nationally show no bias. GL describes it as a learning bias or preference.
Indicators
Some reports show likely future grades, calculated from the mean SAS (from Verbal Reasoning for English). They are probabilities for planning teaching, not predictions for one child.
Number attempted
How many questions your child reached. A child who worked slowly but accurately may not finish, and that affects the score.
The four batteries
Verbal Reasoning (Verbal Classification and Verbal Analogies): General verbal reasoning, and the ability to extract general principles from specific examples by identifying similarities and relationships between concepts.
Quantitative Reasoning (Number Analogies and Number Series): Basic reasoning with numbers and number facility: seeing numerical relationships and working accurately.
Non-verbal Reasoning (Figure Classification and Figure Matrices): Identifying similarities, differences and relationships between shapes and patterns, without words or numbers.
Spatial Ability (Figure Analysis and Figure Recognition): Visualisation: creating a complex mental image, holding it in mind and manipulating it.
The seven profiles, nationally
Extreme verbal bias 2% · Moderate verbal bias 4% · Mild verbal bias 11% · No bias (even profile) 66% · Mild spatial bias 11% · Moderate spatial bias 4% · Extreme spatial bias 2%
Which level did my child take?
Level X: Year 2 (ages 6:00 to 7:11). Level Y: Year 3 (ages 7:01 to 8:11). Level Pre-A: Year 3 (ages 6:06 to 8:11). Level A: Year 4 (ages 7:06 to 9:11). Level B: Year 5 (ages 8:06 to 10:11). Level C: Year 6 (ages 9:06 to 11:11). Level D: Year 7 (ages 10:06 to 12:11). Level E: Year 8 (ages 11:06 to 13:11). Level F: Years 9 and 10 (ages 12:06 to 15:11). Level G: Year 11 and above (ages 14:06 to 17:00 and over).
Questions to ask the school
Which of my child's scores surprised you, and why? How does the profile match what you see in class? What will you do differently because of these results? Is there anything we should do at home? When will CAT4 be used again, and how?
No practice needed, or wanted. GL says: “We strongly advise against any kind of practice ahead of a CAT4 test as this will alter the reliability of test scores.” A CAT4 score does not predict a school place.
GL Education, CAT4 Guide to reports
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How we estimate
Scope, source, method, uncertainty, dates and what the answer can and cannot tell you.
How we estimate
Scope, source, method, uncertainty, dates and what the answer can and cannot tell you.
What it covers
The Standard Age Scores on a GL CAT4 report, placed in GL's own nine stanine bands, with GL's descriptions and the national share of children in each band.
Sources
- GL Education: Guide to reports (GL2656, 2021), CAT4 pages: score definitions (p.2), the seven learning profiles with national percentages (pp.7 to 9), the table of SAS bands, descriptions and national percentages (p.10), indicators calculated from the mean SAS (p.13). Official.
- GL Education: CAT4: a guide to admissions (GL2730), 'Understanding the scores': SAS, stanine and National Percentile Rank definitions, and the normal curve with stanine descriptions. Official.
- GL Education: CAT4: what is in each battery. Official.
- GL Education: CAT4: information for parents, "We strongly advise against any kind of practice ahead of a CAT4 test as this will alter the reliability of test scores.". Official.
- GL Assessment: CAT4: choosing a test type and level (UK). Official.
- GL Education: CAT4: communicating the results, "It is recommended that the report is discussed with parents rather than simply being sent to them.". Official.
Method
- You type each battery's Standard Age Score (SAS) from the report; nothing leaves your device except in a link you choose to share.
- Each score is placed in GL's published band: below 74 is stanine 1 (very low), 74 to 81 stanine 2, and so on to 127 and above, stanine 9 (very high).
- We show the band's description and the share of children nationally in it, as GL prints them (4%, 7%, 12%, 17%, 20%, 17%, 12%, 7%, 4%).
- If you enter Verbal and Spatial scores we show the difference, but the profile on the report is GL's to assign; we do not label a bias.
Uncertainty and limits
- Every test score has a margin of error; GL reports show it as a confidence band around the SAS.
- The National Percentile Rank and group rank are printed on the report. We do not calculate them.
- A CAT4 result describes one sitting on one day. GL recommends discussing the report with the school rather than reading it alone.
Dates and versions
- CAT4: score bands, stanines, batteries, profiles and levels, as GL publishes them: data version 2026-09-27.1, checked 27 September 2026.
- Page last changed 27 September 2026.
What the answer means
The answer says which GL band each score falls in and how common that band is nationally. It does not convert raw marks, estimate an IQ, predict grades or say whether a school will offer a place. GL strongly advises against practising for CAT4.
Questions people ask
What is a good CAT4 score?
The average Standard Age Score is 100. GL describes 89 to 111 as average (stanines 4 to 6, 54% of children), 112 to 126 as above average and 127 or more as very high, the top 4%.
What is a stanine in CAT4?
A band from 1 (low) to 9 (high). GL's bands run from below 74 (stanine 1) to 127 and above (stanine 9), with stanine 5 covering 97 to 103.
Can my child practise for CAT4?
GL Education says: "We strongly advise against any kind of practice ahead of a CAT4 test as this will alter the reliability of test scores."
What does verbal or spatial bias mean on a CAT4 report?
GL compares the Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Ability scores and describes a mild, moderate or extreme bias either way, or no bias. Nationally, 66% of children show no bias.
Sources
- GL Education: Guide to reports (GL2656, 2021)OfficialCAT4 pages: score definitions (p.2), the seven learning profiles with national percentages (pp.7 to 9), the table of SAS bands, descriptions and national percentages (p.10), indicators calculated from the mean SAS (p.13). Checked 27 September 2026.
- GL Education: CAT4: a guide to admissions (GL2730)Official'Understanding the scores': SAS, stanine and National Percentile Rank definitions, and the normal curve with stanine descriptions. Published 2021-02. Checked 27 September 2026.
- GL Education: CAT4: what is in each batteryOfficialChecked 27 September 2026.
- GL Education: CAT4: information for parentsOfficial"We strongly advise against any kind of practice ahead of a CAT4 test as this will alter the reliability of test scores.". Checked 27 September 2026.
- GL Assessment: CAT4: choosing a test type and level (UK)OfficialChecked 27 September 2026.
- GL Education: CAT4: communicating the resultsOfficial"It is recommended that the report is discussed with parents rather than simply being sent to them.". Checked 27 September 2026.
CAT4: score bands, stanines, batteries, profiles and levels, as GL publishes them: version 2026-09-27.1, First version, transcribed from GL's guides downloaded on 27 September 2026.