CAT4 Cognitive Abilities Test Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026 October)
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The CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test, 4th Edition) is GL Assessment's primary standardised reasoning assessment, used by secondary schools across the UK, Ireland, and internationally to measure students' developed abilities across verbal, quantitative, non-verbal, and spatial domains. Unlike curriculum-based tests, CAT4 measures underlying reasoning potential — the cognitive skills that predict academic progress across all subjects.
Our free CAT4 practice test PDF lets you print sample questions from all four batteries and work through them at home or in the classroom. Use it alongside our online tests to build familiarity with question formats, sharpen your reasoning speed, and understand how each battery is structured before test day.
Understanding the CAT4 Batteries and Question Types
Verbal Reasoning Battery
The Verbal Reasoning battery measures a student's ability to think flexibly with words and language concepts — skills that underpin success in English, humanities, and any subject that relies on reading comprehension. It contains two question types. Verbal Classification presents three words that share a common category; the student must choose a fourth word that belongs to the same group. For example, three types of measurement unit might be given and the student must identify a fourth from five options. Verbal Analogies presents a word pair showing a relationship (such as part-to-whole or function-to-object) and requires the student to identify the word that completes a second pair following the same relationship. Strong performance on this battery relative to the others indicates a student who will respond well to word-rich teaching and extensive reading.
Quantitative Reasoning Battery
The Quantitative Reasoning battery assesses numerical reasoning ability — the capacity to identify patterns and relationships in numerical data — rather than arithmetic skill or curriculum knowledge. It includes three question types. Number Analogies follow the same logic as verbal analogies but use number pairs; students must identify the rule connecting each pair and apply it to a third. Number Series presents a sequence of numbers with one missing value; the student must identify the rule governing the sequence (which may involve addition, multiplication, or alternating operations) and supply the missing term. Number Puzzles require students to solve simple equations presented in a non-standard format, testing flexibility with numerical relationships. The Quantitative battery is a strong predictor of mathematical and scientific achievement.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Battery
Non-Verbal Reasoning tests the ability to think logically using shapes and visual patterns, deliberately removing any language or numerical bias. This makes it particularly informative for students who are English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners or who have specific learning difficulties that affect literacy. The battery contains three question types. Figure Classification presents three shapes sharing a common rule; students choose the shape from five options that belongs to the same group. Figure Matrices present a 2×2 or 3×3 grid of shapes following a visual rule — one cell is empty and the student must identify the correct completion. Figure Analysis shows a square piece of paper being folded and then punched; students must identify what the paper looks like when unfolded. This last type bridges into the Spatial battery and tests mental rotation and spatial transformation ability.
Spatial Ability Battery
Spatial Ability is the newest battery introduced in the CAT4 revision and measures the capacity to mentally manipulate shapes and visualise objects in two and three dimensions — skills linked to success in design technology, engineering, architecture, and the physical sciences. It contains two question types. Figure Recognition requires students to find a given target shape embedded or hidden within a more complex figure; this tests selective attention and visual discrimination. Figure Rotation presents a shape and asks students to identify how it would look when rotated by a specified angle; unlike reflection tasks, only true rotation is tested. Combined Spatial scores that diverge significantly from the student's other battery scores can indicate gifts in practical and creative domains that more traditional assessments might miss.
CAT4 Levels and Year Groups
CAT4 is published in eight levels labelled A through H, each calibrated to a specific year group range. Level A targets Year 3 and 4 students (ages 7–9), while Level H is designed for Year 12 and above (ages 16+). Most secondary school testing uses Levels D through G. The level determines not just the difficulty of questions but also the timing: younger students receive more time per question. Schools typically administer CAT4 in Year 7 at entry to secondary school and may repeat it in Year 9 or Year 10 to track cognitive development. The assessment is computer-delivered in most school settings, though paper versions remain available. Results are used to inform teaching and learning profiles, identify underachieving students whose reasoning scores exceed their attainment scores, and support admissions decisions at selective schools.
Standard Age Scores and Stanines
CAT4 reports results using Standard Age Scores (SAS), which are age-normed to a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. A student scoring SAS 100 is performing exactly at the average for their age group. SAS 85–115 is broadly average; SAS above 120 suggests high ability; SAS below 80 may indicate the need for additional support. Stanines convert the SAS into a nine-point scale: stanine 1–3 is below average, 4–6 is average, and 7–9 is above average. Schools use CAT4 profiles — comparing a student's four battery scores against each other — to identify areas of relative strength and weakness. A student with high Spatial and Non-Verbal scores but lower Verbal scores, for instance, may be a strong candidate for STEM pathways and may benefit from more visual-spatial teaching approaches in English lessons.
- ✓Identify which CAT4 level your school year group uses (A–H) before practising
- ✓Complete timed verbal classification exercises with word category grouping
- ✓Practise verbal analogy question types: part-whole, function, category relationships
- ✓Drill number series questions: look for add/subtract/multiply/divide patterns
- ✓Work through number analogy pairs to build rule-identification speed
- ✓Practise figure classification with shapes, paying attention to size, colour, and orientation
- ✓Complete figure matrices exercises using 2×2 and 3×3 grids
- ✓Build figure rotation speed using paper-based shape rotation drills
- ✓Practise figure recognition by finding hidden shapes inside complex diagrams
- ✓Review your scores per battery to identify and target your weakest reasoning area
Free CAT4 Practice Tests Online
Want immediate question-by-question feedback before you use the PDF? Our CAT4 practice test covers all four batteries with detailed answer explanations. Use the online version to identify your weakest battery, then use the printable PDF for timed offline drills.
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Sample CAT4 Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free CAT4 practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Who created the Cognitive Abilities Exam (CAT4)?
- A. Helen Hartwig
- B. National Center for Education Statistics
- C. Helen J. Fothergill
- D. University College, London
Answer: C. Helen J. Fothergill
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) was developed by GL Assessment, with significant contributions from educational psychologists and researchers. Helen J. Fothergill is credited as one of the key authors and developers involved in the creation and refinement of the CAT4 assessment.
What is the purpose of reading cognitive abilities test results?
- A. To assess language and literacy development
- B. To predict future achievements
- C. To compare courses and grade levels
- D. To determine placement and intervention needs
Answer: D. To determine placement and intervention needs
Interpreting CAT4 results allows educators to understand a student's cognitive strengths and areas where they might need additional support. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about appropriate academic placement, identifying specific learning needs, and planning targeted interventions to help students reach their full potential.
The CAT4 is a test of cognitive abilities, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
- A. TRUE
- B. FALSE
Answer: A. TRUE
This statement is true. The CAT4 is specifically designed to assess a student's cognitive abilities across four key areas: verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning. By evaluating these skills, it provides a comprehensive measure of a student's capacity for learning and problem-solving, rather than just their acquired knowledge.
Which cognitive skill does CAT4 Figure Recognition primarily measure?
- A. Short-term verbal memory
- B. Mathematical computation speed
- C. Spatial visualization and perceptual accuracy
- D. Abstract reasoning with symbolic patterns
Answer: C. Spatial visualization and perceptual accuracy
Figure Recognition measures spatial visualization — the ability to accurately identify and locate specific shapes within complex visual environments.
🧠 What does the CAT4 practice test actually measure?
CAT4 measures developed reasoning ability across four batteries — verbal, quantitative, non-verbal and spatial — rather than curriculum knowledge. It predicts how well a student can learn new material across subjects.
START CAT4 PRACTICE TEST📄 Where can I get a free CAT4 practice test PDF?
You can download our free CAT4 practice test PDF with sample questions and answers from all four batteries. Print it for timed offline drills, then check your answers against the explanations at the back.
START CAT4 PRACTICE TEST🔤 What are the Verbal Reasoning question types?
The Verbal battery has two types: Verbal Classification (pick the fourth word sharing a category with three given words) and Verbal Analogies (complete a second word pair that follows the same relationship as the first).
START VERBAL PRACTICE TEST🔢 What is in the Quantitative Reasoning battery?
Quantitative Reasoning covers Number Analogies, Number Series and Number Puzzles. It tests pattern-spotting and numerical logic, not arithmetic speed, and strongly predicts later maths and science achievement.
START QUANTITATIVE PRACTICE TEST🔷 What does Non-Verbal Reasoning involve?
Non-Verbal Reasoning uses shapes and visual patterns with no language. Its three types are Figure Classification, Figure Matrices and Figure Analysis, making it fair for EAL learners and students with literacy difficulties.
START NON-VERBAL PRACTICE TEST🧩 What is the CAT4 Spatial Ability battery?
Spatial Ability is the newest CAT4 battery and has two types: Figure Recognition (find a target shape hidden in a complex figure) and Figure Rotation (identify how a shape looks when rotated). It links to STEM and design strengths.
START SPATIAL PRACTICE TEST📊 How are CAT4 scores reported?
CAT4 reports a Standard Age Score (SAS) normed to a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Each battery gets its own SAS, which is also mapped to a nine-point stanine scale from 1 (low) to 9 (high).
START CAT4 PRACTICE TEST🎯 What is a good CAT4 score?
A SAS of 100 is exactly average for a student’s age. SAS 85–115 is broadly average, SAS 121+ is well above average, and many selective schools look for scores of 120 or higher as part of admissions.
START CAT4 PRACTICE TEST📚 What CAT4 levels and year groups exist?
CAT4 is published in eight levels, A through H. Level A suits Years 3–4 (ages 7–9) and Level H covers Year 12 and above (16+). Most secondary schools use Levels D–G and test on entry in Year 7.
START CAT4 PRACTICE TEST⏱️ Does practising for the CAT4 test actually help?
Yes. CAT4 targets underlying reasoning, but timed practice builds familiarity with question formats, cuts test anxiety and improves working speed. Gains are largest on the spatial and non-verbal batteries where the formats are least familiar.
START CAT4 PRACTICE TESTOfficial Resources
- GL Assessment — CAT4: the official product page from GL Assessment, the publisher of the Cognitive Abilities Test, describing the four batteries, levels and score reports.
- GL Assessment: the UK home of the CAT4 publisher, with guidance for schools on administering and interpreting cognitive and attainment assessments.
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