Got my CAAT results back - Level 4 in math but Level 2 in reading, is that normal?
So I took the CAAT last week through my local employment center and just got my score report. I'm honestly confused about what the different levels mean in terms of where this places me. My math came back at Level 4 which I expected since I work in trades, but my reading comprehension was Level 2 and vocabulary was Level 3. Is that a big deal for most programs?
The test itself wasn't what I expected. I thought it'd be more like a high school exam but it's really more of an aptitude assessment. The mechanical reasoning section felt totally different from the language parts - I flew through it but had to really slow down on the reading passages because some of them were pretty dense. I had about 3 hours total with short breaks between sections.
I'm trying to get into a machinist apprenticeship program and they mentioned the assessment as part of the application. The coordinator said they look at math and mechanical reasoning most heavily for that trade, which made me feel a bit better about my reading score. Still wondering if I should retake to bring up the language levels.
Has anyone else had a mixed score profile like this and still gotten into their target program? I don't want to delay my application by waiting to retake if it's not necessary for a trades path.
I had a Level 2 reading on my first attempt and ended up retaking the language sections 6 months later. Brought reading up to Level 3 with some focused practice. Depends on your time pressure though - if the program starts soon just apply with what you've got.
The coordinator is usually your best resource, they see these mixed profiles all the time.
The reading comprehension section tripped me up too - those passages are dry and technical and you have to read carefully. A few basic test prep books before my retake helped more than I expected for that specific format.
Level 4 in math is solid - most programs start looking for a Level 3 minimum so you're above that bar. I'd call the employment center and ask them directly what the cutoffs are for your specific program before worrying about a retake.
For machinist apprenticeships the math and mechanical scores matter a lot more than language. My buddy got in with a Level 2 reading and Level 5 mechanical and had zero issues - they cared about technical aptitude, full stop.
If you were going into something like business administration they'd probably weigh the reading scores more critically.
I was in a similar spot last year, Level 4 math, Level 3 reading, and my employment counselor said it's pretty common for trades folks to score uneven like that. The levels aren't really about being "good" or "bad" at something, they just reflect the kind of reading you've been doing day to day, which for most of us in trades is technical, not narrative. Don't stress it too much.
What actually helped me bump my reading score when I retook it was just practicing consistently in small chunks. I've got two kids and a full-time job so I wasn't able to sit down for hours, I'd do like 20 minutes during lunch or right after the kids went to bed. For the math side I used a caat numerical estimation and approximation 3 practice test and it was honestly way closer to the real thing than I expected. If you've got two to three weeks before you retake it, that kind of focused daily practice adds up fast.
Honestly that's pretty normal, especially coming from trades. I was in a similar spot where my spatial and numerical stuff was fine but reading caught me off guard. I almost didn't bother preparing for a second attempt because I figured I just wasn't a "reading person," but I kept at it and ended up passing. The caat numerical estimation and approximation 3 practice stuff helped me understand how they structure the questions so the actual test felt less random.
Don't stress too much about the Level 2 reading. It's not a reflection of how smart you are, it's just a different kind of test thinking. Go back through some practice passages and focus on what the question is actually asking, not what you think it's asking. That one shift made a huge difference for me.