Can CAT be used to identify underachieving pupils?
CAT scores are less likely to be affected by school experience than attainment tests. Comparisons between pupils’ CAT scores and their attainment in school subjects such as English and mathematics can therefore be helpful in identifying pupils whose reasoning ability is average or above average, but whose attainment in curriculum subjects is low. Such pupils may be characterised as underachieving, and may benefit from intervention. In a few cases, pupils may apparently ‘overachieve’, in that they do better in school subjects than their CAT3 scores would suggest was likely, based on national data. In these cases, it is important to consider possible explanations for the lower CAT3 scores, such as test anxiety or temporary distractions (e.g. difficulties at home, bullying). If the CAT3 scores do seem a genuine reflection of the pupils’ reasoning abilities, then one must conclude they are unusually highly motivated to do well at school and/or the school is exceptionally effective in its t
