A Question About CATs
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A Question About CATs
Etienne, if you have time, which looking at the threads on here you might not; could you possibly explain to me how a child could score a mark on a particular CAT one year and then, the following year, score something wildly different on the same one? Given that they are supposed to indicate something as close to raw ability as possible, I am surprised when I see some of your posters listing a score of 107 one year and 119 the next. Here in Gloucestershire children only generally go through these tests once, in Year 5, but I gather that in some counties they do them more frequently. Doesn't it negate the claims made for them if they can vary so greatly over time? And why do schools in some areas administer them more often if they are supposed, essentially, to be intelligence tests?
Sorry if too long, or in the wrong place- am just interested.
Thanks.
Sorry if too long, or in the wrong place- am just interested.
Thanks.
Re: A Question About CATs
Hi Amber
A single set of CATs results may not be reliable.
Even NFER never claimed they could be trusted 100%.
There was a discussion about this here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... Ts#p207889
Ideally I think one would want to see a series of CAT tests over time.
It's interesting that the Bucks 11+ consists of two VR tests (set by GL Assessment/NFER) which are meant to be of equal standard, and they accept the higher of the two scores, presumably to allow for the reliability factor. 121 is the qualifying mark. It's not unusual for appeal panels to see scores of 110/120.
A single set of CATs results may not be reliable.
Even NFER never claimed they could be trusted 100%.
There was a discussion about this here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... Ts#p207889
Ideally I think one would want to see a series of CAT tests over time.
It's interesting that the Bucks 11+ consists of two VR tests (set by GL Assessment/NFER) which are meant to be of equal standard, and they accept the higher of the two scores, presumably to allow for the reliability factor. 121 is the qualifying mark. It's not unusual for appeal panels to see scores of 110/120.
Etienne
Re: A Question About CATs
I know it was dropped, but the old style three 11 plus tests was a far better exemplar of ability and must have made the appeal system far more accurate.
Re: A Question About CATs
Thanks Etienne. I always thought NFER suggested doing them more often because they would make more money out of them!
Good that Bucks do 2 tests though - it does make it seem a little fairer.
Good that Bucks do 2 tests though - it does make it seem a little fairer.