diagnostic testing

Independent Schools as an alternative to Grammar

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ashmum
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:02 pm

diagnostic testing

Post by ashmum »

Just spoken to an independant school, they say they aren't a selective school and don't have an enterance exam as such, they do diagnostic testing.

Anyone have any idea what this is?
Yamin151
Posts: 2405
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:30 am

Re: diagnostic testing

Post by Yamin151 »

Thre is an iq test, I forget it's name, and of course these iq tests are always somewhat arbitrary, but it does give them an idea of whereabouts your child sits, and might determine if they are offered a scholarship, or feed into initial groups when they join the school. All very on threatening.
grgygirl
Posts: 382
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:09 am

Re: diagnostic testing

Post by grgygirl »

I think this may be CATS tests (look at the NFER website for further details).
Jean.Brodie
Posts: 451
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:55 pm

Re: diagnostic testing

Post by Jean.Brodie »

As grgygirl says, this is almost certainly CATS tests. Some schools use them to assess the pupils' abilities in different fields. This information is then available to each member of staff. It might offer a teacher some clues.

Some schools do it to ensure that they have a broad enough ability range and enough kids in each ability group before finalising their intake. In this way, these schools aim to make their intake as 'comprehensive' as possible.
Ladymuck
Posts: 1240
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:04 pm

Re: diagnostic testing

Post by Ladymuck »

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2Girlsmum
Posts: 1034
Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:41 pm

Re: diagnostic testing

Post by 2Girlsmum »

Our school asks all new students to sit a CATS test in order to choose the most suitable classes based on ability. They don't use it as means of selection though.
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