CAT4 is available at seven different levels of difficulty. The tests have been developed in an overlapping, progressive format and are referred to as levels A to G. Levels X and Y refer to CAT4 Young Learners.
The target year group and age range covered by the norms for each test level are shown in the table below.
Age range |
CAT4 level |
England & Wales |
Scotland |
Northern Ireland |
Republic of Ireland |
6:00 - 7:11 |
X |
Y2 |
P3 |
Y3 (P3) |
1st class |
7:01–8:11 |
Y |
Y3 |
P4 |
Y4 (P4) |
2nd class |
6:06–8:11 |
Pre-A |
Y3 |
P4 |
Y4 (P4) |
2nd class |
7:06 - 9:11 |
A |
Y4 |
P5 |
Y5 (P5) |
3rd class |
8:06-10:11 |
B |
Y5 |
P6 |
Y6 (P6) |
4th class |
9:06 – 11:11 |
C |
Y6 |
P7 |
Y7 (P7) |
5th class |
10:06 – 12:11 |
D |
Y7 |
S1 |
Y8 (F1) |
End of 5th class/ 6th class |
11:06 – 13:11 |
E |
Y8 |
S2 |
Y9 (F2) |
End of 6th class/ 1st Year |
12:06 – 15:11 |
F |
Y9 & Y10 |
S3 & S4 |
Y10 & Y11 (F3 & F4) |
2nd and 3rd Year |
14:06 – 17:00+ |
G |
Y11+ |
S5 & S6 |
Y12+ (F5+) |
4th/TY/5th Year |
Schools are recommended to use the level of CAT4 shown for the year group they want to assess. This is particularly important if the school results are being combined with those from other schools for whatever reason.