[senco-forum] CATS tests

I like them a lot - and always have done - and I miss the Richmond tests
that used to go with them that measured skill development too.

Test in three areas - Verbal (always remind me of the old 11+ verbal stuff)
- Quantitative (sums!) and Non Verbal (like Ravens matrices).

Does the school you transfer your children to use them - if so they will
fall on your neck and thank you - for yet another set of figures!

I used them for initial screening - did the scores match verbal reports from
staff - but far more important for me - where were the anomalies.  It shows
patterns - highlights those with high non verbal ability but other two are
lower - is their a problem or might they need to learn how to focus on
developing their skills etc.

I am always unhappy about a difference of more than a stanine anywhere - and
would always investigate individuals with more tests after that - I used to
colour code my results - differences of more of  - 15 points = green - 15 -
25 - orange - more than 25 bright red and get testing them the next day!

Our school link EP was very good at reviewing them with me -
suggesting/lending tests etc for a variety of things he thought might be a
problem when we looked at the scores in conjunction with the rest of the
information - plus current or old files he had on our intake - he used to
give me extra time and call it research too.

The forms are awkward to fill in and you need to teach how to do the test -
you used to be able to get practice teaching papers as well - and you must
not deviate from the oral instructions - and \I think its better if the same
person always dies the testing - with helpers around to check that everyone
is on the right page - that they have their finger where they start to read
from - and a finger on the other hand marking the line where they will place
their mark for the answer - multiple choice working - and make sure that
they have paper to work out their sums on too.

You can get them computer marked - highly recommended - or buy a disc for
the school to mark them on an OMR - you buy a number of results - you don't
get the disc for ever - or mark them yourself with a grid - not so good.

It is always worthwhile looking through the papers of students who have got
whole sections wrong - sometimes they are right - but have marked the wrong
answer section - if you put the grid over the answer sheet you can see this
but the computer will mark it wrong.

Very very good for initial screening - giving you a baseline - and with
standardised scores that must be the best in the UK - that many people do
them - and have done for years.

You can also get refinements - like GCSE forecasts too - but I presume you
are not after that sort of thing.

They get my vote - but I also like YELLIS and the other Durham tests - but
they tell you quite different things - these are better for the individual
results.

Regards

Ruth

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of
janrolnick at aol.com
Sent: 30 April 2007 00:56
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: [senco-forum] CATS tests

We are thinking of introducing CATS tests in our junior school. Do others do
them? Do you find them worthwhile? What are the pros and cons?

many thanks

Janice Rolnick
SENCO/AST