EF Academy Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT) – Key Details
Table of Contents
Introduction
EF Academy is a series of international day and boarding schools with campuses in Oxford, Torbay and New York. The schools offer secondary-aged students the opportunity to gain an education abroad and prepare for university.
With a reputation as a world-class boarding school, EF Academy offers its students modern facilities and internationally recognised academic programmes. The Academy educates students from 75 countries and offers a wide range of co-curricular activities.
For an overview of what EF Academy can offer, take a look at this short promotional video of the New York campus:
EF Academy Admissions Criteria
EF Academy takes a holistic approach to admissions and considers students’ interests and personal goals as well as their academic ability.
After submitting an application from, students are invited to attend an in-depth one-on-one consultation with an admissions consultant.
Successful applicants then need to apply for a Visa if attending an academy outside of their home country. EF Academy will help students secure visas and can help arrange travel.
How to Apply for Entry to EF Academy
To apply for a place at EF Academy, parents need to complete an online application form on the Academy’s online portal.
As part of the application process, parents are asked to provide official school transcripts for the student, a scanned passport, answers to questions about goals and interests, subject preferences and an academic reference, although this is optional.
The EF Academy Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4)
As part of the application process to EF Academy, students are required to take a Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4), a Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT), or a TOEFL Junior test.
The CAT is designed to assess each student’s strengths and weaknesses and to identify their learning preferences.
Although Cognitive Ability Tests vary in their content, they are generally used to assess students in the following four areas:
– Verbal Reasoning – problem solving with words
– Non-Verbal Reasoning – interpreting shapes and space
– Quantitative Reasoning – problem solving with numbers
– Spatial Reasoning – moving and visualising shapes
In addition to taking the CAT, non-native English speakers are required to take the academy’s English Language test.
How to Prepare for the EF Academy CAT4 Assessment
As a starting point for preparing for the EF Academy CAT4, we’d advise that students familiarise themselves with what could be included in the test. Our post about independent school Cognitive Abilities Tests is a good starting point.
One of the most effective ways for students to prepare for the CAT is to introduce practice tests and courses into their study. Not only do they help familiarise students with the layout of CATs, but they provide an indication of the types of questions that could be asked.
At Pretest Plus, we publish CAT4 practice tests and courses that are designed to improve students’ confidence in the lead up to their assessment. We have several 90-minute practice tests that consist of 8 modules each, covering Verbal, Non-Verbal, Quantitative and Spatial Reasoning questions.
Each of our practice tests and courses is pitched at the same difficulty level and contains a different set of questions. The first will provide an indication of a student’s current cognitive abilities. The remaining ones can then be used as a way of measuring their progress as they work through a planned study schedule.
EF Academy CAT4 Practice Tests and Courses
CAT4 Practice Tests
You can learn more about our highly accurate online CAT4 practice tests by clicking on the links below. They are specifically designed for CAT4 Level G, taken for 16+ and 17+ entry. Each module is marked automatically and is then available for review with answers and explanations provided for every question. We also provide comparative ranking statistics on a per module basis so you can quickly identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
CAT4 – Level G – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level G – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level G – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level G – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level G – Practice Test 5
CAT4 Video Courses
The following online video courses cover everything your child needs to know for each section of the CAT4 assessment. Each course consists of a series of lessons that go through each question type in great detail, providing step-by-step explanations and techniques to help your child recognise the underlying patterns to look out for. These courses cover every possible question type that could come up in the CAT4 test for 16+ and 17+ entry.
CAT4 Quantitative Reasoning Course
CAT4 Non-Verbal Reasoning Course
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The information in this post was correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
Please note that Pretest Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and not affiliated with or endorsed by any other test publisher.
Related posts:
Year 7 CATs: Everything Parents Need to Know
