Newcastle School for Boys Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT) – Years 3-11 Entry
Table of Contents
Introduction
Newcastle School for Boys was established in 2005 when Ascham House School and Newlands Preparatory School merged. As an independent school, Newcastle Boys educates approximately 400 students aged between 3 and 18.
The Junior School and the Senior school are located on different sites within the school grounds. The school’s ethos is to nurture and support boys’ learning, achievement and personal development.
For an insight into what life is like at Newcastle School for Boys, take a look at this ‘day in the life’ video created by boys at the school:
Newcastle School for Boys Admissions Criteria
Admission to the school is determined by student performance through entrance assessments, an interview at the school and reports from the students’ previous school.
The selection process is designed to identify boys who will benefit from a well-rounded education and will make a positive contribution to the school.
Entry points are from Years 3 to 11, and each applicant is required to demonstrate their academic ability. Pupils will sit an entrance test that assesses academic potential in either English, Maths and Reasoning or cognitive abilities.
At 16 Plus level, applicants are required to take a CAT adaptive aptitude test and write a general studies-type paper. Entry to Year 12 is also based on the condition of students achieving specific grades at GCSE level.
For more information on the admissions process at Newcastle School for Boys, parents should contact the Marketing and Admissions Manager at [email protected], or by phone on 0191 255 9303. Parents can also visit the Admissions pages on the school website and access the school’s full Admissions Policy.
How to Apply for Entry to Newcastle School for Boys
Before applying for a place at Newcastle School for Boys, parents and prospective students are invited to attend the school’s Open Day to learn more about what the school has to offer. The Open Day gives parents and students the opportunity to tour the school and meet staff and current pupils. Private visits can also be arranged by contacting the school directly.
In order to apply for a place at Newcastle Boys from Years 3 to 11, parents are required to complete the school’s online application form and pay a registration fee of £50 to cover the costs of the assessment process.
The Newcastle School for Boys Cognitive Abilities Assessment (CAT4)
Before joining Newcastle School for Boys, each student is required to take the school’s entrance test. The exact content of the assessment will vary depending on the age of the applicant with some being tested in English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning, and others in cognitive abilities.
Cognitive Abilities Tests (CATs) are used to assess students in the following four categories:
- 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
The Newcastle Boys entrance tests take place on specific assessment days early in the spring term.
How to Prepare for the Newcastle School for Boys CAT4 Assessment
At Pretest Plus, we believe that a little preparation can go a long way to helping students perform well in Cognitive Abilities Tests. Understandably, parents and students may feel nervous before the assessment, so we’ve put together a series of articles that explain the CAT4 in more detail. As a starting point, we’d recommend reading the following posts on our blog:
– Independent School Cognitive Abilities Tests (CATs) for Year 4-8 Entry: What You Need to Know
– Year 7 CATs: Everything Parents Need to Know
– Study Skills for the Cognitive Abilities Test in Primary School
Parents can help their child prepare for the assessment by creating a study schedule that covers the main areas of the test: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and spatial reasoning. Additionally, we recommend that students put theory into practice by using our online CAT practice tests and courses.
At Pretest Plus, we publish CAT4 practice tests and courses that help boost students’ confidence before the assessment. Not only do they help familiarise students with the layout of the test, but they enable them to answer practice questions that are just like those asked on the day.
We have several 90-minute practice tests, each consisting of 8 modules that cover the four core areas. Each one is pitched at the same difficulty level although they all contain a unique set of questions. Our first practice test can be used to provide parents with an indication of their child’s current cognitive abilities, whilst our remaining tests can be a great way to benchmark and monitor progress and improvement.
Newcastle School for Boys 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. These practice tests are specifically designed for CAT4 Levels A-F, which are taken for Years 5-11 entry (9+ to 15+). CAT4 Level G resources for 16+ entry can be found here. 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.
9+ CAT4 PRACTICE TESTS
CAT4 – Level A – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level A – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level A – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level A – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level A – Practice Test 5
10+ CAT4 PRACTICE TESTS
CAT4 – Level B – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level B – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level B – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level B – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level B – Practice Test 5
11+ CAT4 PRACTICE TESTS
CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 5
12+ CAT4 PRACTICE TESTS
CAT4 – Level D – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level D – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level D – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level D – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level D – Practice Test 5
13+ CAT4 PRACTICE TESTS
CAT4 – Level E – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level E – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level E – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level E – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level E – Practice Test 5
14+ & 15+ CAT4 PRACTICE TESTS
CAT4 – Level F – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level F – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level F – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level F – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level F – 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. They cover every possible question type that could come up in the exam and are designed for students taking the GL Assessment CAT4 test from Levels A to G.
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
