The King’s School, Grantham: In-Year Entry to Years 8-11/Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4)
Bookmark this page? Pop your email into the box below to receive a link to this article so you can easily refer back to it later.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The King’s School is a selective school for boys aged 11-18 and was founded over 500 years ago. The school is rightly proud of its rich history and of the fact that Isaac Newton was a former pupil. However, it is also a forward-looking establishment that embraces new technology and prepares boys for life as men in the twenty-first century.
The school aims to provide all boys with a superb education that will enable them to reach their full potential, opening many doors for them when they leave school. In Year 7, the curriculum is broad and balanced. Boys study the traditional subjects, such as maths, English and history, and non-traditional subjects, such as computing and art & design.
Extra-curricular activities are important at King’s, as the school wants pupils to grow into accomplished, well-rounded young men. Available pursuits include chess, rugby, orchestra and community service, bringing boys together from different year groups to create new friendships while having fun.
Pastoral care is a priority at King’s, with the school recognising that boys need to feel happy and secure if they are going to thrive. Form Tutors help boys settle into Year 7 and encourage them to engage in school life. Tutors and Heads of Year are always on hand to offer guidance and support to boys experiencing difficulties. Additionally, pupils can request to see one of the school counsellors.
If you are considering applying for a place in Year 8, 9, 10 or 11 at The King’s School for your son, please read on to learn about the admissions process.
The King’s School, Grantham: Contact Details and In-Year Admissions Process for Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11
School Details for The King’s School, Grantham
Address: Brook Street, Grantham, NG31 6RP
County: Lincolnshire
Admissions info: [email protected] or 01476 563 180
School type: Selective school for boys aged 11-18
Entrance exam: Online CAT4
Admissions Process for Entry to Years 8-11 at The King’s School
If you haven’t already visited King’s, arranging a visit is a great way to check that the school is a good fit for your son.
You then need to fill out the in-year registration form. Once a place becomes available in the relevant year group, you will be contacted by King’s to arrange for your son to sit the entrance exam (the online CAT4), assuming he has not already passed the 11+ test for King’s or any of the other Lincolnshire Consortium Grammar Schools.
You will also need to fill out your local authority’s application form. King’s requests that you do this once your son has taken their in-year entry exam.
Your son must reach the required standardised score, which you can expect to be around 114, in the CAT4 to be eligible for a place at King’s. Do not worry if he is younger than the other candidates in his year group — the scores are age-standardised.
If more candidates achieve the necessary score than there are places available, any candidates with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be prioritised. After that, the oversubscription criteria will be applied, giving priority in the following order:
- To looked after or previously looked after children
- To pupils eligible for Pupil Premium
- To children living 30 miles or closer to King’s
The CAT4 for Admission to Years 8-11 at The King’s School, Grantham
The CAT4 comprises multiple-choice questions that cover the following areas:
- Verbal Reasoning
The verbal reasoning questions will evaluate your son’s ability to comprehend written information.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
The non-verbal reasoning questions will determine your son’s ability to analyse and make sense of visual information, such as shapes and patterns, to solve problems.
- Quantitative Reasoning
The quantitative reasoning questions will assess your son’s ability to solve problems using numbers.
- Spatial Reasoning
The spatial reasoning questions will gauge how well your son can mentally manipulate 2D and 3D shapes.
The CAT4 has different levels for different year groups. Level D is typically used for Year 7, Level E for Year 8, Level F for Years 9 and 10, and Level G for Year 11.
Please note that King’s uses the online version of the CAT4.
Preparing for The King’s School CAT4 for Admission to Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11
Feeling fully prepared for the online CAT4 at King’s will help your son approach the entrance exam with confidence and a can-do attitude, which is crucial for success. We have compiled some tips for your son for the preparation period:
- Study little and often. Lengthy study sessions are not advisable because children can only focus for short periods. For example, the average ten-year-old can concentrate for 20-30 minutes at a time. The best approach is for you to have short but regular study sessions.
- Embrace healthy living. Sleep, nutritious food and exercise will all help your emotional and physical wellbeing. The better you feel, the more you will be able to cope with the preparation process and the exam itself.
- Have a growth mindset. Always remember that if you put in the work, your skills will develop because your abilities are not set in stone. See mistakes as part of the learning process and be proud of all your achievements.
- Read a wide range of books. Reading will expand your vocabulary and enhance your ability to understand written language, which will help you in the verbal reasoning questions in the CAT4.
- Continue with your hobbies. To help you stay motivated, it is important that you continue to spend time doing things you enjoy. It is all about balance.
- Use our CAT4 practice tests. Our CAT4 online practice tests closely mirror the actual CAT4, allowing you to get used to the types of questions you will be asked, the time constraints and the format. You won’t have any surprises on the day that could affect your performance because you will know exactly what to expect. You can use the answers and explanations to learn from your mistakes, leading to a polished performance on the day.
Our CAT4 practice tests are online, making them available immediately after purchase.
The King’s School, Grantham: CAT4 Practice Materials
Our CAT4 practice tests and courses are highly accurate, ensuring that your child’s exam preparation is targeted and efficient. The following packs are specifically designed for CAT4 Levels D-G (Years 3-11).
Online Practice Tests, Skill Practice Resources & Video Courses
➢ Our highly rated CAT4 full practice tests are available to take online immediately after purchase. Each CAT4 practice test is marked automatically and can then be reviewed. Answers and explanations are provided for every question, as well as comparative ranking statistics on a per module basis.
➢ Our CAT4 skill practice tests each focus on one module that will come up in the CAT4 assessment. Therefore, if your child finds particular modules challenging, you can target them specifically, making a big improvement in a short amount of time.
➢ Our CAT4 online video courses cover each section of the CAT4 exam. Each course consists of a series of lessons and step-by-step explanations.
Click the button below to access our Level D CAT4 resources if your child is sitting The King’s School exam in Year 7 👇
CAT4 Practice for Year 7 Students
Click the button below to access our Level E CAT4 resources if your child is sitting The King’s School exam in Year 8 👇
CAT4 Practice for Year 8 Students
Click the button below to access our Level F CAT4 resources if your child is sitting The King’s School exam in Years 9/10 👇
CAT4 Practice for Years 9/10 Students
Click the button below to access our Level G CAT4 resources if your child is sitting The King’s School exam in Year 11 👇
CAT4 Practice for Year 11 Students
If you don’t buy a bundle, don’t forget to use the code ppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £80 and 20% off orders over £200!
If you have any questions about our resources, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will always do our best to answer your queries, as our goal is to help your son excel in his CAT4 entrance exam.
The information in this post was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of possible 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 the publishers of the CAT4 or any other test publisher.
Bookmark this page? Pop your email into the box below to receive a link to this article so you can easily refer back to it later.
