A term that new Aquinas students become promptly familiar with is the CAT – abbreviation for Common Assessment Task.

Essentially, a CAT is the ‘test’ that students sit once they have completed a topic in class and have spent time revising and preparing. Each core learning area prepares and sets a CAT each term in Middle School in Weeks 7-8 (CATs are less routine in Senior School courses) as part of the Middle School term rhythm.

Why do we have CATs?

CATs are an important assessment tool that gives both student, parent and teacher information and feedback on how the learning of a particular topic or timeframe is tracking. They are an opportunity for students to put into practice what skills and content they have covered in class and demonstrate what they have learnt. Most importantly, the CATs are an opportunity for students to learn from their marked assessments, and to review what they accomplished well and not so well in the lessons.

How can we navigate exam stress?

Staff understand that the CAT weeks can be an anxious time for our students. To help reduce stress and concerns, students should prepare by using the course Success Criteria as a proforma to write quality revision notes. This will improve the recall and understanding of the material covered in lessons and alert the student if he needs clarification from his teacher for certain content. Parents can assist by asking to read their son’s notes at home and by testing them on the current Success Criteria (these documents can be found on SEQTA course pages).

Due to a shorter Term 1, the CAT weeks will be scheduled one week earlier. We wish your son success in the upcoming Middle School CATs.