What’s on the CATS Test?

Is your child taking the CATS test for admission into a top Dallas or Houston private school? At TestingMom.com, we offer expertly designed practice questions to help your child succeed on the WPPSI-IV and WISC-V, the two tests typically given through the Collaborative Academic Testing Service (CATS). These are cognitive tests—they don’t measure what your child has learned in school. Instead, they assess how your child thinks, solves problems, remembers information, and reasons through challenges.

That’s why practice makes such a difference. When children become familiar with the types of questions they will face, they feel more confident, and confidence leads to better performance.

WPPSI-IV: For Younger Children (Ages 2:6–7:7)

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) is often used for younger children applying to grades PK–2. It consists of 14 different subtests (depending on age) that assess verbal skills, visual reasoning, and processing speed. Here are some of the types of tasks your child may encounter:

• Receptive Vocabulary – Pointing to named pictures

• Block Design – Reproducing patterns using colored blocks

• Information – Answering general knowledge questions

• Picture Concepts – Grouping related pictures

• Coding & Symbol Search – Matching symbols quickly

• Matrix Reasoning – Recognizing patterns and relationships

• Similarities & Vocabulary – Expressing how things are alike and defining words

These exercises are designed to feel like games, but they reveal a lot about how your child thinks.

Want to see real examples? Try our free WPPSI-IV practice questions and see how your child does!

WISC-V: For Older Children (Ages 6–16)

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) is used for children applying to higher elementary grades and up. This test evaluates a broad range of intellectual abilities across 10 key areas, including:

• Verbal Comprehension – Similarities, Vocabulary

• Visual Spatial – Block Design, Visual Puzzles

• Fluid Reasoning – Matrix Reasoning, Figure Weights

• Working Memory – Digit Span, Picture Span

• Processing Speed – Coding, Symbol Search

These questions challenge your child to think logically, notice patterns, and stay focused. Practicing with these types of questions ahead of time can help children feel more at ease during testing.

Explore free WISC-V practice questions to give your child a head start!

Prepare with Confidence

When you become a TestingMom.com member, you get instant access to over 1,750 WPPSI-IV and 4,500 WISC-V practice questions, covering every skill area tested. These questions are designed by experts who understand what young learners need—and how to keep them motivated while they prep!

Whether you’re just starting or deep into the admissions process, our resources are here to support your child every step of the way.

✅ Start today with 100 free practice questions — no commitment, just real results.

Want even more support? Try online tutoring with a TestingMom expert!

In addition to our practice questions and prep materials, TestingMom.com also offers personalized online tutoring with experts who specialize in the WPPSI, WISC, and CATS admissions tests. Our tutors know exactly how to build the cognitive skills these tests measure—and they know how to make learning fun and engaging for young children. Whether your child needs help focusing, building confidence, or mastering tricky reasoning questions, our one-on-one sessions provide the targeted support they need to shine. Flexible scheduling, real-time feedback, and customized lesson plans make it easy to fit tutoring into your family’s routine. Parents love the results, and kids love the experience!  CLICK for more information —> TestingMom.com Online Tutoring

Click for more information on the Texas Collaborative Academic Testing Service.

See if TestingMom.com supports your child’s test by your school district. If you don't see your child's school district listed, check with us! We have practice for other tests as well.