The Reasoning Progress Tests series consists of a picture reasoning test, plus five matched pairs of verbal and nonverbal reasoning tests, together covering the age range 5 to 12 years. They are all standardised group tests, taking just 45– 50 minutes to administer to a whole class. Measures of verbal and nonverbal ability tend to correlate highly – but are most informative when they are at variance. The Reasoning Progress Tests allow teachers to choose one or both measures, according to the background and degree of any social/ language disadvantage, and any special needs, of the pupils concerned.

The tests are designed for use at any time from the first term, giving maximum flexibility as to when during the school year the tests might be used. The Picture Test is designed for use with Year 1 children. Carefully graded verbal and nonverbal tests are then available for each of Years 2 to 6.

The Reasoning Progress Tests yield key measures of general ability – independent of actual achievement in taught curriculum subjects – against which to view individual pupils’ attainments. The tests can help to identify able underachievers, as well as those pupils most likely to benefit from learning support. They also enable schools to ‘benchmark’ successive pupil intakes, and inform target setting and evaluations of class and whole school performance.

The tests are published as two Stages (corresponding to Key Stages 1 & 2 in England & Wales), and cover the full primary phase. At Stage One the questions are delivered orally, to minimise the reading demand on younger pupils. When used alongside the Reading Progress Tests and the Numeracy Progress Tests, by the same authors, they bring valuable new perspectives to pupils’ performance and progress: where a child’s attainment in reading and/ or numeracy is found to be significantly at variance with their reasoning ability, this should prompt further investigation.

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