Why does a score differ from CAT4, GL or other providers?
Why Quest scores tend to sit around ten points different, down to test content and how we standardise.
When comparing scores between Quest Admissions and other providers, you can expect a correlation in scores and ranking, but a difference in the numbers themselves. Typically we see around a ten point difference, though there will always be outliers. There are two main reasons.
Content. Quest Admissions and other assessments are fundamentally different tests. There is overlapping content, but each test also has elements unique to it. For example, Quest Maths uses primary maths challenge style questions, and Quest offers subjects such as Puzzles and Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension that other providers do not.
Standardisation. As above, Quest standardises against a sample of independent school applicants. Many other providers standardise against a mixed population that includes both independent and state sector pupils. Comparing against a higher-attaining sample tends to produce a slightly lower standardised score, which is the main reason for the ten point difference.