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Information for parents

What is Cambridge Insight?

Insight is a range of digital, adaptive, baseline and attributes assessments from Cambridge.

Cambridge Insight assessments measure cognitive and non-cognitive abilities, as well as attributes that our research has demonstrated contribute to educational success. They are not designed to test curriculum knowledge, but rather to get a snapshot of your child’s current skills, abilities and attributes in areas such as literacy, numeracy, cognitive abilities, attitudes and wellbeing.

Cognitive abilities help us to make sense out of complexity, something called ‘educative ability’. Skills such as memory, attention, perception, analysing and problem-solving naturally develop over time but aren’t necessarily taught or included in any curriculum. Yet they are fundamental factors that contribute to educational success.

From baseline assessments to wellbeing checks, we help teachers and schools to better understand your child as a whole. Armed with this information, your child’s teachers are better equipped to unlock their full potential.

We use the highest quality data to provide detailed reports and accurate predictions that help teachers understand the unique needs of every student and cohort, so schools can make the informed decisions that best prepare their students for their future.

Insight is at the very heart of what our digital assessments provide.

Insight assessments can be baseline assessments (used at the start of a course of study to help a teacher get a clear picture of where a student is in their learning) or diagnostic assessments (used to identify specific strengths and areas for improvement to help teachers target their teaching and support).

We also provide admissions assessments to schools to aid them in student selection. Find information about our admissions assessment: Cambridge Select Insight.

Our attributes assessments provide insight into non-academic areas including wellbeing and attitudes to learning. Our research has demonstrated that these are important factors contributing to academic achievement.

Trusted, powerful insight.

127

Countries we work in

650000

Assessments used to standardise

41

Years with our school partners

About the assessments

Insight assessments from Cambridge are designed to be taken without any need for preparation or study in advance.

Our assessments are computer-based. All are administered by your child’s school, and your child will be given instructions and support in school to access the test.

Our assessments for younger children are done with the support of a teacher or classroom assistant. Older children take the assessments independently.

Most of our assessments are adaptive – they use a child’s responses to decide whether to progress to more challenging questions, or to return to easier ones. Essentially, the assessment automatically adapts to a child’s ability.

Each assessment measures a range of verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills. Your child’s school then receives reports showing how they scored overall, and in each section. Some of our assessments for older children also offer reports showing the likelihood of achieving different grades in exams including GCSE, IGCSE, A-Level and the IB Diploma.

Your child’s school will choose if and how they share the results with you and your child. Many schools use the Insight assessment reports to support discussions with students about goal setting, areas of support needed, and learning plans to help them achieve their full potential.

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quote-mark-imageOur assessments are grounded in over 40 years of research, and proven to measure skills that are excellent indicators of future academic achievement."

- Kate Bailey, Director of Digital Testing, Data & Reporting

Frequently asked questions

More information

Here you can find useful videos and information about Cambridge Insight assessments and how they work.