Parent guide

School admission tests in Dubai, year by year

Applying to a Dubai school? First your child's age decides which year group they join. Then the school decides how to assess them, and that changes a lot between FS1 and sixth form. Here's what KHDA's rules say and what schools publish for each stage.

Step 1: which year group will my child join?

From FS1 to Year 1, age is the only rule. From Year 2 (Grade 1) upwards, the year group on your child's transfer certificate from their last school is the main reference. [1]

For schools whose year starts in September, your child must reach the age below by 31 December (31 March for April-start schools). A child who turns the age after that date joins the year below, even if they've studied the higher level elsewhere. [1]

Age by 31 December	British year	UAE (MoE) grade	IB
3	FS1	Pre-KG	PYP Early Years
4	FS2	KG1	PYP Early Years
5	Year 1	KG2	PYP Early Years
6	Year 2	Grade 1	PYP Year 1
7	Year 3	Grade 2	PYP Year 2
8	Year 4	Grade 3	PYP Year 3
9	Year 5	Grade 4	PYP Year 4
10	Year 6	Grade 5	PYP Year 5
11	Year 7	Grade 6	MYP Year 1
12	Year 8	Grade 7	MYP Year 2
13	Year 9	Grade 8	MYP Year 3
14	Year 10	Grade 9	MYP Year 4

From KHDA's age and curriculum equivalence table. [1]

2026–27 is a transition year

Dubai is moving to the Ministry of Education's updated age cut-off. For children starting school in Dubai for the first time in 2026–27 who were born between 1 September and 31 December 2022, parents and the school can decide together whether FS1 or FS2 is the better start. Children already at a Dubai school or nursery aren't affected. From 2027–28 the cut-off applies strictly. [1]

Step 2: what will the school assess?

KHDA sets the year group; each school sets its own admission assessment. Here's what schools publish, stage by stage.

FS1 and FS2 (ages 3 and 4): play, not tests

Repton School Dubai describes observed play for its Early Years. [4]
DIA Emirates Hills asks KG1 parents to fill in a questionnaire, with no personal assessment of the child. [3]

Years 1 and 2 (ages 5 and 6): short English and maths checks

Repton School Dubai runs formal assessments in reading, mathematics and English from Year 1. [4]
DIA Emirates Hills gives a personal assessment in English from KG2 to Year 2, which may use number work and non-verbal clues. [3]
Nord Anglia International School Dubai asks for a school report, a recommendation form, and a reading (video) and writing sample for Years 2 to 4. CAT4 isn't listed at this stage. [2]

Years 3 to 6 (ages 7 to 10): CAT4 starts to appear

DIA Emirates Hills uses digital CAT4 from Year 3, covering verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning. [3]
Khaleej Times reports that Dubai British Schools list CAT4 and a written English assessment for applicants from Year 3 to Year 12. [6]
Nord Anglia International School Dubai adds an online CAT4 from Year 5. [2]
JESS's Open Entry route for Years 3 to 9 lists a CAT4 mean score of 115+ as one of its academic criteria. [5]

Years 7 to 9 (ages 11 to 13): CAT4 plus maths and English

Nord Anglia International School Dubai lists an online CAT4 and online maths and English assessments for Years 7 and 8. [2]
For Year 7, Dubai College asks for your child's most recent CAT4 or standardised test results, alongside school reports and GL Progress Test results. [6]

Years 10 to 13 (ages 14 to 17): exam years

KHDA's placement guidelines stop at Grade 9 (Year 10), because the later years lead to qualifications such as IGCSE, IB and A Levels, where exam boards' and Ministry of Education rules apply. [1] Entry in these years is more limited at some schools: Nord Anglia International School Dubai, for example, considers Year 10 starts case by case and doesn't normally consider Year 11 entry. Its sixth form applicants sit a paper-based CAT4 with English and maths, then meet the IB or A Level team. [2]

Every school differs, so treat these as examples and check the school's own admissions page. We've gathered what each school publishes about CAT4 in Dubai schools that use CAT4 in admissions and Abu Dhabi schools that use CAT4.

Your child may already have CAT4 results

Many Dubai schools give CAT4 to their own pupils every year. GL Education's 2026–27 guidance lists Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9 (Years 4, 6, 8 and 10) as the core year groups. [7] If your child is moving between Dubai schools, ask their current school for the latest report: schools like Dubai College ask for it. [6] Our CAT4 score checker explains what the numbers mean.

What KHDA says about moving up or down a year

Holding a child back for "maturity" isn't allowed. A change of year group needs documented evidence of a developmental need, reviewed by KHDA. [1]
Skipping a year is rare. Gifted children should get enrichment within their age group. Skipping needs KHDA approval and a full review of academic, emotional and social readiness. [1]
Not speaking English isn't a reason to move down. Schools must give English support (EAL) within the same year group. [1]
Weak grades or missed school years aren't either. Schools must give targeted support instead. [1]
If a school refuses a place because of inclusion needs or class capacity, after you've sent all the documents, it must send a Non-Admission Notification (NON) form to KHDA. You don't need to fill it in. [1]

Fees and how long results take

Some schools charge for the assessment. DIA Emirates Hills, for example, charges a non-refundable AED 525, and for Dubai-based applicants aims to give test results within 3 working days and the outcome within 5 working days. [3] Ask each school about fees, dates and waiting lists when you apply.

How to prepare

GL Education strongly advises against any kind of practice before CAT4, because it can make the scores less reliable. [8] For the English and maths checks, normal schoolwork and regular reading are the preparation.

Our suggestion

For familiarity, not drilling: a short look at each CAT4 question type, so nothing feels strange on the day, especially if the test is on a screen. Our CAT4 levels by year page shows which level your child would sit, and the CAT4 test day guide covers what to tell your child beforehand.

Questions parents ask

How old does my child need to be for FS1 in Dubai?

Three by 31 December, for schools whose year starts in September (31 March for April-start schools). From FS1 to Year 1, KHDA places children by age alone.

Do Dubai schools test children for FS1 and FS2?

Not with a written test, in what schools publish. Repton School Dubai observes play in the Early Years, and DIA Emirates Hills uses a parent questionnaire for KG1. Your child's year group is set by age.

From which year do Dubai schools use CAT4 for admissions?

Often from Year 3. DIA Emirates Hills uses CAT4 from Year 3 and Dubai British Schools from Year 3 to Year 12, while Nord Anglia International School Dubai lists it from Year 5. It varies by school, so check each one.

Can my child skip a year in a Dubai school?

Not usually. KHDA expects gifted children to get enrichment within their age group. Skipping a year needs KHDA approval and a full review of the child's academic, emotional and social readiness.

Can a school put my child in a lower year because they don't speak English yet?

No. KHDA says English support must be given through EAL or extra sessions within the same year group, not by moving a child down.

Should my child practise for a school admission test?

GL Education advises against practising for CAT4, because it can make the scores less reliable. A short look at each question type so nothing feels strange is enough. For English and maths checks, normal schoolwork and reading are the best preparation.

More guides

CAT4 in Dubai and the UAE · GL Progress Tests · NGRT reading test

Sources

Sources checked in October 2026. Edzuno is independent and not affiliated with KHDA, GL Education (GL Assessment) or any school named here. CAT4 is a trademark of GL Education.