Parent guide
NGRT: the reading test, explained for parents
If your child is at school in Dubai, there's a good chance they sit NGRT several times a year. Here's what it is, what happens on the day, and how to read the report.
What is NGRT?
The New Group Reading Test (NGRT) is a short multiple-choice reading test from GL Education, the publisher of CAT4. Schools use it to see how well a child reads compared with the national average, to spot who needs extra help or more challenge, and to check later in the year whether that support is working. It doesn't count towards a grade. [1]
- Ages: from about 5 up to 16. [1]
- Length: about 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the paper or digital version. [1]
- Who sees it: only schools can buy NGRT, and questions about results go to the school. [1]
What's in the test?
On the digital version, every child starts with sentence completion, which shows up gaps in vocabulary. Depending on how that goes, they move on to passage comprehension (reading texts and answering questions) or to phonics. [2]
The test is adaptive: children who find it harder get easier questions, and confident readers get harder ones. So two children with the same number of right answers can get different scores. [2]
Why three times a year in Dubai?
KHDA expects Dubai private schools to run a reading test alongside CAT4 and curriculum tests. GL's 2026–27 guidance sets NGRT three times in the school year for every grade from Grade 1 (Year 2) to Grade 9 (Year 10), in three windows: [3]
| Sitting | 2026–27 window |
|---|---|
| Form A | 31 August to 23 October 2026 |
| Form B | 4 January to 12 February 2027 |
| Form C | 12 April to 30 May 2027 |
Schools pick their own dates inside each window, so your school's letter has the exact day.
Reading the NGRT report
- Standard Age Score (SAS)
- The main score. It's adjusted for your child's age and compared with a nationally representative sample of children the same age. 100 is average, and about two in three children score between 85 and 115. GL calls it the fairest way to compare and track progress. [2]
- Stanine
- A broad band from 1 to 9, closely linked to the SAS. Sentence completion and passage comprehension each get their own stanine. A gap of two or more stanines between them is flagged for teachers to look into. [2]
- National Percentile Rank (NPR)
- The percentage of children in the national sample who scored the same or lower. 50 is average. [2]
- Reading age
- The age at which a score like your child's is most typical. GL notes it's less useful for children reading above average, and recommends the SAS for tracking progress. [2]
- Reading Ability Scale
- A scale from 0 to 600 that follows reading growth over the years, roughly 200 at age 6, 300 at age 9 and 400 at age 16. It allows for how hard the questions were. [2]
SAS, stanine and NPR work the same way as on a CAT4 report, so our CAT4 glossary and guide to CAT4 scores explain them in more depth.
Should my child practise for NGRT?
No. GL Education advises against any practising or training, so the assessment is fair. The test begins with practice questions so children know what to do. [1]
What helps instead (our suggestions)
Read together often, and talk about what you've read: what a new word might mean, why a character did something, what might happen next. Let your child choose books they enjoy, in any language they read. That builds the skills NGRT measures far better than any test practice.
Edzuno doesn't offer NGRT practice, for exactly that reason. If your child also sits CAT4, our CAT4 test day guide covers what to expect.
Questions parents ask
Can my child prepare for NGRT?
GL Education advises against any practising or training, so that the assessment is fair. The test starts with practice questions that show how each task works. Reading together regularly helps far more than test practice.
How long does NGRT take?
About 30 to 50 minutes, depending on whether the school uses the paper or the digital version.
Why does my child take NGRT three times a year?
In Dubai, KHDA expects schools to run a reading test three times in the school year for Grades 1 to 9 (Years 2 to 10). Each sitting shows how your child's reading has moved since the last one.
What is a good NGRT score?
The Standard Age Score (SAS) averages 100, and about two in three children score between 85 and 115. What matters most is the trend over time and what the school plans to do with the result.
Is NGRT the same as CAT4?
No. NGRT measures reading. CAT4 measures reasoning with words, numbers, shapes and space. Both are made by GL Education, and both report scores on the same kind of scale, with 100 as average.
Other GL tests
GL Progress Tests in English, maths and science · CAT4 in Dubai and the UAE
Sources
- GL Education: NGRT information for parents
- GL Education: NGRT, understanding your data
- GL Education: testing in the UAE (2026–27 windows)
Edzuno is independent and not affiliated with GL Education (GL Assessment) or KHDA. NGRT and CAT4 are trademarks of GL Education.