Testing in Dubai
For the academic year 2023-24, to align with KHDA’s ‘External Benchmark Assessments Requirements’, all private schools in Dubai should be using a curriculum-specific assessment, along with cognitive ability tests and reading skills tests. These requirements have been developed to ‘support schools with their whole school self-evaluation and improvement planning; and facilitate KHDA’s role in monitoring and quality assurance of schools.’
The recommended components supplied by GL Education are:
- Reading skills - NGRT - To be carried out 3 times in the academic year
- Potential to learn - CAT4
Academic achievement - PT Series
Testing windows
Assessment |
Window Opens |
Window Closes |
NGRT Form A |
28th August 2023 |
20th October 2023 |
CAT4 |
28th August 2023 |
17th November 2023 |
NGRT Form B |
2nd January 2024 |
9th February 2024 |
NGRT Form C |
15th April 2024 |
31st May 2024 |
Progress Test Series |
29th April 2024 |
28th June 2024 |
Reading skills testing with NGRT – academic year 2023-24
The 3 testing windows for this year’s literacy testing are 28th August to 20th October 2023, 2nd January to 9th February 2023, and 15th April to 31st May 2023.
The KHDA expects schools to test all Grades/Years from Grade 1/Year 2 up to Grade 9/Year 10.
Testing should be carried out using Form A in the first testing window, Form B in the second, and Form C in the third.
Further information regarding NGRT can be found here.
Potential to Learn Testing with CAT4 – academic year 2023-24
The testing window for this year’s ability testing is from 28th August to 17th November 2023.
The KHDA expect schools to test students from the following Grades/Years:
Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9 or Years 4, 6, 8 and 10.
New schools that have not previously tested with CAT4 are advised to test all their students from grade 3 - 9 (years 4 - 10).
Schools that use CAT4 are eligible to use GL Education’s Value-Added service, at no additional cost. Find out more here.
Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test level for each grade/year.
CAT4 Level |
Grade |
Year |
X |
1 |
2 |
Pre-A |
2 |
3 |
A |
3 |
4 |
B |
4 |
5 |
C |
5 |
6 |
D |
6 |
7 |
E |
7 |
8 |
F |
8 /9 |
9 / 10 |
G |
10 / 11 |
11 / 12 |
Benchmark testing with the PT Series – academic year 2023-24
At the end of academic year 2023-24, students should be tested with the appropriate test for that grade / year. This will allow progress to be measured for the full academic year. Testing should take place between 29th April and 28th June 2024.
KHDA expect all students in Grades 3 - 9 (Years 4 - 10) take the Progress Test Series in mathematics, science, and English in May - June 2022.
Our Progress Tests in maths, English and science are available for schools following UK, IB, Pakistani, Canadian, and Philippine curriculums.
Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test for each Grade / Year
Year (UK) |
Grade (IB, Others) |
Progress Test Maths |
Progress Test English |
Progress Test Science |
4 |
3 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
12 |
Not Required |
8 |
7 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
8 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
10 |
9 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
Updating Student Records
During registration, schools must clearly identify all Emirati students. Click here for further guidance on how to achieve this on the Testwise platform.
How to order
Email [email protected] with your testing requirements.