Testing in the UAE

Can the PT Series assessments be taken on an iPad or a tablet?

All digital Progress Test Series assessments are to be available as tablet-compatible tests from 1st September 2025. This includes PTE and PTM levels 7-15 and PTS levels 8-15, including Form B where this exists too.

Data Sharing Agreement and Declaration of Use

​All schools that carry out testing in the UAE are required to sign and return a data sharing agreement. This enables us to share assessment data with school inspectors and regulators to support school evaluation. Bespoke inspection reports cannot be shared with you until we have received a signed agreement. Please note that all testing data (including archived data) will be shared with the regulator.

Complete Data Sharing Agreement here.

If you have any queries about data sharing, please contact us on [email protected]

Introduction

ADEK has issued guidance for the academic year 2025-26 stating that all private schools in Abu Dhabi should administer “online standardised benchmark assessments”.

ADEK also recommend schools should administer cognitive ability tests.

Guidance for testing with GL Education’s assessments is set out below along with recommendations for additional assessments that will help schools in developing a more complete picture of their students’ learning needs.

Testing window

The testing window for mandated Progress Test Series testing opens on 4th May 2025 and will close on 12th June.

Potential to Learn Testing with CAT4 – academic year 2025-26

Newly for this academic year, ADEK recommend schools undertake cognitive ability testing.

The testing window for this year’s ability testing is from 25th August to 21st November 2025.

The following Grades/Years are recommended for yearly testing:

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).

Benchmark Testing with the PT Series – academic year 2025-26

All schools are required to carry out standardised benchmark assessments with their students in mathematics, science, and English.

The testing should take place between 4th May and 12th June.

To support schools to meet these requirements, our Progress Tests in maths, English and science are available for schools following UK, IB, SABIS, Bangladeshi, Canadian, Pakistani, and Philippine curriculums.

Which students to test? - CAT4

ADEK guidelines state that all students in Grade 3 / Year 4 to Grade 9 / Year 10 should carry out Progress Testing.

Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test for each Grade / Year.

Which students to test? - PT

ADEK guidelines state that all students in Grade 3 / Year 4 to Grade 9 / Year 10 should carry out Progress Testing.

Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test for each Grade / Year.

Updating Student Records

During registration, schools must clearly identify all Emirati students and provide the eSIS ID for each student. Click here for further guidance on how to achieve this on the Testwise platform.

Please see the video below for guidance on updating your student records.

Introduction

ADEK has issued guidance for the academic year 2025-26 recommending that all private schools in Abu Dhabi should administer online standardised congnitive abilities assessments.

Guidance for testing with GL Education’s assessments is set out below.

Testing window

Potential to Learn Testing with CAT4 - academic year 2025-26

The testing window for this year’s ability testing is from 1st April to 21st November 2025.

It is recommended 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).

Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test level for each grade/year.

Updating Student Records

During registration, schools must clearly identify all Emirati students and provide the eSIS ID for each student. Click here for further guidance on how to achieve this on the Testwise platform.

Please see the video below for guidance on updating your student records.

Introduction

For the academic year 2025-26, 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

Reading skills testing with NGRT – academic year 2025-26

The 3 testing windows for this year’s literacy testing are 25th August to 17th October 2025, 5th January to 13th February 2026, and 13th April to 29th May 2026.

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 2025-26

The testing window for this year’s ability testing is from 25th August to 21st November 2025. 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). Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test level for each grade/year.

Benchmark testing with the PT Series – academic year 2025-26

At the end of academic year 2025-26, 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 27th April and 26th June 2026. KHDA expect all students in Grades 3 – 9 (Years 4 – 10) take the Progress Test Series in mathematics, science, and English in May - June 2026. 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

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.

Please see the video below for guidance on updating your student records.

Introduction

For the academic year 2024-25, to align with KHDA’s ‘External Benchmark Assessments Requirements’, all CBSE curriculum private schools in Dubai should be using 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

Testing windows

Potential to Learn Testing with CAT4 - academic year 2025-26

The testing window for this year’s ability testing is from 1st April to 21st November 2025. 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). Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test level for each grade/year.

Reading skills testing with NGRT - academic year 2025-26

The 3 testing windows for this year’s literacy testing are 14th April to 30th May 2025, 25th August to 17th October 2025, and 5th January to 13th February 2026.

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 B in the August-October testing window, Form C in the January-February window, and Form A in the April-May window.

Further information regarding NGRT can be found  here.

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.

Please see the video below for guidance on updating your student records.

Introduction

Guidance for testing with GL Education’s assessments for Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain, as mandated by MOE,  is set out below. Additionally, there are recommendations for additional assessments that will help schools in developing a more complete picture of their students’ learning needs.

Testing windows

The MOE expect all schools carry out ability assessments with CAT4, and standardised benchmark assessments with their Progress Tests in mathematics, science, and English.

Ability testing with CAT4 – academic year 2025/26

The window for CAT4 ability testing will be 25th August 2025 - 21st November 2025. The MOE expect schools test with CAT4 this academic year in order to attain a reliable measure of their students’ ability. Testing with CAT4 will provide you with a unique profile of your students’ strengths and areas for development, ensuring that you know your students’ potential and can therefore set challenging but realistic targets. The recommended grades for CAT4 testing are 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). Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test for each year.

Benchmark testing with the PT Series – academic year 2025/26

The MOE expects all schools carry out standardised benchmark assessments with their students in mathematics, science, and English.

The testing should take place between 27th April and 26th June 2026.

Which students to test in April/June

To support schools in the Northern Emirates, the MOE expect schools following the UK and IB curriculums to carry out testing using our Progress Tests in maths, English and science.

Schools are expected to test students in the following grades/years:

• Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 or
• Years 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10

Refer to the below table to identify the appropriate test for each grade / year.

Find out more about the Progress Test Series here

.

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.

Please see the video below for guidance on updating your student records.

Introduction

Guidance for testing with GL Education’s assessments, as mandated by Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge (RAKDOK),  is set out below along with recommendations for additional assessments that will help schools in developing a more complete picture of their students’ learning needs.

Testing windows

RAKDOK expect all schools carry out ability assessments with CAT4, and standardised benchmark assessments with their Progress Tests in mathematics, science, and English.

Ability testing with CAT4 – academic year 2025/26

The window for CAT4 ability testing will be 25th August 2025 - 21st November 2025. RAKDOK expect schools test with CAT4 this academic year in order to attain a reliable measure of their students’ ability. Testing with CAT4 will provide you with a unique profile of your students’ strengths and areas for development, ensuring that you know your students’ potential and can therefore set challenging but realistic targets. The recommended grades for CAT4 testing are 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). Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test for each year.

Benchmark testing with the PT Series – academic year 2025/26

All schools must carry out standardised benchmark assessments with their students in mathematics, science, and English.

The testing should take place between 27th April and 26th June 2026.

Which students to test in April/June

To support schools in Ras Al Khaimah, RAKDOK expect schools following the UK and IB curriculums to carry out testing using our Progress Tests in maths, English and science. Schools are expected to test students in the following grades/years:

• Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 or
• Years 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10

Refer to the below table to identify the appropriate test for each grade / year. Find out more about the Progress Test Series here.

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.

Please see the video below for guidance on updating your student records.

Introduction

To align with SPEA’s standing policy on assessment and effectively use GL Education’s assessments, schools should follow these guidelines to develop a comprehensive understanding of their students’ learning needs.

Testing windows

Ability testing with CAT4 – academic year 2025/26

The window for CAT4 ability testing will be  25th August 2025 - 21st November 2025.

CBSE schools can carry out CAT4 testing from the start of their academic year in April, through to 1st November.

SPEA expect schools to test students with CAT4 for Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9 or Years 4, 6, 8 and 10. Schools may opt to take CAT4 for other grades.

New schools that have not administered CAT4 before are advised to test all their students from Grades 3 to 9 / Years 4 to 10.

Schools that use CAT4 are eligible to use GL Education’s Value-Added service, at no additional cost. Find out more .

Refer to the table below to identify the appropriate test for each year.

Benchmark testing with the PT Series – academic year 2025/26

SPEA expect schools to carry out standardised benchmark assessments with their students in mathematics, science, and English. The testing should take place between 27th April and 26th June 2026

Which students to test in April/June

• Grades 3 – 9
• Years 4 – 10

Refer to the below table to identify the appropriate test for each grade / year.

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.

Please see the video below for guidance on updating your student records.