CAT4 Test in the UAE: Schools, Scores & What Parents Need to Know

How is CAT4 used in UAE schools?

CAT4 is the Cognitive Abilities Test, Fourth Edition — a standardised reasoning assessment made by GL Assessment. In the UAE it is the most widely used reasoning assessment across British-curriculum and IB international schools, and student progress in KHDA-rated Dubai schools is routinely benchmarked against it. In short: if your child is applying to a British or IB school in the UAE at Year 3 or above, expect CAT4 to be part of the process.

Unlike the UK, where CAT4 is mostly an internal tracking tool used after a child has joined, UAE schools lean on it as an admissions instrument — a curriculum-neutral way to judge academic fit before offering a place. At oversubscribed Dubai schools, the CAT4 profile can be the difference between an offer, a waiting-list place, or a polite redirection. Across the Emirates, it serves three purposes:

1. Admissions decisions. Particularly from Year 3 onwards. The most competitive entry point is Year 7, where CAT4 Level D is the standard reasoning assessment at nearly all British-curriculum secondary schools in Dubai.
2. Scholarship eligibility. Some scholarship programmes set an explicit CAT4 threshold. The clearest published example is the ACES programme at Raffles International School and Collegiate International School, which requires a CAT4 mean score of 130 or higher (details in the score table below).
3. Progress tracking and value-added reporting. Schools compare GCSE and IGCSE outcomes against each student's earlier CAT4 indicators. "Grades above CAT4 targets" has become a standard measure of school effectiveness in the UAE, and several schools publish it openly.

When is CAT4 used? Assessment by year group

Entry assessment in UAE international schools follows a recognisable pattern that scales with age. The table below reflects the process published by schools such as Kent College Dubai, JESS and Nord Anglia, and the standard Abu Dhabi admissions workflow under ADEK.

Pattern compiled from published admissions pages (Kent College Dubai, JESS, Nord Anglia Dubai) and Abu Dhabi admissions guidance. Individual schools vary — always confirm the exact assessment with the registrar.

Year 7 is the main competitive entry point. Most British-curriculum secondary schools in the UAE use CAT4 Level D (designed for ages 11–12) as the core reasoning assessment for Year 7, with assessment windows typically running November to March for the following August intake.

Which UAE schools use CAT4?

The schools below are listed in two tiers — the same standard we use on our CAT4 in the USA page. Schools we have checked against a published admissions, scholarship or results page are marked Confirmed; schools where CAT4 is the usual assessment for their network or emirate — but which we have not yet individually confirmed — are marked Likely, so you can see where to look while knowing what still needs checking.

Confirmed — checked against published admissions information

Likely — network or emirate pattern (confirm before preparing)

The schools below either belong to a group whose sister campuses confirm CAT4, or follow the standard Abu Dhabi assessment pattern (reasoning test plus English and Maths from primary upwards) without publishing which reasoning test they administer. Treat these as likely rather than verified — and check directly with admissions before preparing.

This is not an exhaustive list — many other British and IB schools across the UAE use CAT4. School details are checked against published admissions pages, inspection reports and reported exam results. Know a UAE school that belongs here? Email us and we'll verify and add it.

What CAT4 score is competitive in the UAE?

There is no official pass mark for CAT4 — each school sets its own expectations and most do not publish cut-offs. Based on published admissions guidance, published scholarship criteria and the benchmarks used by UAE tutoring providers, these ranges are widely referenced:

Ranges reflect published criteria and commonly cited UAE tutoring benchmarks, not official school policy. Only the ACES scholarship figure is a formally published threshold.

Year group to CAT4 level: which test does my child take?

UAE international schools follow the British year-group system, and CAT4 levels are designed to match age groups. The table below shows the standard mapping used internationally.

Source: GL Education — choosing a test type and level (international recommended year groups). CAT4 levels have overlapping age norms, and Level Y is a UK-only, paper-based level that is not available in the UAE — internationally, Year 3 sits Level Pre-A. A selective school may occasionally test one level above the age-standard version. If in doubt, age is the primary factor.

Not sure which level fits your child's age? See the full CAT4 Levels Guide.

How CAT4 compares to other tests used in UAE schools

If your child has taken MAP, GL Progress Tests or InCAS, you may be wondering how CAT4 fits alongside them. The short answer: CAT4 is a reasoning test — it measures how your child thinks, not what they have learned. That is why UAE schools pair it with attainment tests rather than replace them. (Relocating from the US? Our CAT4 in the USA guide covers CogAT, MAP, SSAT and ISEE in depth.)

At a glance

The big difference: CAT4 is the only one of these that is pure reasoning — no reading passages, no curriculum content — and two of its four batteries use no language at all. That is why it travels across school systems, and why an EAL child's reasoning can shine on CAT4 even while their English is still developing.

CAT4 vs MAP Growth

MAP Growth (NWEA) is an adaptive achievement test widely used by American-curriculum schools in the UAE. It measures reading, language and maths against a curriculum; CAT4 measures reasoning potential without reference to any curriculum. Schools that see both use them for different jobs — MAP shows current attainment, CAT4 shows underlying potential.

CAT4 vs GL Progress Tests (PTE, PTM, PTS)

Many UAE schools administer both. The Progress Tests measure attainment in English, Maths and Science; combined with CAT4 they create a value-added profile — is the student performing above, at, or below their cognitive potential? This combination report is a standard tool in KHDA-rated British schools, and it is why you will see schools advertise results as "X grades above CAT4 targets".

CAT4 vs InCAS

InCAS (Cambridge CEM) is an adaptive assessment of reading, maths and developed ability used by some UAE schools — particularly in Abu Dhabi — for primary-age applicants, either alongside CAT4 or in place of it for Years 2–6. If a school names InCAS rather than CAT4 for a younger child, the preparation logic is similar: familiarity with on-screen adaptive testing matters more than any specific content.

CAT4 vs in-house entrance exams

A few schools — most notably Dubai College — run their own entrance assessment instead of a standard CAT4 sitting. These in-house tests are typically close cousins: online, adaptive, and covering English, Maths and non-verbal reasoning in a format very similar to CAT4 and GL Progress tests. A child who has practised CAT4 question types will find them familiar.

Relocating to the UAE with an existing CAT4 score

If your child has already taken CAT4 in the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore or elsewhere, that score travels — the scoring system (SAS, National Percentile Rank, stanines) is identical worldwide. Here is what to consider.

EAL considerations

If your child speaks English as an additional language, their Verbal Reasoning score may understate their true ability. UAE admissions teams read this pattern constantly — strong Non-Verbal, Quantitative and Spatial scores with a weaker Verbal score is a familiar international-school profile and will not automatically count against your child. In GL's own interpretation guidance, a gap of 10 or more SAS points between Verbal and the other batteries is the signal worth investigating. Many schools offer EAL support programmes; expect an English benchmark check for entry from around Year 3.

Common relocation scenarios

• 🇬🇧 From the UK. Your child likely has a recent CAT4 score from their UK school — request the report and submit it with the application. Start the Transfer Certificate attestation in parallel; it is the slower piece.
• 🇺🇸 From the US. Your child may have CogAT or MAP scores but no CAT4 — the UAE school will usually require a CAT4 sitting. CogAT experience transfers well to three of the four batteries (Verbal, Quantitative, Non-Verbal); the Spatial Ability battery will be new, and it is where targeted familiarisation pays off most. See our CAT4 in the USA guide for the full comparison.
• 🇭🇰 From Hong Kong or Singapore. CAT4 is common in British international schools in both, so a recent report transfers directly — the scoring is identical.
• 🔁 Within the UAE. Moving between emirates still requires a TC approved through KHDA or ADEK, and the receiving school may prefer its own CAT4 sitting even if one is on file. Ask both schools before preparing.

Questions to ask your UAE school about CAT4

These eight questions will tell you exactly what to expect from any UAE school's process.

1. At which year group does CAT4 become part of the admissions assessment?
2. Which CAT4 level will my child sit?
3. Is CAT4 the only assessment, or will there also be English, Maths and interview components?
4. Can we submit an existing CAT4 score from our current school — and how recent does it need to be?
5. Does the school use CAT4 results for class placement or streaming after admission?
6. What score range does the school typically look for? (Many won't give a number, but some will say "above average" or "well above average".)
7. How are children with special educational needs supported during the assessment?
8. Is CAT4 used for scholarship decisions — and if so, what are the published criteria?

Real parent scenarios

Common questions we hear from UAE and relocating families, with short answers.

CAT4 practice for each year group

Choose the CAT4 level that matches your child's year group. Each page has free sample questions, downloadable PDFs, and preparation tips.

Not sure which level? The year-group table above shows the match by age, or see the full CAT4 Levels Guide.

Practice by battery

You can also prepare one reasoning area at a time. Each guide includes free sample questions and tips.

Next steps

If your child needs to take CAT4 for a UAE school, here is where to start.

1. Confirm the level. Use the year-group table above, or see the CAT4 Levels Guide.
2. Try a sample test. Download a free CAT4 practice PDF for your child's level, or take a free online practice test.
3. Understand the scores. Read the CAT4 Results Guide so you know what to expect on report day.
4. Go deeper. For structured, level-matched practice tests across all four batteries, visit Pretest Plus.

CAT4 is a registered trademark of GL Assessment. MAP and MAP Growth are trademarks of NWEA; InCAS is an assessment of Cambridge CEM; CogAT is a trademark of Riverside Insights. This page is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by GL Assessment, KHDA, ADEK, or any school or organisation named above.

Last reviewed July 2026. School details are reviewed every six months and updated periodically. If you spot an error or know of a UAE school that uses CAT4, email us.