Tests and scores

Updated 29 October 2026

Which GL tests UAE schools use, year by year

CAT4, NGRT, PTM, PTE, PTS: a British-curriculum school in the UAE can give your child several GL tests a year. Here is which ones, in which year groups, and why.

Why UAE schools use these tests

The regulators in Dubai and Abu Dhabi require private schools to measure students against external benchmarks, not only their own exams. In Dubai, KHDA said that even while it paused full inspections for 2025-26, all schools were expected to keep running external benchmark assessments. In Abu Dhabi, ADEK's assessment policy names the benchmark test each curriculum must use, and requires at least 97% of eligible students in Years 4 to 10 to take it.

The three GL tests do different jobs:

• CAT4 measures reasoning ability: how your child is likely to learn.
• NGRT measures reading.
• GL Progress Tests measure attainment in maths, English and science: what your child has learned.

Dubai: a British-curriculum school, year by year

This is what GL's guide says KHDA expects for 2026-27:

CAT4 levels from GL's level table (see CAT4 levels by year group). Schools may test more year groups than the minimum, and GL advises schools new to CAT4 to test Years 4 to 10.

Dubai testing windows, 2026-27

Your school picks the exact dates inside each window and will tell you in a letter.

The other emirates

From GL's 2026-27 guide for UAE schools, and ADEK's School Assessment Policy for Abu Dhabi. "Not listed" means GL's guide does not list a required reading test for that emirate; schools may still use one. In GL's CAT4 windows, schools test between late August and 20 November 2026.

Schools that are not British-curriculum

Benchmark tests depend on the curriculum. ADEK's policy for Abu Dhabi lists these mandatory tests, which give a sense of what other schools use:

ADEK's policy also lists international studies such as PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS, which are run periodically to compare students' performance nationally and internationally.

What happens to the results

• The regulator sees them. GL says all UAE schools that test with it sign a data-sharing agreement, and all testing data is shared with the regulator. In Abu Dhabi, results go to ADEK directly from the provider.
• Schools use them to plan. ADEK's policy tells schools to analyse results, set targets and plan support for children who need it and challenge for those doing well.
• You can ask for the parent report. GL produces an individual report for parents for each test. If you have only been told a number, ask the school for it.
• Some schools count them in school marks. That is each school's decision. One Dubai school told parents in 2026 that GL Progress Test results contribute to final exam marks.

To read the scores themselves, see GL Assessment scores explained.