CAT4 and Dubai British School Emirates Hills admissions

According to the DBSEH admissions policy (reviewed August 2024, with its next review stated as August 2025), all applicants must be assessed before entry. For Foundation Stage and Year 1, assessment is informal and observational. From Year 2, the school conducts formal assessments of verbal, quantitative and non-verbal abilities, takes a sample of written work, and requires a reference from the current and/or previous schools.

Those three areas are the reasoning domains that CAT4 measures. More recently, Khaleej Times (September 2026) reported that Dubai British Schools list CAT4 alongside a written English assessment for applicants from Year 3 to Year 12. The policy and the newspaper describe the starting year slightly differently (Year 2 versus Year 3), so confirm with the admissions team which assessment your child's year group will sit.

The policy sets out a clear order. For applicants living in the UAE, assessment happens on invitation from the school, in small groups by age cohort. Natural entry points (Foundation Stage One, Year 7, Year 10 and Year 12) are assessed first, starting from December to January, followed by the other year groups in order of age, oldest to youngest. Assessments for Foundation Stage Two and Year 1 take place in Term 3 (mid-April to June).

Overseas applicants can begin assessment at the time of application, but not earlier than one year before the expected date of entry. From Year 2 onwards, assessment may be done overseas; entry assessment for Foundation Stage One to Year 1 must take place at the school. Applicants from emirates other than Dubai can be assessed at their current school or attend the scheduled local cohort assessment.

An invitation to assess is not guaranteed. The policy says it depends on the anticipated availability of places after siblings (current and new), Taaleem staff children and corporate debentures.

Once the assessment, writing sample and reference are in, the policy says the application is reviewed by the Principal, the Admissions Manager, the Head of Primary or Secondary and, where necessary, the Head of Inclusion, together with the application and school reports. Decisions are made at the Principal's discretion and include offering a place or offering a probationary place linked to conditions. Further assessment for English as an Additional Language or special educational needs may be needed before a decision.

For secondary entry (Years 7 to 11), the policy states that DBSEH does not maintain strict academic cut-off points. Instead, given the preconditions for Sixth Form, it aims to offer places to applicants likely to achieve at least four GCSE grades of C or above (the policy’s wording), including English and Mathematics, judged on the application, school reports, references, assessment data and any relevant professional reports. Sixth Form entry has its own GCSE-based criteria.

Places are not offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The policy describes most year groups as oversubscribed and lists priority factors for the waiting pool, including corporate debentures, siblings, children of staff or board members, and former students.

Because DBSEH looks at reasoning, a writing sample, a reference and school reports together, there is no single score to chase. The sensible priorities are: make sure your child is comfortable with verbal, numerical and shape-based reasoning questions in a timed setting; practise writing a clear, organised piece within a time limit; and keep reports and references up to date, since they carry weight. If your child has additional needs or uses English as an additional language, tell the school early so the right assessment is arranged.