Dubai College Year 7 entrance assessment 2026: what the school says

When are the key dates for August 2027 entry?

Applications opened on Tuesday 15 September 2026 and close at 12 noon UAE time on Tuesday 27 October 2026; the school says it cannot accept late applications. The assessment is on Sunday 15 November 2026, and results reach parents by email in mid-January 2027. The school asks families to keep both the morning and the afternoon of the assessment day free.

What is in the Dubai College entrance assessment?

The school says every child sits an adaptive online assessment of approximately two hours, with modules in English, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning. It adds that the testing platform and the style of questions are very similar to other standard online tests such as CAT4 and GL Progress Tests, and that all equipment is provided. Adaptive means the questions respond to how a child is answering, so two children may not see the same questions.

The school does not name the test or publish its question types, timings or number of questions. Some preparation providers describe a fourth module in verbal reasoning; we set out what the school says, what others report and why they differ in three modules, and why some sites say four.

Children registered with an Arab nationality on their Emirates ID, or who study Arabic A in primary school and wish to continue, are also assessed in Arabic A: a written paper of 45 minutes and an assessment of spoken Arabic. The school asks children who hold an Arab passport and attend school outside the UAE to contact its Registrar.

Who can apply for Year 7 in August 2027?

A child would normally be eleven by 31 August 2027 and complete Year 6, or the equivalent grade in another curriculum, in 2026-27. Children slightly younger may also apply if they will be eleven by 31 December 2027 and complete Year 6 or its equivalent in 2026-27, in the UAE or overseas. The school asks families to contact its Registrar if a child's eleventh birthday falls after 31 December 2027, if the child follows a January to December school year in the Southern hemisphere, or for advice on grade equivalents.

The school says Year 7 is its main point of entry and strongly recommends that families already in Dubai apply at Year 7 rather than wait for a later year group.

How much does it cost to apply?

The total fee is AED 525 including VAT, paid at the time of application: an application fee of AED 100 plus VAT and an assessment fee of AED 400 plus VAT. The school says it confirms each application once the form and payment are checked, and asks families to allow up to five working days before following up.

How competitive is Dubai College Year 7 entry?

There are 176 places for August 2027, in 8 forms of 22. The school describes itself as heavily over-subscribed: for entry in August 2026 it received more than four applications for each place, and more than three per place in recent years. It says students join from around 35 to 40 primary schools each year, most from UK curriculum schools, and that it welcomes applications from any primary school.

What else does the Admissions Panel consider?

The assessment is one part of the decision. The school says its Admissions Panel (the Head, the Deputy Head for pastoral care, and representatives of the English, mathematics and pastoral departments) also considers:

• the end of Year 5 school report, uploaded with the application (end of Grade 4 for 12-grade curricula such as IB, American or Indian);
• end of Year 5 GL Progress Test results in English, mathematics and science for children at school in Dubai, or an equivalent such as MAP;
• the most recent CAT4 or other standardised test results;
• the optional extra-curricular profile, accepted only on the school's own template and only inside the online application;
• any special educational needs, disability or medical information.

If the school does not yet have a child's test results, a parent can give consent in the application for the school to request them from the current school. The school adds that it is not affiliated with any extra-curricular provider and gives no priority for attending any particular club or activity.

Can a child sit the assessment more than once?

No. The school says candidates may sit the Year 7 entrance assessment only once, and a child who is not offered a place cannot re-apply for Year 7 the following year. That makes the single sitting matter, and it is the best reason to keep the weeks before it calm. Our plan for the last three weeks is built around that.

Does Dubai College recommend tutoring?

No. The school states: "Dubai College does not endorse tutoring for our entrance assessment." It goes on to suggest that a family who feels a child needs tutoring to succeed may wish to ask whether the school is the right one for that child. We take that at face value. Mockplan is not tutoring and is not a way round the school's process: it is calm, short practice so a child has met the screen, the timer and the kinds of question before the day.

What should a family do this week?

1. Submit the online application and pay the AED 525 fee before 12 noon UAE time on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
2. Upload the end of Year 5 report and the test results you have, or give consent for the school to request them.
3. Decide whether to add the extra-curricular template; it must go in with the application.
4. Tell the school about any learning needs on the form now; access arrangements may need a recent report from an educational psychologist, an IEP or a letter from your child's SENCO.
5. Keep Sunday 15 November 2026 free, morning and afternoon.

For practice in the same three modules and a plan counted back to 15 November, see Dubai College entrance practice and how the assessment practice works.