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Year 7 entry in Dubai: which schools test and how

Nine Dubai schools, how each one selects at Year 7, when, and what it costs to apply, from each school’s own published information.
Guide for
Parents
Reading time
6 minutes
Updated
18 October 2026
Facts checked
17 October 2026

Which Dubai schools test at Year 7, and how?

Of the nine Dubai schools we have researched, seven use CAT4 as their entrance test, usually with a writing task or interview, and most take applications all year. Dubai College and Jumeirah College are the exceptions with fixed November 2026 assessment days. North London Collegiate School Dubai sets its own papers.

Dubai’s selective and partly selective British and international schools do not all test the same way. Some set one assessment day for the whole cohort; most assess children one at a time through the year. This guide sets out what each of nine schools says on its own pages. It describes, and does not rank: the row for a school is only what that school publishes.

How does each school select at Year 7?

Year 7 entry (Grade 6 at the Dubai International Academy campuses and North London Collegiate School Dubai) as each school publishes it. Read 17 and 18 October 2026.
SchoolHow it selectsWhenApplication fee
Dubai CollegeOne adaptive online assessment of about 2 hours in English, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning; CAT4 results are asked for as supporting evidenceOne day: Sunday 15 November 2026. Applications close at 12 noon UAE time on 27 October 2026AED 525 including VAT
Jumeirah CollegeCAT4 online at the school, 1.5 to 2 hours, all multiple choiceSaturday 14 November 2026 for most applicants. Applications close at 8am on 30 October 2026AED 525, waived for pupils already at a GEMS school
Brighton College DubaiCAT4 (about two hours), a creative writing task and an interviewNo fixed date: entry is rolling and open all yearAED 525 including VAT
Dubai International Academy, Al BarshaCAT4 digital test; an interview may be addedNo fixed test month: rolling, when a place is availableAED 525
Dubai International Academy, Emirates HillsCAT4 digital test; an interview may be addedNo fixed test month: rolling; September is the main intakeAED 525 including VAT
Kings’ School Al BarshaA computer-based cognitive abilities test plus a written task, about two hours (its policy names CAT4)No fixed date: assessment booked after registrationAED 500 plus VAT
Kings’ School Nad Al ShebaA computer-based cognitive abilities test, about two hours (its policy names CAT4)No fixed date: assessment booked after registrationAED 500 plus VAT
Nord Anglia International School DubaiCAT4 plus English and mathematics papers, run online, with reports and a reading sampleNo fixed sitting: arranged after the applicationAED 525 including VAT
North London Collegiate School DubaiThe school’s own English and mathematics papers, online cognitive tests (not named) and an interviewNo 2027 assessment date was published when we checkedAED 500 plus 5% VAT

What do the schools have in common?

CAT4 is the common thread. Seven of the nine use it as their test, and Dubai College asks applicants for their CAT4 results alongside its own assessment. Only North London Collegiate School Dubai names no such test, setting its own English and mathematics papers instead. Our CAT4 guide sets out what its publisher says about it.

Which schools set a date, and which are rolling?

Dubai College and Jumeirah College each fix an assessment day in November 2026. The rest describe rolling entry: a family applies when it wishes, and the school arranges the assessment, sometimes only when a place is available. Rolling entry means there is no single deadline to plan around, but it also means a family has to ask each school about availability.

What is our view?

Our view is that a family choosing where to apply should read each school’s own pages first and treat this table as a map, not advice. Where schools use the same test, one familiar sitting of it helps with more than one application, but we make no prediction about any result.

See every school we cover.

Questions parents ask

Which Dubai schools use CAT4 as their entrance test?
Jumeirah College, Brighton College Dubai, both Dubai International Academy campuses, Kings’ School Al Barsha, Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba and Nord Anglia International School Dubai. Dubai College asks for CAT4 results as supporting evidence.
Which schools have a fixed assessment day for 2027 entry?
Dubai College on Sunday 15 November 2026, and Jumeirah College on Saturday 14 November 2026 for most applicants.
Which schools accept applications all year?
Brighton College Dubai, both Dubai International Academy campuses, both Kings’ School campuses and Nord Anglia International School Dubai describe rolling entry.
Does every school charge an application fee?
Every school in the table lists one, between AED 500 plus VAT and AED 525. Each is stated in the table from the school’s own page.
Is Year 7 called something else at some schools?
At the two Dubai International Academy campuses and North London Collegiate School Dubai the equivalent year is Grade 6.
How often should I check the dates?
Before you act. We check each school’s own pages and show the date; the school’s pages are always right if anything differs.

Sources

Facts last checked on 17 October 2026. Everything else on this page is our own view.

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Mockplan is independent practice. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any school or test publisher named on this page, and the names are used only to say what the practice is for.

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