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The English College, Dubai



In their own words

Welcome and Marhaba to The English College (EC), a British curriculum school in Dubai. We have been providing a world class education since 1992, for children from Foundation Stage 1 through to Year 13.


As a school, we have a particular and very special ethos. Put simply, our core purpose is to inspire confident and passionate learners who will thrive and make a difference during their time with us – a difference to their own lives and the lives of others.


With our BSO (British Schools Overseas) “Outstanding” rating and DSIB (Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau) “Very Good” rating, we are proud to provide an exceptional educational experience. Our outstanding pastoral care, personal and social development ensure that your children are valued as individuals who bring their uniqueness to our family-orientated community school.


We are very proud of our strong heritage, traditions, and values and are constantly looking forward, seeking to innovate and improve at every age and stage for each and every one of our pupils. High-quality teaching and learning and the very best pastoral care and extra-curricular provision lie at the very heart of our school.


We are not just another British curriculum school in Dubai – we are more than a school, we are a community, an experience and a way of life that nurtures excellence in every aspect. Our community is culturally rich and diverse and as a school, we recognise and celebrate this, helping each individual to ‘be the me I choose to be’. Our students are many things but most of all they are themselves. It is this which prepares them for the unknown and exciting life in the world beyond school.


Most importantly, we are a happy school with a great spirit and a sense that anything and everything is possible. It is only by coming to visit us that you will truly be able to get a sense of our positive and thriving learning community. On behalf of the EC community, we look forward to welcoming you and showing you our school in action.



Entrance is assessed via CAT4 cognitive assessment, from GL.


CAT4 is one of, if not the most unique school assessment in circulation. Most children will not have encountered either the CAT4 question types or the format, previously. The good news is that the very specific nature of the exam, means that with effort and perseverance it is possible to achieve confident preparation for your CAT4 entrance exam.


CAT4 is broken into 4 broad categories:


  • Quantitative Reasoning

  • Verbal Reasoning

  • Non-Verbal Reasoning

  • Spatial Reasoning


We have partnered with the test experts at Ready Steady Pass, to bring you the most accurate and best value CAT4 practise material for children between 6 and 13 years of age. The tests are prepared by specialist CAT4 writers and audited by AQA and EdExcel exam markers, and ISI independent school inspectors. Tests are taken online, include unlimited resits and emailed results including answer sheets to share with tutors and parents.



Click below to access our CAT4 page for more information



What questions can I expect?


Each of the 4 questions categories in CAT4 (which GL call "batteries") has two different question types, creating 8 mini exams.


Quantitative Reasoning assess numerical questions, with a focus on patterns and relationships:

  • Number Series questions involve identifying the missing number in a sequence.

  • Number Analogies questions are to do with spotting the relationships between pairs of numbers.


Verbal Reasoning asses the relationship between words:


  • The Verbal Classification battery focuses on word classes and word types.

  • Verbal Analogies questions identify the relationship between pairs of words.


Non-Verbal Reasoning looks at the relationship between shapes:


  • Figure Classification asks you to spot the relationship between a series of images and select the image that matches them.

  • Figure Matrices shows a pattern of shapes presented in a square, challenging us to choose the missing shape.


Spatial Reasoning is a particular kind of non-verbal reasoning:


  • Figure Recognition questions challenge us to find a hidden shape within an image.

  • Figure Analysis questions, sometimes called Folding questions, present the challenges of recognising unfolded paper that has been hole punched at a certain fold.



Click below to browse our CAT4 collection







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