Entrance exams · Dubai and Abu Dhabi
School entrance exam preparation in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Entrance exams
An entrance exam is not the school curriculum. It rewards a different kind of practice.
Assessment preparation for competitive school admissions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. University mentors work on reasoning, English and maths papers and interview practice, online anywhere in the UAE or in person across both cities.
See what a lesson costsWhy it works
What makes the difference
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Reasoning, English and maths together
Most entrance assessments test verbal and non-verbal reasoning alongside English and maths, often in a tighter time than a school test allows. A mentor works across all three so your child gets used to switching between question types quickly. A short progress note comes home after every lesson so you can see where the gaps are closing.
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Interview practice, not just papers
Many schools add a short interview or group task alongside the written papers, looking for a child who can speak clearly about their interests and think on their feet. Mentors run mock interviews, talk through likely questions beforehand and give feedback on both the answers and how they were delivered, so the real interview feels familiar rather than intimidating.
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Calm, steady preparation before the day
Preparation is planned back from the assessment date, with timed practice under the same conditions as the real thing, so nerves fade as the format becomes ordinary. A mentor knows the pace that works, and keeps sessions steady rather than rushed in the final weeks before the day.
What we cover
The four parts of most entrance assessments
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English comprehension and writing, maths at the right level for primary or middle school, and interview practice. All of it is planned back from your child's assessment date and your target school's format.
Verbal reasoning
Word-based questions that test vocabulary, logic and pattern spotting under time pressure. Mentors teach the common question types and the shortcuts that save seconds, then build up speed with regular timed sets.
Non-verbal reasoning
Shapes, sequences and codes, the parts of the paper that reward pattern recognition rather than school subject knowledge. Practice builds familiarity with the question families schools reuse each year, so nothing on the day is a complete surprise.
English and maths
Comprehension, spelling and grammar alongside number work and problem solving, set at the level of the target school and year group. Mentors close specific gaps first, then move to full timed papers as the assessment date gets closer.
Interview practice
Mock interviews and group tasks that mirror what many schools run, with feedback on clarity, confidence and how a child talks about their own interests. A few practice sessions can help a child feel more confident about how they come across.
Where we teach
Local mentors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Lessons run online anywhere in the UAE, or in person at home in these neighbourhoods.
After the entrance assessment, many families move on to IGCSE tutoring in Dubai · IGCSE tutoring in Abu Dhabi.
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01
Dubai
Mentors travel to homes in Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al Barsha, Emirates Hills, Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills, Motor City, Downtown, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, JVC, Mirdif and Deira. Families preparing for entrance assessments at schools including Jumeirah College, Dubai College, JESS Jumeirah, Dubai British School, Dubai English Speaking College and the GEMS Wellington schools set their own dates and format. Preparation is built around your target school, not a generic list of papers.
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Abu Dhabi
Mentors travel to homes on Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Al Raha, Khalifa City, Al Bateen, Al Mushrif, Al Nahyan, Mussafah and Mohammed Bin Zayed City. Families are often preparing for Brighton College Abu Dhabi, The British School Al Khubairat, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Repton Abu Dhabi, Nord Anglia International School, Yasmina British Academy or Noya British School. Each has its own assessment and its own timing, so the plan follows your target school.
How it works
Three steps to your first lesson
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01
Tell us the school
Share the target school, the exam date and your child's current year group on WhatsApp or the contact form. It takes about two minutes.
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02
Meet your matched mentor
We match a mentor by hand to the school and the subject mix, usually within 48 hours. The first lesson is usually the same week.
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Build steady progress
Timed papers and reasoning practice ramp up as the date gets closer, with a note home after each lesson. If the fit is not right, we rematch for free.
FAQ
School entrance exams in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, answered
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How much does entrance exam preparation cost?
Primary school rates are AED 140 an hour on a regular weekly commitment, AED 160 for flexible booking, or AED 840 for a block of 6 hours. Middle school rates are AED 160 an hour committed, AED 180 flexible, or AED 960 for 6 hours. Every price includes 5% VAT, and an in-person lesson adds AED 30 to the online rate. Full details are on the pricing page.
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Which exam boards or assessments do you prepare for?
Requirements vary by school. Many use a computer-based reasoning assessment, often CAT4, alongside their own English and maths papers and sometimes an interview or group task. We do not assume every school sets the same test, so tell us the school your child is applying to and we build the plan around its actual format.
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What ages or year groups do you cover?
Most entrance preparation is for children moving into primary school or transferring at a later point in primary or middle school. Mentors match sessions to your child's current level, whether that is building reading and number confidence early on or full timed papers closer to secondary transfer.
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How is my child matched with a mentor?
We match by hand, looking at the target school, the subjects being tested and your child's age, usually within 48 hours. Mentors are university students or recent graduates, vetted for the subjects your child is being tested on. If the fit is not right, we rematch the family for free.
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Do lessons happen online or in person?
Both. Lessons run online anywhere in the UAE, or in person at home in parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Every rate is an online rate, and an in-person lesson adds AED 30 an hour. Many families start in person and move a session online in a busy week without changing mentor.
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How soon can we start?
Usually within a few days. Share the target school and the exam date on WhatsApp or the contact form. A matched mentor is normally in touch within 48 hours, with the first lesson booked for the same week wherever the timetable allows.
The numbers behind the match
Families across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, since 2023.
- 150+ university mentors
- 60+ subjects covered
- 97% improve within weeks
- 48h to a matched mentor
The right preparation starts early. Book the first lesson today.
Entrance exam preparation for families in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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