EmSAT-The Emirates Standardized Test

The test is mandatory for all schools with targeted grades (4, 6, 8, 10).

There is no make-up assessment.

The school has to coordinate so that students are tested on several batches so as not to exceed the time and days specified per subject. In the event that the number of students exceeds the capacity to accommodate the computer room in the school, despite the organization of batches, the rest of students are exempted from the test.

The school should determine if the student is a qualified person to take the test as it is an electronic test which does not contain audio materials and cannot be transferred to a paper test. No additional time to be added for them more than the rest of students.

The test will be accessed by the targeted schools within a specified number of days and hours for each school at the same time. Schools have to be ready to log in during these hours and days. It will not be available at other times.

50 minutes per test session.

The test is available in Arabic and English and the teacher chooses the appropriate language for his/her students.

Students are not allowed to use their own devices because the test system is installed only on school devices.

The EMSAT Advantage Test measures the skills students are supposed to possess when they reach the targeted cycle for the test.

All paths in the targeted schools are included in the EMSAT Advantage test.

Please note that the math Geometry Formula Sheet in Arabic and English were sent to all the targeted schools. They are also available on the webpage for EMSAT Sequential test Geometry Formula Sheet

A limited number of private schools will be selected for entry this year and will be contacted directly if they are nominated for the test.

Grade 1 students (Arabic speakers) in the UAE.

Educational authorities are contacted for coordination purposes to implement the assessment in their targeted schools and to identify coordinators and the targeted groups of grade 1 students (Arabic speakers) in the UAE.

The EmSAT Baseline Assessment is mandatory for grade 1 students in the targeted schools.

Seventy-five performance indicators have been selected to assess the skills of grade 1 students upon their enrolment in school. These indicators were chosen by a committee comprising experts in Arabic language learning and teaching, Arabic language curricula, early childhood education, assessment, and educational evaluation. The indicators are based on the learning outcomes of Arabic language for kindergarten stage as stated in the curriculum document of the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates in 2017, the Arabic language learning standards issued by the Queen Rania Teacher Academy in 2018, and the English language teaching curriculum for speakers of other languages in Massachusetts, USA, in 2011. The indicators are distributed as follows:

• 40 skills for reading measurement
• 15 skills for writing measurement
• 20 skills for communication measurement
Under each of the three skills, there are sets of sub-skills, namely:
Reading Skills:
- Auditory awareness
- Print Awareness
- Vocabulary acquisition
- Reading comprehension
- Reading fluency
Writing Skills:
- Basic writing skills
- Advanced writing skills
Communication Skills:
- Listening skills
- Speaking skills

The Arabic language assessment is not mandatory for non-Arabic-speaking students and is only intended for Arabic speakers.

Test specifications and samples are available on the Emirates Standardized Test website at the following link: https://emsat.moe.gov.ae/emsat/emsat_baseline_en.aspx

Certificates are not available; comprehensive reports on the results of the assessments will be provided to the authorities.

According to data provided by the teacher, all test results and observation forms are stored on the FastTest national testing platform. After the assessment is completed, the results will be analyzed and extracted and issue reports accordingly.

Yes, the assessment is conducted on a national scale for grade 1 students in government and private schools according to a specific phased plan.

It will be implemented for grade 1 students over a period of four weeks in May 2024.

Students are not required to retake the assessment if they are absent, and it will be considered incomplete.

The electronic assessment lasts for 30 minutes, divided into two test sessions on separate days, each session lasting 15 minutes.

Tablet devices will be provided to targeted schools for the assessment.

It is the school's responsibility to determine whether a student with determination is eligible to take the assessment.

• Providing parents with qualitative data about their children's language skills before they enter grade 1, helping them support their children's learning and participate effectively in their academic progress.
• Providing accurate data and benchmark comparisons for grade 1 teachers to aid in future teaching planning and building appropriate remedial and enrichment plans.
• Measuring the quality of education in kindergarten by measuring one of its outcomes, which is the Arabic language skills acquired by students.
• Providing a standardized reference point regarding the extent to which grade 1 students possess Arabic language skills, aiding in future comparisons and studies of the impact of education.
• Providing decision-makers with quantitative and qualitative data on the Arabic language skills of grade 1 students upon their enrolment in school, aiding them in making appropriate decisions.

• Kindergarten Level 2: The child demonstrates readiness to learn Arabic language through possessing basic skills and abilities for language learning and effective communication with others.
• Kindergarten Level 1: The child possesses some basic skills and abilities for learning Arabic language and communicating with others. They will be able to communicate in Arabic after receiving appropriate support.
• Below Level: The child has limited skills to start learning Arabic language in grade 1 and will need appropriate support for learning Arabic language and effective communication with others.

• The test consists of multiple-choice questions, with no more than three alternatives per question.
• Access to the test is through a unique activation code for each student.
• The test is conducted in groups, with each group consisting of 5 students.