# What UKiset measures.

Source: https://www.eltschool.org/hk/en/guides/admissions/what-ukiset-measures

UKiset is an online entrance test that many UK independent schools use to assess applicants from overseas. It covers reasoning, English and a short piece of writing. It is not a pass or fail test: schools read the results alongside their own exams and interviews.

Updated 29 October 2026 · Written by (to be confirmed) · Reviewed by (to be confirmed) · (to be confirmed)

## Three parts.

UKiset has three parts. The reasoning section looks at how a student thinks rather than what they have been taught; the English section looks at reading and language; and a short piece of writing is passed on to schools for them to read.

| Part | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Reasoning | Verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning, based on GL Assessment's CAT4 (to be confirmed) |
| English | Reading and English proficiency (to be confirmed) |
| Writing | A short piece of writing sent to schools (to be confirmed) |

The format can change. Always check the [official UKiset site](https://www.ukiset.com/).

## Results, not a pass mark.

Results are sent to the schools the family chooses, and each school decides how to use them alongside its own assessments. UKiset is not a pass or fail test.

Not every UK school uses UKiset. Check each school's admissions requirements before booking a test date.

Schools that use UKiset usually ask for it before their own exams or interviews — so plan the test date back from each school's registration deadline.

## Sitting it from Hong Kong.

Where and how students in Hong Kong sit UKiset: (to be confirmed).

UK school years start in September. Before you plan a test date, check which UK year group your child is applying for — see the [application timeline](https://www.eltschool.org/hk/en/resources/application-timeline).

## How to prepare.

1. **Know the format**: Practise each question type so the format holds no surprises.
2. **Build English and maths**: Reasoning tests reward a broad vocabulary and confident number skills, which take time.
3. **Practise to time**: Timed practice in the weeks before the test.

## Sources

- [UKiset — official site](https://www.ukiset.com/)
- [GL Assessment — CAT4](https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/)

## Related

- **UKiset preparation course** (Course): One-to-one online lessons that cover each part of the test, planned back from your schools' deadlines.
- **Planning a UK boarding school application** (Column · Boarding schools): Many schools ask for an entrance test before their own exams or interviews, so the plan is worked back from each school's registration deadline. This article sets out the steps in order, starting with the UK year group your child is applying for.
- **The ISEB Pre-Test,** (Column · Exams): What the test is, which schools ask for it and how it fits into an application.

## UKiset preparation.

One-to-one online lessons that cover each part of the test, planned back from your schools' deadlines.

- [See the course](https://www.eltschool.org/hk/en/courses/ukiset)
- [Book a consultation](https://www.eltschool.org/hk/en/trial)

Updated: 2026-10-29

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