Entry Requirements

Doha College is a selective entry school with a focus on academic excellence. Admission to Doha College is subject to criteria which vary according to the child’s age-group and subject to places being available.

Students enrolled at Doha College are expected to advance to the next year group at the end of each academic year. The vast majority of our students progress through the key stages without any difficulty. Students who do not make the expected progress, in line with their classmates and National Curriculum expectations, will be offered additional learning support targeted at the area(s)which are causing most difficulty. Doha College is a selective entry school with high expectations of academic success and as such there is no automatic transition between key stages. Parents will be informed well in advance if there is a chance that a student may not meet the standard required to progress to the next key stage.

Movement from Doha College Primary to Doha College Secondary (Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3) is not automatic. Doha College is an academically selective school and waiting lists for all year groups are rank ordered based on academic ability as determined by Cognitive Ability Testing, public examination results and school reports. Open places are not handed out on a ‘first come, first served basis’.

Students applying for places from Years 1 to 13 are invited to undertake an entrance assessment at a non-refundable fee of QR 500 per applicant. The assessment tests are designed primarily to ensure that the teaching and curriculum offered match the pupil’s needs and are of great help internally at Doha College. Entry to the College is based on availability in the Year group required, results of the entrance assessment and previous school reports.

Admission to Year 12 and 13 is subject to meeting our minimum entry requirements at GCSE and/or A level (5 grade C’s and above with B’s in the subject options selected) plus availability of places.

Reports from previous schools will be assessed as well as any academic examination taken. Interviews may be held and previous schoolwork may be requested.

In some circumstances students with learning support requirements will be accepted. If more extensive learning support is required then this will be discussed with the school prior to confirmation of a place.

Entrance Assessments

All students shortlisted for places from Years 1 to 13 are required to undertake an entrance assessment. The assessment tests are designed primarily to ensure that the teaching and curriculum offered match the pupil’s needs and are of great help internally at Doha College. Entry to the College is based on availability in the Year group required, results of the entrance assessment and previous school reports.

Primary School Assessments

Pre School & Reception: Assessment consists of a brief interview /assessment with the Head of Early Years. Applicants are shortlisted on the basis on of their school / nursery reports. The assessments normally take about 20 to 30 minutes and are conducted at a non refundable cost of QR 200 per applicant. Based on availability, only shortlisted candidates are invited in for Pre School & Reception assessments.

Year 1 to Year 4: Shortlisted applicants are invited in for an assessment that consists of a reading test, writing assessment and a math test conducted by the Key Stage Leader. The assessments take about 90 minutes and are offered at a cost of QR 500 per applicant.

Year 5 & Year 6: Shortlisted applicants are invited for an entrance assessment that consists of a Cognitive Ability Test (CAT Test). The assessment is conducted at the Admissions Office at Doha College for a charge for QR 500 per applicant. The assessment takes a little over two hours. Scores from the entrance assessment will determine the applicants’ placement on the waiting list. The waiting list is rank ordered based on academic ability.

Secondary School Assessments

Year 7 to Year 12: Shortlisted applicants are invited for an entrance assessment that consists of a Cognitive Ability Test (CAT Test). The assessment is conducted either at the Admissions Office at Doha College or online (See below) for a charge for QR 500 per applicant. The assessment takes a little over two hours. Scores from the entrance assessment will determine the applicants’ placement on the waiting list. The waiting list is rank ordered based on academic ability.

Year 12 & Year 13: Applicants may be required to sit the Cognitive Ability Test if they are applying to come into the 6th Form from a non British curriculum. This decision is based on review of the application by the Head of the 6th Form. Admission to Year 12 and 13 is subject to meeting our minimum entry requirements at GCSE and/or A level (5 grade C’s and above with B’s in the subject options selected) plus availability of places.

Online Cognitive Ability Test

As Doha College is a selective entry school, all applicants applying to enter Doha College are required to sit an entrance assessment test. A Cognitive Ability Test is used to assess secondary school applicants. Overseas applicants in Year 7 to Year 13 can access the cognitive ability test online.

To Get The Process Started

Once an application form has been completed and submitted with all the supporting documents, the admissions department at Doha College will be in touch with the parents to verify if the applicant would like to avail the online entrance assessment facility. There is a QR 500 charge to sit the entrance assessment.

If the applicant would like to access the online test facility, the admissions office will provide a form that will need to be completed by the applicant’s current school agreeing to administer the test under exam conditions.

This form will need to completed, signed and stamped by school authorities and retuned to Doha College Admissions and the assessment charges of QR 500 will need to be paid at the Accounts Office at Doha College. Upon receiving the completed form and payment, a date of mutual convenience will be set up for the applicant to sit the on line CAT Test and test administration instructions will sent to the applicant’s current school.

Once The Test Is Complete

Results of the test can be obtained after 5 working days of taking the test by contacting the admissions office.

If the applicant has met the entry criteria, a provisional offer of a place at Doha College will be made based on availability in the year group. If an applicant has not met the entry criteria, the application will be refused.

If an applicant has met the entry criteria and there is no availability in the required year group, the applicant will be placed onto a waiting list and parents will be contacted when places become available. The waiting list is rank ordered based on academic ability.

Once An Offer Has Been Made

Overseas applicants, who are offered a provisional place, will need to sit the CAT test on site at Doha College before the provisional offer can be confirmed. If there is significant difference between test scores from the online test and the test taken on site at the college, Doha College reserves the right to withdraw the offer of a place. Please note that the online entrance assessment facility is only available to overseas applicants applying for entry to year groups between Year 7 and Year 13.

For any questions or queries regarding this process, please contact the admissions office. As always, thank you for considering Doha College.