Admissions Guide
Your child has a place offer from an international school in China. Then the school sends a link to an online test, followed by an invitation to an online interview with the principal. The test may be called MAP Growth, Yellis, Alis, CEM, CAT4 or WIDA. Almost none of these is an entrance exam. This guide explains what each test is, what the score can decide—including scholarships and fee discounts—and what families should check before test day.
Key Takeaways
- Schools in China use tests such as MAP Growth, CAT4, Yellis and Alis to compare and place applicants.
- These assessments do not have an official pass mark. Any required score is set by the individual school, not the test provider.
- The same assessment result may influence admission, scholarships, grants and tuition discounts.
- The former CEM products are now under Cambridge Insight. Yellis is designed for ages 14–16, while Alis is for ages 16–19.
- International schools outside the United States normally use WIDA MODEL, rather than the ACCESS test used by participating US states.
- English ability may be assessed separately through WIDA MODEL or the Oxford Placement Test. These are placement tools, not pass-or-fail exams.
- Families normally pay the assessment fee before the appointment is confirmed. The client’s research places it at usually under US$120 per test, paid in RMB.
- Tests are generally scheduled Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00 Beijing time. Families should check the local time before accepting a slot.
- An online interview with the principal may follow the test, commonly using VooV Meeting. Install and test the application in advance.
- Intensive coaching is unlikely to change the result greatly. A rested child, quiet room, working device and stable internet connection are more important.
Why does a school give my child a test that was not made for admissions?
Because the school cannot compare your child's school reports to anyone else's. In one intake a school may receive students from Kazakhstan, Thailand, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. There is no shared exam and no shared grading scale. So the school uses a test that gives one number that works for every country.
The tests that do this best were designed for a different job. Some measure how much a student grew during a year. Others predict what grades a student is likely to get later. Schools borrowed them because nothing better exists for this purpose.
This matters to you. A test built to predict is not built to be passed or failed. It produces an estimate, not a verdict.
What Is MAP Growth?
MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive assessment developed by NWEA. It measures a student’s current achievement level and academic growth over time. Some international schools in China also use MAP Growth results when assessing new applicants.
The questions adjust to the student’s answers. A correct answer normally leads to a more difficult question, while an incorrect answer leads to an easier one. This means two students taking the same subject test may receive different questions.
After the assessment, the student receives a RIT score. This is a scaled score—not a percentage or a count of correct answers. Schools can compare it with current NWEA norms for the student’s grade, subject and testing period.
Students should expect some questions to feel difficult. That is a normal part of an adaptive assessment and does not automatically mean the student is performing poorly. A quiet room, a rested child and a reliable internet connection are usually more helpful than last-minute coaching.
Official source: Verified using the official NWEA MAP Growth overview and NWEA’s guidance for families .
What are Yellis and Alis?
Yellis and Alis are baseline tests from Cambridge Insight. Yellis is for ages 14 to 16. Alis is for ages 16 to 19. Both take about 50 minutes. Both test vocabulary, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning. Schools use them to predict future exam grades, and in China also to screen new applicants.
Most guides you will find online are out of date here. The company began in Newcastle in 1983, moved to Durham in 1996, and is now part of Cambridge. The "CEM" name has been retired and the products now sit under Cambridge Insight. Chinese-language material still almost always says "剑桥CEM," which no longer describes anything current.
The non-verbal reasoning part surprises many families. It uses shapes and patterns instead of words. This is deliberate: it lets the school see how your child thinks without English getting in the way. For a child who has just arrived from a non-English school system, this is usually the fairest part of the whole test.
One useful signal: if the school gives Alis rather than Yellis, it is telling you which stage of study it has in mind for your child. That is admissions information. Ask about it.
What Is CAT4?
CAT4, or the Cognitive Abilities Test Fourth Edition, is an assessment from GL Education. It measures how a student reasons with words, numbers, shapes and visual information. Some international schools in China use CAT4 when assessing or placing new students.
CAT4 covers students from approximately age 6 to 17 and above, using different test levels. For Levels A–G, the digital assessment has three parts lasting around 40–45 minutes each, or approximately 120–135 minutes in total. Younger levels are shorter.
Results include a Standard Age Score (SAS) for each reasoning battery. Schools can use the profile to identify a student’s strengths, areas that may need support and suitable class placement.
Official source: Verified using GL Education’s official CAT4 overview and its CAT4 information for parents .
What Is WIDA, and Which WIDA Test Will My Child Take?
WIDA assessments measure a student’s academic English in four areas: listening, reading, speaking and writing. An international school may use the result to decide whether a student needs English language support and which support level is suitable.
WIDA offers several assessments with different purposes. For an application to an international school in China, the test is more likely to be WIDA MODEL or, in some cases, a WIDA Screener—not the annual ACCESS assessment commonly used by WIDA Consortium members in the United States.
WIDA MODEL
A flexible, on-demand English proficiency assessment available to international schools. It includes kindergarten options and online or paper versions for Grades 1–12. It can support identification, placement and progress monitoring.
WIDA Screener
Used to help identify whether a new student may need English language support. WIDA Screener Paper is available to international and independent schools, while Screener Online is listed by WIDA as a US-only format.
WIDA ACCESS
An annual English language proficiency assessment mainly used by WIDA Consortium members to monitor the progress of identified English learners. It is not normally the test an international applicant should expect.
WIDA reports English proficiency across six levels. A lower level is not automatically an admission failure. Depending on the school’s policy, it may lead to extra English lessons, a different class placement or an additional language-support fee.
Official sources: Verified using the official WIDA MODEL overview , WIDA Screener guidance and the WIDA assessment comparison .
What Is the Oxford Placement Test?
The Oxford Placement Test is an online, computer-adaptive English assessment from Oxford University Press. Schools use it to estimate a student’s current English level and place the student in a suitable class or language-support programme.
The difficulty changes according to the student’s answers. This allows the assessment to find an appropriate English level without giving every student exactly the same questions.
Results are reported as a score and an English level linked to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The school may use this result to decide class placement, additional English lessons or whether language support carries an extra fee.
If the school combines the Oxford Placement Test with MAP Growth, CAT4 or another academic assessment, the student may have two separate appointments and two separate fees.
Official source: Based on Oxford University Press information about the Oxford Placement Test and its use for CEFR-linked English placement.
International School Entrance Tests Compared
International schools in China may use different assessments for admission, academic placement and English-language support. This comparison explains the main purpose of each test.
| Assessment | Student age | Approximate time | What it measures | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAP Growth | Grades K–12 | Varies by subject and student | Academic achievement and growth in subjects such as mathematics and reading | NWEA |
| Yellis | Ages 14–16 | About 50 minutes | Vocabulary, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning; used as a baseline for GCSE or IGCSE study | Cambridge Insight |
| Alis | Ages 16–19 | About 50 minutes | Post-16 baseline ability and potential performance in A Level study | Cambridge Insight |
| CAT4 | Ages 6–17+ | About 60–135 minutes, depending on the level | Verbal, quantitative, non-verbal and spatial reasoning | GL Education |
| WIDA MODEL | Kindergarten–Grade 12 | Varies by grade, format and language domain | Academic English in listening, reading, speaking and writing | WIDA |
| Oxford Placement Test | Depends on the version selected by the school | Varies | English use and listening for CEFR-linked class placement | Oxford University Press |
Official information checked with: NWEA, Cambridge Insight, GL Education, WIDA and Oxford University Press.
Can a good score win a scholarship or a discount?
Often, yes. This is the part almost no guide mentions. Because the school sets its own score levels, the same result that decides admission also decides money. Many admissions offices use these scores to award scholarships, grants and fee discounts, from a small percentage up to a full fee waiver.
Schools rarely advertise the connection. A school website may list a "merit scholarship" without saying that the entrance assessment is what feeds the decision. So families sit the test thinking it is only a gate, and never think to ask about the money.
Ask these four questions before your child takes the test:
- Do assessment results feed scholarship decisions? If yes, your child is sitting a funding test, not only an entry test. That changes how seriously you treat the appointment time.
- What award levels exist? Ask for the bands in writing — partial percentage, fixed grant, full waiver.
- Is the award renewable? Many are reviewed every year. Ask what your child must maintain to keep it, and what happens if they fall below it.
- Does it cover fees only? Tuition discounts often exclude boarding, meals, uniform, exam entry and the English support fee. The last one matters most, because a low WIDA level can add a cost that cancels out the discount.
International School Entrance Test Fees: Who Pays and How Much?
The family normally pays the entrance assessment fee. However, there is no standard test fee for international schools in China. The amount depends on the school, the number of assessments and whether the test is charged separately or included in the application fee.
This is the benchmark found in the client’s reviewed cases. The school will normally request payment in RMB.
Estimated—not a fixed rateCanadian International School of Guangzhou publishes a processing fee covering the application review, interview and one admission test.
School-published exampleDo not assume that the application fee and assessment fee are the same. One school may include the first test in its application fee, while another may charge separately for MAP Growth, CAT4, WIDA or an English placement test. A second assessment or retake may also create an additional charge.
Ask these questions before paying
- What is the exact amount in RMB?
- Does the payment cover one test or every required test?
- Is the assessment included in the application fee?
- Will a retake or separate English test cost extra?
- Is any part of the payment refundable?
- Will the fee be credited toward tuition or the deposit?
- Which payment methods does the school accept?
- When will the school confirm the test appointment?
Fee verification: The US$120 figure is an estimated benchmark from the client’s reviewed cases, not an official nationwide rate. The RMB 2,000 example comes from the official Canadian International School of Guangzhou admissions page . Families should confirm the latest amount directly with their chosen school before paying.
When Will My Child Sit the Online Entrance Test?
According to the client’s admissions workflow data, online entrance tests are normally booked by appointment from Monday to Friday, between 08:00 and 17:00 Beijing time. The exact day, start time and test length must be confirmed by the school.
China uses one official time zone and does not change its clocks for daylight saving time. However, the family’s country may change clocks during the year. Always convert the appointment again on the date of the test.
Confirm these details before test day
- The date and start time in both Beijing and local time
- Whether the appointment falls on the previous local day
- The expected test length and whether breaks are allowed
- Whether several test parts are completed on the same day
- The login link, meeting platform and technical requirements
- Who to contact if the connection fails
Timing note: The weekday testing window comes from the client’s admissions workflow data and is not a rule followed by every school. Beijing uses China Standard Time, UTC+8, throughout the year, as shown by the Beijing time-zone record . Confirm the final appointment directly with the school.
What Happens in the Online Principal Interview?
After the entrance assessment, the school may invite the student to an online interview with the principal or another senior member of staff. The purpose is to understand the student’s communication, motivation, support needs and suitability for the school.
- Introductions and identity check The interviewer may confirm the student’s name, age, current school, grade and application details.
- Questions for the student The student may be asked about favourite subjects, interests, learning goals, English ability and reasons for choosing the school.
- Questions for the family Parents may be asked about relocation plans, guardianship, boarding, language support and expectations for the school.
Questions your child should be ready to answer
- Why do you want to attend this school?
- Which subjects do you enjoy most?
- Which subjects do you find difficult?
- What activities or sports do you enjoy?
- How do you manage a difficult task?
- What would you like to achieve at the school?
- Have you studied in English before?
The interview is not usually a second written examination. However, the interviewer will notice whether the student can understand questions, respond independently and communicate at an appropriate level. Parents should not answer every question for the child.
After the interview, the school may issue an offer, place the student on a waiting list, request more documents or recommend a particular grade or English-support programme. Ask when the written decision will be sent and whether any support will add to the fees.
Process note: Interview questions and platforms vary between schools. The information above follows the client’s reviewed admissions workflow and should be confirmed with the individual school before the appointment.
What Should We Check Before Test Day?
Confirm the appointment, payment, test rules and technology before test day. A prepared device and a rested child are usually more useful than last-minute coaching.
- Correct date and time Check the appointment in both Beijing time and your local time, including whether it falls on the previous local day.
- Test name and length Confirm whether the student will take MAP Growth, CAT4, WIDA, Yellis, Alis or an English placement test.
- Payment confirmation Make sure the school has received the fee and confirmed the appointment in writing.
- Login details Save the test link, username, password and school contact information somewhere easy to reach.
- Computer and browser Use a laptop or desktop that meets the school’s requirements. Install any secure browser or testing software in advance.
- Camera and microphone Test the webcam, speakers, microphone and headphones if the assessment or interview requires them.
- Internet and power Use a stable connection and keep the device connected to power. Prepare a backup hotspot if possible.
- Identity documents Keep the student’s passport or other requested identification nearby in case the school checks it.
Also ask the school about the test rules
- Are paper and a pencil allowed?
- Can the student use a calculator?
- Are headphones required or permitted?
- Are breaks allowed between test sections?
- Can a parent remain in the room?
- What should we do if the internet connection fails?
- Can an interrupted test be restarted or rescheduled?
On the day, give the child a normal meal, water and enough time to settle into a quiet room. Close unnecessary applications, silence notifications and join at least 15 minutes early.
Preparation note: Technical requirements and test rules vary by provider and school. Follow the instructions in the school’s final appointment email if they differ from this checklist.
Can My Child Prepare for the Entrance Test?
Yes, but preparation should focus on understanding the test format, checking the technology and helping the child feel rested and calm. Intensive coaching is unlikely to produce a reliable result and may lead to the wrong class placement.
Helpful preparation
- Confirm the exact test name and purpose.
- Use official familiarisation material if available.
- Practise using a mouse, keyboard and headphones.
- Continue normal reading, mathematics and English study.
- Explain that difficult questions are normal.
- Make sure the child sleeps and eats properly.
What to avoid
- Memorising unofficial or leaked questions.
- Paying for courses that promise a guaranteed score.
- Teaching fixed answers to interview questions.
- Exhausting the child with last-minute practice.
- Giving hints or answers during the real test.
- Hiding a learning or language-support need.
Official guidance: NWEA states that its MAP Growth practice test is for learning the format, not preparing for the content. GL Education advises against CAT4 training because practice may affect the reliability of the result.
What Is the School Really Deciding?
The school is rarely making only a pass-or-fail decision. It may use the entrance assessment, interview, school reports and available places to decide admission, grade placement, learning support, English support and possible financial awards.
The assessment result is only one part of the decision. A strong score does not guarantee admission if the year group is full or the student does not meet the school’s legal eligibility rules. Similarly, a lower score may still lead to an offer with additional academic or English support.
Questions to ask when the result arrives
- What decision was made from the assessment result?
- Which grade and classes will my child enter?
- Is any English or academic support compulsory?
- Does that support create an additional fee?
- Did the result affect a scholarship or tuition discount?
- Is the award renewable, and what must the student maintain?
- Can we receive the score report or a written explanation?
- Can the placement be reviewed after the student enrols?
Decision note: Admissions policies differ between international schools in China. Ask the school to explain in writing how the assessment affected admission, placement, support and fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About International School Entrance Tests
Do international school entrance tests have a pass mark?
There is no universal international-school admission mark for MAP Growth, CAT4, WIDA, Yellis, Alis or the Oxford Placement Test. If a particular score is required, the threshold has been selected by the school.
Which entrance test will my child take?
It depends on the child’s age, grade and the purpose of the assessment. A school may use MAP Growth or CAT4 for academic placement, Yellis or Alis for older students, and WIDA MODEL or the Oxford Placement Test to assess English.
How long does an international school entrance test take?
The length depends on the assessment. Yellis and Alis take about 50 minutes. CAT4 may take approximately 60–135 minutes, depending on the level. MAP Growth, WIDA and Oxford test times can vary by subject, grade and format.
Who pays the assessment fee?
The family normally pays. There is no standard nationwide price. The client’s reviewed cases place a stand-alone test at usually under US$120, but a school may instead include the test in a higher application or processing fee. Confirm the exact RMB amount before paying.
Can the result affect a scholarship or tuition discount?
Yes. Some schools use entrance assessment and interview results when awarding scholarships, grants or tuition discounts. Ask whether the assessment affects funding, what award levels exist and what the student must do to renew the award.
Is a low WIDA score an admission failure?
Not automatically. A lower WIDA level may lead to additional English support or a different class placement. Ask whether the support is compulsory and whether it creates an extra fee.
Can my child prepare for the test?
The child can learn the test format, practise using the computer and follow official familiarisation material. Intensive coaching is not recommended. GL Education advises against CAT4 training because practice can make the result less reliable.
What happens if the internet connection fails?
Contact the school or test supervisor immediately. Do not repeatedly restart the assessment unless instructed. Before test day, ask whether an interrupted test can be resumed or rescheduled and keep a backup internet connection available.
What happens after the assessment?
The school may arrange an online principal interview and then issue an offer, waiting-list decision or request for more information. The result may also decide grade placement, English support, academic support or scholarship eligibility.
Official information checked with: NWEA, GL Education, WIDA, Cambridge Insight and Oxford University Press. Admission thresholds, fees and scholarship decisions must be confirmed with the individual school.
Alifa Education Services
Need Help With Your Child’s International School Entrance Test?
Alifa Education Services helps international, expatriate, returning and Chinese families understand entrance assessments for international schools in China. If your child has received an invitation for MAP Growth, CAT4, Yellis, Alis, WIDA MODEL, the Oxford Placement Test or an online principal interview, send us the school name, test name, current grade, location, local time zone and appointment date. We can help explain what the assessment measures, how to prepare without over-coaching, what to check before test day and which fees, scholarships, grade placements, English-support requirements and admission conditions should be confirmed with the school.
✉ Get Entrance Test Advice →Disclosure: Alifa Education Services is an independent education placement consultancy. We may earn a referral fee from partner schools when families enroll, at no extra cost to the family. Our recommendations are based on fit, not fee structure.
Sources and Verification
Test names, age ranges, purposes, formats and preparation guidance were checked against official assessment-provider sources. School fees, admission thresholds, appointment times and scholarship rules are set by individual schools and must be confirmed before applying.
Information reviewed:
-
MAP Growth — NWEA
Used to verify that MAP Growth is computer-adaptive, reports RIT scores and measures student achievement and growth.
Official NWEA MAP Growth overview
NWEA guidance for families -
CAT4 — GL Education
Used to verify the age range, four reasoning batteries, testing structure, Standard Age Scores and advice against intensive CAT4 coaching.
Official GL Education CAT4 overview
GL Education information for parents -
Yellis and Alis — Cambridge Insight
Used to verify that Yellis is designed for ages 14–16 and Alis for ages 16–19, with an average assessment time of about 50 minutes.
Official Cambridge Insight Yellis page
Cambridge Insight post-16 and Alis guidance -
WIDA MODEL, Screener and ACCESS
Used to verify the purpose, grade coverage and availability of the different WIDA English-language assessments.
Official WIDA MODEL overview
Official WIDA Screener overview
WIDA assessment comparison -
Oxford Placement Test — Oxford University Press
Used to verify its adaptive placement purpose, Use of English and Listening sections, and CEFR-linked reporting.
Oxford University Press placement-test explanationConfirm the current product version with the school
-
School fee example — CIS Guangzhou
Used as a school-published example showing that an application processing fee may include application review, interview and one test.
Canadian International School of Guangzhou admissionsSchool-published example—not a nationwide fee
-
Beijing time and international scheduling
Used to verify that Beijing follows China Standard Time, UTC+8, without a daylight-saving clock change in 2026.
Beijing time-zone record -
Client-supplied admissions research
Used for the usual testing workflow, principal interview process, Monday–Friday appointment window and the estimated stand-alone assessment cost of under US$120.
Internal research—not a nationwide official rate
How the information was checked
- Official assessment-provider pages were preferred over school directories, agents and general education websites.
- Provider facts were separated from policies created by individual international schools.
- A test-provider score was not described as a universal admission pass mark unless the provider officially stated one.
- Estimates and client-supplied workflow information were labelled separately from officially confirmed facts.
- Where a fee, schedule or admission rule can change, families were directed to confirm it with the school in writing.
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