The differences between the testing practices at the University General Requirements Unit (UGRU) of United Arab Emirates University and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) were studied, focusing on the differences in styles of grading written English examinations. The UGRU always uses norm- referenced testing in their 1-year foundations program, while the HCT always uses criterion-referenced testing. Research shows that the HCT has more reliable scoring methods and testing practices than the UGRU. The successful scoring of more than 9,000 graded scripts in June 2000 by the HCT supports this finding. The paper also discusses why the use of blind markers and software packages by the HCT and Academic Services makes their grading practices fair and reliable examples for all institutions in the United Arab Emirates to follow. (Author/SLD)