System for performing a partial discharge test of a factory joint joining a first high voltage cable section and a second high voltage cable section; wherein the first cable section comprises a first conductor and a first semiconductive sheath; wherein the second cable section comprises a second conductor and a second semiconductive sheath; wherein the factory joint comprises a joint conductor joining the first conductor and the second conductor and a joint semiconductive sheath joining the first semiconductive sheath and the second semiconductive sheath; wherein the system comprises: - a first insulation system for electrically insulating a joint side part of the first semiconductive sheath from a remaining part of the first semiconductive sheath; - a second insulation system for electrically insulating a joint side part of the second semiconductive sheath from a remaining part of the second semiconductive sheath; - a first earthing conductor for grounding the remaining part of the first semiconductive sheath; - a second earthing conductor for grounding the remaining part of the second semiconductive sheath; - a third earthing conductor (12b, 14b) for grounding the first conductor and/or the second conductor; - a high voltage transformer for supplying a test voltage to the semiconducting sheath of the factory joint during a test period; - a partial discharge sensing system for sensing partial discharges in the factory joint during the test period. wherein the first cable section comprises a first conductor and a first semiconductive sheath; wherein the second cable section comprises a second conductor and a second semiconductive sheath; wherein the factory joint comprises a joint conductor joining the first conductor and the second conductor and a joint semiconductive sheath joining the first semiconductive sheath and the second semiconductive sheath; wherein the system comprises: - a first insulation system for electrically insulating a joint side part of the first semiconductive sheath from a remaining part of the first semiconductive sheath; - a second insulation system for electrically insulating a joint side part of the second semiconductive sheath from a remaining part of the second semiconductive sheath; - a first earthing conductor for grounding the remaining part of the first semiconductive sheath; - a second earthing conductor for grounding the remaining part of the second semiconductive sheath; - a third earthing conductor (12b, 14b) for grounding the first conductor and/or the second conductor; - a high voltage transformer for supplying a test voltage to the semiconducting sheath of the factory joint during a test period; - a partial discharge sensing system for sensing partial discharges in the factory joint during the test period. - a first insulation system for electrically insulating a joint side part of the first semiconductive sheath from a remaining part of the first semiconductive sheath; - a second insulation system for electrically insulating a joint side part of the second semiconductive sheath from a remaining part of the second semiconductive sheath; - a first earthing conductor for grounding the remaining part of the first semiconductive sheath; - a second earthing conductor for grounding the remaining part of the second semiconductive sheath; - a third earthing conductor (12b, 14b) for grounding the first conductor and/or the second conductor; - a high voltage transformer for supplying a test voltage to the semiconducting sheath of the factory joint during a test period; - a partial discharge sensing system for sensing partial discharges in the factory joint during the test period.