Lots of parents assume one paper is maths and the other is English. It isn't. Both papers test English and maths, in the same format and at the same level of difficulty. Here's what's inside each one and how the two add up.
Checked against official SEAG guidance on 15 October 2026.
28 English questions and 28 maths questions.
60 minutes for the main test.
28 English questions and 28 maths questions.
60 minutes for the main test.
SEAG states that the two papers are identical in format and set at the same level of difficulty. Children who sit the Irish-medium version answer Gaeilge questions in place of English ones.
Every paper has three sections. The first is a short Practice Test of 5 English and 5 maths questions. It is not timed and does not count; it helps children settle and get used to the answer sheet. Then comes the 60-minute main test.
| Questions | Content | Answer type |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 to Q5 | Punctuation | Multiple choice |
| Q6 to Q10 | Grammar | Multiple choice |
| Q11 to Q15 | Spelling | Multiple choice |
| Q16 to Q22 | Comprehension of a passage | Multiple choice |
| Q23 to Q28 | Comprehension of the same passage | Short written answer |
| Questions | Content | Answer type |
|---|---|---|
| Q29 to Q50 | Maths | Multiple choice |
| Q51 to Q56 | Maths | Short written answer |
The main test is 60 minutes for 56 questions, unless extra time has been approved as an Access Arrangement. That is roughly a minute per question, though comprehension questions need reading time, so a steady pace matters more than speed. Invigilators announce when about 30 minutes and about 10 minutes are left.
Practising at that pace once or twice before the test helps. SEAG's free official practice papers use the real format and answer sheets. For topic-by-topic practice, browse our free SEAG practice questions.
Results are based on both papers together. SEAG works out separate scores for English and maths so that the two subjects carry equal weight.
From all 56 English questions. Range 69 to 141, average 100.
From all 56 maths questions. Range 69 to 141, average 100.
English SAS plus Maths SAS. Range 138 to 282, average 200.
A Standardised Age Score takes account of a child's age, the number of correct answers and the difficulty of the assessment. Each child is also placed in one of six Bands according to where they fall in that year's cohort. Parents also see raw scores, including how their child did on Paper 1 and on Paper 2.
A child who sits only one paper gets estimated outcomes, shown with an "e" (for example, Band 3e). Each school's admissions criteria say how it treats them. Read how SEAG scoring works.
Because the papers are the same format, there is no need to prepare for them differently. Gaps in one topic show up in both, so the most useful thing in the final weeks is finding and fixing the few topics that still cause trouble. Our last-month revision plan sets this out week by week.
Only the date and the questions. SEAG says both papers have an identical format and are set at the same level of difficulty. Each has 28 English (or Gaeilge) questions and 28 maths questions, answered in 60 minutes.
No. Both papers test English (or Gaeilge) and maths. Each paper has an English section and a maths section, and pupils can choose which section to start with.
Yes. The SEAG Entrance Assessment is made up of both papers. A child who sits only one still receives a Statement of Outcomes, but each outcome is marked "e" for estimate, and each school decides how it treats estimated outcomes.
The 56 English questions across both papers give an English Standardised Age Score (SAS) and the 56 maths questions give a Maths SAS, each on a range of 69 to 141 with an average of 100. Adding them gives the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), from 138 to 282 with an average of 200. Pupils are also placed in one of six Bands based on where they fall in that year's cohort.
Yes. SEAG publishes four practice papers with answer sheets and a parents’ guide with the answers, free on seagni.co.uk. SEAG says Papers 3 and 4 are drawn from questions used in the 2025 assessment.
The free gap check has a maths check and an English check. Each one shows which topics to work on before 14 November.
Free to start · no card needed
Checked against official SEAG guidance on 15 October 2026. SEAG may change its arrangements, so always follow the latest guidance on seagni.co.uk and from your child's Assessment Centre.