Dates, format, scores and how to help your P6 or P7 child prepare for Northern Ireland's grammar school entrance exam.
The schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) manages Northern Ireland's single transfer test for grammar school entry. Children sit the test in Primary 7 (typically aged 10-11), and results are used by grammar schools to select students.
The test replaced the previous AQE and GL Assessment arrangements, creating one common entrance exam. It consists of two papers sat on consecutive Saturdays in November, each testing English and Mathematics.
28 English questions (22 multiple choice, 6 written)
28 Maths questions (22 multiple choice, 6 written)
Two papers over two weekends
Based on NI Primary Curriculum (KS2)
Results as standardised scores
Ready to sign up? Follow our step-by-step guide on how to register for the SEAG test, including the fee, deadlines, and access arrangements.
Details are taken from official SEAG guidance (seagni.co.uk) and were last checked in July 2026.
This is one of the most important questions you will face, and there is no single right answer. Grammar schools offer an academically focused environment, but they are not the only path to success.
Remember that excellent post-primary education is available at both grammar and non-selective schools. The most important thing is finding the right fit for your child's personality, interests, and learning style.
Most families begin structured preparation in Primary 6, giving a full year to cover the curriculum and build confidence. Starting earlier than P6 is rarely necessary and can lead to burnout.
If you are starting in P7, do not panic. Focused, consistent practice can still make a significant difference. The key is to prioritise the most important topics and avoid trying to cover everything at once.
Supportive, informed parents make a real difference to how children experience transfer test preparation.
Short daily sessions (15-20 minutes) work far better than hour-long weekly ones. What your child learns on Tuesday is mostly forgotten by next Tuesday unless they revisit it.
Ten papers with careful review beats 50 done in a rush. Going through mistakes together matters more than ticking off another paper.
If your child has a method that works, stick with it. Teaching "the way I learned subtraction" often creates confusion under pressure. Ask "show me how you do this" before jumping in.
Rushing children before they truly understand something means mistakes get baked in. Speed comes naturally once the concept clicks.
Ready to try a paper? Sit Paper 01, our full SEAG-style paper, free, or find SEAG's own practice papers and answers. Both are on our practice papers page.
Well-meaning advice often backfires. Here are the traps we see parents fall into.
Why it backfires: Without reviewing the mistakes, more papers just reinforces bad habits.
Better approach: Use fewer papers but go through every error together. Ask: why did they get this wrong?
Why it backfires: Children often are not ready for P7 content yet. What they learn too early usually needs reteaching anyway.
Better approach: Start mid-P6 with age-appropriate content. Building on what school teaches is more effective.
Why it backfires: Children pick up on parental anxiety. Stressed parents tend to create stressed children who then underperform.
Better approach: Keep preparation calm and matter-of-fact. Your confidence matters more than any tutoring.
Want more detail? Read our full guide on 6 transfer test myths backed by research.
It is completely normal for children (and parents) to feel anxious about the transfer test. How you respond to that anxiety can make a significant difference.
On the morning of the test, keep things as normal as possible. Your child has done the preparation; now they just need to show what they know.
Child in P6? Start with our month-by-month plan for P6. After the test, see what happens on results day. Sitting the test soon? Read our SEAG test day guide for what to bring and how each paper runs, and the last-month revision plan.
Choosing schools? Use the free school finder to compare every post-primary school in Northern Ireland and plan your preferences.
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