A step-by-step walkthrough of registering your child for Northern Ireland’s grammar school entrance test, including the fee, deadlines, test centres, and access arrangements.
Details are taken from official SEAG guidance (seagni.co.uk) and were last checked in July 2026.
18 Sep 2026
Registration deadline (11:59pm)
£20
Fee (free with FSME)
Online
Register at seagni.co.uk
Registration is done entirely online at seagni.co.uk. Set up a parent or guardian account before the deadline. Only register through the official site; no third party can do it for you.
You will need your child’s full legal name, date of birth, current primary school, and your contact details. Check the spelling of names against a birth certificate, as this appears on the pupil card.
You choose a preferred assessment centre (the venue where the papers are sat). This is not the same as applying to a school. Your child may be allocated to a different centre, which is confirmed later.
If your child has an identified additional need, request reasonable adjustments during registration and upload the required supporting evidence. These cannot usually be added after the deadline.
Pay the non-refundable £20 fee online to complete registration. If your child receives Free School Meals Entitlement, upload valid FSME evidence instead of paying.
After the closing date, a pupil card becomes available to download and print. Check every detail carefully; the card is required on test day.
A non-refundable £20 fee is paid online to complete registration. Your child’s place is not confirmed until payment (or an approved FSME exemption) is processed.
Families receiving Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME) are exempt from the fee. You upload evidence of entitlement instead of paying. The evidence must be clear and current, and show your child’s name and academic year of entitlement.
A short late registration window has run in some previous years (about four days in September 2025) with a higher fee of £50. It is not guaranteed to happen, so register before 18 September 2026 to be sure of a place.
During registration you select a preferred assessment centre. This is only the venue where the two papers are sat, not an application to a school. Your child may be allocated to a different centre depending on numbers. The confirmed centre and reporting time are sent to you before the test date. You apply to post-primary schools separately, after results are issued.
Reasonable adjustments are available for pupils with identified significant or substantive needs, such as extra time. These must be applied for during registration and require supporting documentation, for example an educational psychology report. Gather any evidence early, as requests generally cannot be added after the closing date.
Leaving it until the deadline day
The portal can be busy near the closing date. Register early so a technical issue or a missing document does not cost your child a place.
Assuming the test centre is the school you want
The assessment centre is only where the papers are sat. You apply to post-primary schools separately, later in the process.
Relying on a late registration window
A late window with a £50 fee has run in some years but is not guaranteed. Treat 18 September 2026 as the real deadline.
Requesting access arrangements too late
Reasonable adjustments must be applied for during registration, with evidence. Gather any reports early so you are not caught short.
There is a non-refundable £20 registration fee, paid online when you apply. Families receiving Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME) are exempt from the fee but must upload valid evidence showing the child’s name and academic year of entitlement.
Registration for the November 2026 test opened on 18 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on 18 September 2026. Register well before the deadline rather than relying on any late window.
A short late registration window has opened in some previous years (for about four days in September 2025) with a higher fee of £50. It is not guaranteed to run, so you should not depend on it. If you miss the main deadline, check seagni.co.uk immediately.
You select an assessment centre during registration, but your child may be allocated to a different centre. The test centre is only where the papers are sat; it is separate from the schools you later apply to. Centre details are confirmed before the test day.
Yes. Reasonable adjustments (access arrangements) can be requested for pupils with identified significant or substantive needs. These must be applied for during registration and require supporting documentation, such as an educational psychology report.
Next: see every confirmed deadline and test date on our SEAG key dates page.
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