SEAG 2026 Entrance Assessment Key Dates

Saturday 14th November 2026: SEAG Entrance Assessment Paper 1

Saturday 21st November 2026: SEAG Entrance Assessment Paper 2

Registration for the 2026 SEAG Assessment will open on Monday 18th May 2026 and will close on Friday 18th September 2026.

IT IS IMPORTANT YOU DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE

Parents will be able to register their children by using a Portal on this website SEAG | Home

Only pupils Who have been registered can sit the SEAG 2026 Entrance Assessment.

Simple Guide To The SEAG Test (Northern Ireland)

(For parents of Primary 6 & 7 children)

The SEAG Test is the exam many grammar schools in Northern Ireland use to choose pupils for Year 8. It replaced the old AQE and GL tests, so now there is one single test.

1. What is the SEAG test?
  • It is a transfer test taken in Primary 7.
  • It helps grammar schools decide who gets a place.
  • It checks English and Maths skills.

Your child sits two papers, one week apart (usually in November).
Each paper has:

  • English questions – reading a passage, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary.
  • Maths questions – number work, fractions, problem‑solving, word problems.

The test includes:

  • Multiple‑choice questions (they pick from answers)
  • Write‑your‑own‑answer questions (short answers)

Pupils have 60 minutes to finish.

Each paper has 3 parts:

  1. Practice section (not marked) – helps children settle.
  2. English test section – 28 questions (comprehension + grammar).
  3. Maths test section – 28 questions.

The questions come from what children already learn in Primary School (Key Stage 2):

  • Reading and understanding stories
  • Spelling and punctuation
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing
  • Fractions, percentages, shapes, and real‑life maths problems

Most children in Primary 6/Primary 7 are allowed to sit it when applying to grammar school.

You must sign up online before the deadline.

  • Registration opens in May and closes in September (dates vary each year).
  • You fill in an online form and upload documents (photo, ID).
  • Only children who are registered can take the test.

You get:

  • A standardised score
  • A Band (Band 1 is the highest, Band 5/6 lower)
  • A percentile (shows how your child did compared to others)

Schools use these results to decide places.

You don’t need to be highly educated to support your child.
Here are simple ways to help:

For English

  • Read with your child for 10–15 minutes.
  • Ask simple questions: “Who is in the story?” “What happened?”
  • Notice full stops, commas, capital letters (point them out).

For Maths

  • Practice adding and subtracting with shopping prices.
  • Let your child read the problem aloud.
  • Encourage them to underline important words like total, difference, more than.

General Tips

  • Keep sessions short (10–20 minutes).
  • Praise effort, not scores.
  • Do one thing at a time – don’t overwhelm them.
  • Make sure your child sleeps well and isn’t stressed.

These small steps make a big difference, even if you’re not confident with schoolwork.

Link to purchase past papers – transfertests.co.uk

Search for SEAG help on our website and there will be some good resources there for you to help your child.

  • Arrive early.
  • Bring a pen, pencil, and what the school asks for.
  • Remind your child to stay calm and read questions slowly.
  • They don’t need to get everything right — nobody does!
Download The Simple Guide To The SEAG Test

SEAG - Simple Guide To Scoring

After your child takes the SEAG test, you don’t get a percentage or a grade like “A” or “B.”
Instead, SEAG gives every pupil a Band based on their TSAS score (Total Standardised Age Score).
This makes results fairer for children of different ages.

Here’s what it all means in very easy language:

SEAG Scores/Bands

1 = 207 or higher

2 = 200 – 206

3 = 193 – 199

4  =185 – 192

5 = 176 – 184

6 = 175 or lower

  • Your child’s test answers are turned into a standardised score.
  • This score takes into account your child’s age, so younger children aren’t disadvantaged.
  • You don’t need to understand the maths behind it — SEAG uses it to keep things fair.

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SEAG places each child into a Band.
Bands go from Band 1 (highest) to Band 6 (lowest).

Here are the exact score ranges:

  • Band 1: 207 or higher
  • Band 2: 200 – 206
  • Band 3: 193 – 199
  • Band 4: 185 – 192
  • Band 5: 176 – 184

Band 6: 175 or lower

Think of Bands like levels:

  • Band 1 = Top level (strong chance for grammar school places that need high scores)
  • Band 2–3 = Middle levels (accepted by many grammar schools depending on demand)
  • Band 4–6 = Lower levels (may struggle to meet grammar school score requirements, depending on the school)

Each grammar school has its own rules for how they use Bands when giving out places.

Along with the Band, SEAG also gives:

  • A percentile rank (shows how your child did compared to all others nationally)
  • The full standardised score (TSAS)

These extra details help explain the Band more clearly.

Here’s the easiest way to understand it:

  • Your child takes the test.
  • SEAG turns their score into a number that is fair for their age.
  • That number is placed into a Band.
  • Grammar schools look at the Band when deciding who gets a place.

That’s it — you don’t need to calculate anything yourself.

After your child does the SEAG test, you get a Band.
This Band shows how well your child did.

SEAG uses 6 Bands:

  • Band 1 – very high score
  • Band 2 – high
  • Band 3 – above average
  • Band 4 – average
  • Band 5 – below average
  • Band 6 – lower score

Think of it like steps on a ladder

  • Top step = Band 1
  • Bottom step = Band 6

The higher the Band, the stronger the result.

Grammar schools look at the Band when choosing pupils.

  • Band 1 & 2 = best chance
  • Band 3 & 4 = depends on the school
  • Band 5 & 6 = less chance, but still possible in some schools

The Band is JUST a number to help schools decide.
It does NOT mean your child is failing or not smart.
Every child gets a Band based on their test and their age (to keep it fair).

Download - SEAG Simple Guide To Scoring

Further Resources

SEAG vs AQE vs GL – Click to download

SEAG Practice Paper 1 – Click to download

SEAG Answers Paper 1 – Click to download

SEAG Paper 2 – Click to download

SEAG Answer paper 2 – Click to download