Everything you need to know about the SEAG GL Assessment: format, topics, timing, scoring, and how to prepare your child effectively.
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Scored questions
60
Minutes
2
Subjects (English + Maths)
Nov 2026
Next test date
The Northern Ireland transfer test, commonly called the SEAG test or the GL Assessment, is a selective academic examination sat by P7 pupils (typically aged 10–11) who wish to apply for a grammar school place. It is administered by the Schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) consortium and uses papers produced by GL Assessment.
The test is used by grammar schools across Northern Ireland to select pupils for Year 8 entry. A strong performance significantly improves a pupil's chances of receiving a grammar school offer.
The SEAG transfer test is sat in November of P7 year, over two separate papers on consecutive Saturdays. For pupils in P7 during the 2026/27 school year, the confirmed dates are:
Most families begin serious preparation in P6, giving pupils 12 to 18 months of structured practice time before the exam.
Parents and guardians register their own child directly with SEAG. This is not done by the primary school, and it is not automatic. If nobody registers your child, they will not sit the test.
Registration for the 2026/27 assessment opened on Monday 18 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026. That deadline is the final date to submit both Pupil Applications and Access Applications, and late applications are not accepted.
There is a non-refundable administration fee of £20 to register a child to sit the Entrance Assessment.
Parents of pupils with a Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME) are exempt from the £20 fee. You will be asked to upload evidence of entitlement in place of payment when you apply.
When you create your SEAG account, use a personal email address you will still have access to in 18 months. SEAG is explicit that if you lose access to that address you will not be able to manage your application or receive important updates, and the process runs from May 2026 all the way through to the re-mark window in February 2027. A work address you might leave, or an address tied to a service you may stop using, is a genuine risk here.
If your child needs access arrangements, such as extra time or a reader, the Access Application carries the same 18 September deadline as the main application. It is not a separate later process, so it needs to be part of your planning rather than an afterthought. We cover this in detail in our guide to access arrangements and extra time.
Registration is completed on the official SEAG website at seagni.co.uk. SEAG is the not-for-profit consortium owned by the selective post-primary schools, and it is the only place the assessment can be registered.
The SEAG paper consists of:
The 56 scored questions cover both English and Mathematics. The test is sat under timed, exam-style conditions.
The SEAG uses standardised age scores. Raw marks are converted to a standardised score that accounts for a pupil's age at the time of sitting, so a younger P7 pupil is not disadvantaged compared to an older classmate. Scores are typically reported on a scale where the average is 100.
Grammar schools set their own minimum score thresholds for admission, which can vary from year to year depending on the number of applicants and available places.
Effective preparation for the SEAG transfer test combines three elements:
Don't just practise. Understand. Start with guided lessons for each topic area so your child knows why an answer is correct, not just that it is. This is especially important for Maths topics like Algebra and Data Handling, and for English comprehension inference questions.
The 60-minute time limit is one of the biggest challenges. Regular timed practice under exam-style conditions helps pupils build stamina, manage their pace, and become familiar with the question format before the real thing.
A wrong answer is only useful if it's understood. Reviewing incorrect answers, with a clear explanation of why the right answer is correct, is the most efficient way to improve. Simply repeating practice papers without review leads to slower progress.
Most families begin preparation in P6 (one to two years before the test). Starting early allows for a steady, lower-pressure approach rather than intensive cramming in the final weeks of P7. Even 20–30 minutes of focused practice three or four times a week makes a significant difference over 12 months.
SEAG Success is an online preparation platform built specifically for the Northern Ireland transfer test by NI-based teachers. It provides:
A 7-day free trial gives full access, no payment card required. Monthly and annual plans are available from £14.99/month.
Applications are not accepted after 11:59pm on 18 September 2026. There is no late window, so a missed deadline means your child does not sit the assessment that year. If you are unsure whether you have registered, sign in to your account on the official SEAG site and check that a Pupil Application exists and has been submitted rather than left as a draft.
No. The transfer test is optional. It is only required for pupils who wish to apply for a grammar school place. Pupils who do not sit the test can still transfer to a non-selective post-primary school.
No. From the 2024/25 test year, all grammar schools in Northern Ireland use a single transfer test run by SEAG (using GL Assessment). The old AQE test no longer exists. This means your child only sits one test and the result is accepted by all 63 grammar schools.
The SEAG transfer test is sat in P7, not P6. However, beginning preparation in P6 is strongly recommended to allow sufficient time for thorough topic coverage and practice.
There is no fixed answer, but consistent regular practice is more effective than intensive short bursts. Aim for at least one full timed paper per week in the months leading up to the test, alongside shorter topic-focused practice sessions.
Yes. Our papers include the 12 written free-response questions in the correct format. These answers are submitted and reviewed as part of each practice paper.
Built by Northern Ireland teachers, for Northern Ireland pupils.
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