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Assessment Guide
Your simple overview of the SEAG Entrance Assessment
Who can sit the Entrance Assessment?
The Entrance Assessment is for pupils in their final year of primary education who will be transferring to post-primary education in N. Ireland next year AND who have been registered by their parent / guardian to sit the Assessment. The Registration Period runs from mid-May until mid-September.
Key Dates
How the Assessment works
The SEAG Entrance Assessment consists of two Papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both Papers have an identical format and are set at the same level of difficulty. The SEAG Specification assesses knowledge and understanding in English (or Gaeilge) and Mathematics. It is based entirely upon the content and syllabus of the statutory Northern Ireland Curriculum for Language and Literacy and statutory Northern Ireland Curriculum for Mathematics and Numeracy at Key Stage 2.
Registration Opens
Parent/Guardian registers pupil via online portal.
Paper 1
Pupil sits Paper 1 in the Assessment Centre selected by the Parent/Guardian.
Paper 2
Pupil sits paper 2 in the Assessment Centre selected by the Parent/Guardian.
Outcomes
Parent/Guardian downloads pupil's Statement of Outcomes via the online portal.
Paper 1 and Paper 2 are Identical in format. Both have a short Practice Test Section to help pupils become familiar with the Paper and with using the Answer Sheet.
Practice Test
5
English (or Gaeilge) Questions
5
Maths Questions
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Not Timed
Main Test
28
English (or Gaeilge) Questions
28
Maths Questions
60
Minutes
Get familiar with the Format:
The FormatGet familiar with the Practice Materials:
Practice MaterialsWhat Is Assessed?
The SEAG Specification sets out the Assessment Objectives and the following areas to be assessed:
The Specification
English/Gaeilge
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Comprehension
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Spelling and Punctuation
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Grammar and Syntax
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Vocabulary
Mathematics
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Numbers
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Measurements
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Shape and Space
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Money
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Probability
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Data Representation
What Does it Cost to Register a Pupil?
The only cost is an Administrative fee. The fee is £20 if the Pupil Application is submitted during the Registration Period.
Normal Administration Fee
£20
Per pupil
The Administration fee is non-refundable
What if the pupil has Fee
The Administration Fee is waived in full for parents/guardians who submit current documentary evidence, from the Education Authority, showing that the pupil has a Free School Meals Entitlement.
What SEAG Results do Parents/Guardians Receive?
Parents/Guardians receive a Statement of Outcomes outlining their child's performance. The main Outcomes are standardised to take account of the pupil's age when he/she took the Assessment, the number of correct answers and the degree of difficulty of the Assessment.
Band (1–6)
There are 6 Bands with Band 1 being the highest and Band 6 the lowest.
Total Standardised Age Score
Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) Adding the English/Gaeilge SAS to the Maths SAS gives the TSAS.
Standardised Age Score
The English/Gaeilge SAS is the standardised score from the language section of the Assessment. The Maths SAS is the standardised score from the Maths section of the Assessment.
Cohort Percentile
This is another way of showing how a pupil has scored compared to others. All the pupils in Band 1 have a Cohort Percentile of 60 or higher.
Total Standardised Age Score
Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) Adding the English/Gaeilge SAS to the Maths SAS gives the TSAS.
Can I ask for a Re-mark?
Parents/Guardians may request a re-mark of Paper 1, Paper 2, or both papers, within the published timeframe after results are issued.
All re-mark requests are marked by hand.
Please Note
Re-mark charges : There is a £20 fee per Paper for a re-mark. If both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are re-marked, the cost is £40. The re-mark fee will be refunded if the re-mark results in a change to the TSAS (up or down).
Further Resources
Get full guidance documentation on the Entrance Assessment.
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2026 Entrance Assessment Specification (English)
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2026 Entrance Assessment Specification (Gaeilge)
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2026 Entrance Assessment Format (at a glance)
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Guidance Notes for Parents/Guardians – The SEAG 2026 Entrance Assessment
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The SEAG 2026 Entrance Assessment – Presentation for Parents/Guardians and Teachers
