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Junior infants to 6th class

Primary school tests in Ireland

Irish primary schools have no state exams. In 2nd, 4th and 6th class, every child takes standardised tests in English reading and maths in May or early June. You see the result as a STen score from 1 to 10 in the end-of-year report. The first state exam comes in secondary school.

Tests by school yearWhat does a STen score mean?
Updated on Sources

Which test in which class?

From junior infants to 6th class. Pick a row for the full guide.

infantsJage 4–5
infantsS5–6
class16–7
class27–8
class38–9
class49–10
class510–11
class611–12
  1. Teacher observation

    Teachers watch, listen and check progress in everyday classwork.

    infants J age 4–5; infants S 5–6; class 1 6–7; class 2 7–8; class 3 8–9; class 4 9–10; class 5 10–11; class 6 11–12
  2. Standardised tests

    English reading and maths, in May or early June. Required in 2nd, 4th and 6th class.

    class 2 7–8; class 4 9–10; class 6 11–12
  3. Standardised tests in other classes

    Many schools also test 1st, 3rd and 5th class. This is up to the school.

    class 1 6–7; class 3 8–9; class 5 10–11
  4. Education Passport

    6th class results and a report go to the post-primary school.

    class 6 11–12

The test guide

What the standardised tests cover, when they happen and what STen scores mean.

The 2026–2027 school year

Schools set their own test days within the national window. Exact dates are shown only where checked against the official timetable; other periods are indicative. Confirm local arrangements with your school.

  1. Autumn 2026 – early 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Post-primary applications

    6th class · each school sets its own dates

  2. May – early June 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Standardised tests

    2nd, 4th and 6th class · English reading and maths

  3. June 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    End-of-year report

    STen scores for the tested classes

  4. June 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Education Passport

    6th class · sent to the post-primary school

  5. Late August 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    New school year

    6th class pupils start 1st year of post-primary

After 6th class: starting post-primary school

Children start 1st year of post-primary school in September, at around age 12 or 13. Standardised test results do not decide where.

  • All schools

    1. Apply in 6th class
    2. 1st year

    Then: Junior Cycle, ending in 3rd year

    Schools admit pupils using their published admission policy. They cannot use an entrance test to decide who gets a place.

  • After enrolment

    1. Place accepted
    2. Assessment

    Then: Class planning

    Some schools hold an assessment after your child has a place, to plan classes and support.

More in the guide:

Standardised tests and STen scores

Sources

Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.