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P1 to P7

Primary school tests in Northern Ireland

Primary schools in Northern Ireland have no national tests. Teachers assess progress and report to you each year. The big moment for many families is the optional SEAG transfer test in November of P7, which most grammar schools use to choose pupils.

Tests by school yearHow post-primary places work
Updated on Sources

Which test in which school year?

From P1 to P7. Pick the transfer test for the full guide.

P1age 4–5
P25–6
P36–7
P47–8
P58–9
P69–10
P710–11
  1. Teacher assessment and reports

    Teachers follow progress and send you a report every year.

    P 1 age 4–5; P 2 5–6; P 3 6–7; P 4 7–8; P 5 8–9; P 6 9–10; P 7 10–11
  2. Foundation Stage

    Learning through play in the first two years.

    P 1 age 4–5; P 2 5–6
  3. Key Stage 1

    Reading, writing and maths become more formal.

    P 3 6–7; P 4 7–8
  4. Key Stage 2

    The last three years of primary school.

    P 5 8–9; P 6 9–10; P 7 10–11
  5. SEAG transfer test (optional)

    English and maths on two Saturdays in November, for grammar school places.

    P 7 10–11

The test guide

Everything about the transfer test: dates, content, scores and how schools use them.

The 2026–2027 school year

Dates for the SEAG test are set by SEAG. The Education Authority confirms the application dates. Exact dates are shown only where checked against the official timetable; other periods are indicative. Confirm local arrangements with your school.

  1. October 2026 (indicative; check locally)
    Pupil cards available

    P7 · download and check before the test

  2. 14 November 2026
    SEAG Paper 1

    P7 · Saturday, at a test centre

  3. 21 November 2026
    SEAG Paper 2

    P7 · Saturday, at a test centre

  4. 23 January 2027 (planned by SEAG)
    SEAG results

    P7 · Statements of Outcomes online

  5. Late January – February 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Post-primary applications

    P7 · online through the Education Authority

  6. May 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Post-primary school places

    P7 · the Education Authority tells you the outcome

  7. From mid-May 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Registration for the next SEAG test

    P6 · for the test in November 2027

After P7: starting post-primary school

Children start post-primary school in Year 8, in the September after P7. You apply in the spring of P7, after the transfer test results.

  • Grammar school

    1. SEAG test
    2. Year 8

    Then: GCSEs in Year 12

    Most grammar schools rank applicants using the SEAG score, following their published admission criteria.

  • Non-selective school

    1. Apply in spring
    2. Year 8

    Then: GCSEs in Year 12

    No test needed. Schools use criteria such as brothers and sisters, feeder primary schools and distance.

More in the guide:

The SEAG transfer test

Sources

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