SEAG Guide

Understand what the test demands.
Prepare for it properly.

The Transfer Test is about more than knowing Maths and English. Children need to understand the question styles, manage their time and perform under real test conditions.

Explore how the test works and see how purposeful practice can help your child build the skills, technique and confidence they'll need on the day.

SEAG
Transfer Test A Parent's Guide
Paper 1 English & Maths 60 minutes 56 questions Punctuation Grammar Spelling Number
Paper 2 English & Maths 60 minutes 56 questions Comprehension Measurement Shape & Space Data & Graphs

The format

Two papers, one hour each

The Entrance Assessment is completed over two papers. Each paper lasts 60 minutes and includes both English (or Gaeilge) and Maths questions.

2 papers

Sat on separate days, with English (or Gaeilge) and Maths included in each.

60 minutes

One hour per paper, giving children experience of working accurately while managing their time.

56 questions

Each paper contains 56 questions, split evenly between English (or Gaeilge) and Maths.

Multiple-choice & open-response

Most questions use multiple-choice answers, with a smaller number requiring children to provide their own answer.

What's in each paper

The skills your child will need

The assessment draws on a broad range of English and Maths skills, so effective preparation means building confidence across the whole curriculum rather than repeatedly practising only a few question types.

English (or Gaeilge)

28 questions per paper

Punctuation
Understanding how punctuation is used correctly.
Grammar
Recognising and applying grammar, word classes and sentence structure.
Spelling
Using knowledge of spelling patterns and rules.
Vocabulary
Understanding the meaning of words and choosing appropriate language in context.
Comprehension
Reading passages carefully, retrieving information and using evidence to answer questions.

Maths

28 questions per paper

Number
Place value, calculations, fractions, decimals and related number skills.
Measurement
Length, weight, time, money, conversions and other measurement problems.
Shape & Space
2D and 3D shapes, angles, symmetry, position, direction and spatial reasoning.
Data & Graphs
Reading and interpreting tables, charts, graphs and other forms of data.

The exact question styles and balance can vary slightly from year to year.

Scoring

How results are reported

The number of questions answered correctly isn't simply presented as a raw mark. Results are standardised to help account for factors such as age and allow performance to be compared fairly across the children taking the assessment.

Standardised Age Score

Results are age-standardised, helping provide a fairer comparison between children born at different points in the school year.

Subject scores

English and Maths performance can also be considered separately, giving parents a clearer picture of strengths across the two subjects.

Performance & school admissions

Schools set their own admissions criteria, so the score required for a particular school can vary. Parents should always check the published admissions criteria for the schools they're considering.

Focus Areas

Fractions

Needs focus

Area & Perimeter

Needs focus

Comprehension

Needs focus

View full analysis

Mock Paper 5
Completed

Overall score 72% +8% this week
View report →

From knowing the test to preparing for it

Knowing what to expect is only the beginning.

Understanding the format helps. Knowing what your child needs to work on can make their preparation much more purposeful.

Every practice session helps build a clearer picture of their strengths and weaker areas, so instead of simply doing more questions, they can spend more time practising the skills that need it most.

Recreate test conditions
Full timed papers help children become familiar with working against the clock and completing a full assessment without hints or assistance.
Identify weaker areas
Answers are tracked by topic and skill, helping highlight areas where your child may need more practice.
Focus their practice
Focus Areas turn those insights into targeted practice, so their next session has a clear purpose.
See their progress
Track performance over time and see how individual topics develop as your child continues to practise.

Help your child prepare with purpose

Realistic practice, targeted support and a clearer picture of their progress — all in one place.

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