SEAG Transfer Test 2026: What Your Child Needs to Know for English and Maths

If your child is sitting the SEAG Transfer Test in November 2026, the next few weeks matter.

The good news is that SEAG preparation does not need to become a frantic race through hundreds of random questions.

Children need to understand what the assessment actually tests, identify where they are losing marks in English and Maths, and practise answering questions accurately within the time available.

For 2026, the SEAG Entrance Assessment consists of two papers, taking place on Saturday 14 November and Saturday 21 November 2026. Each paper assesses both English and Mathematics.

What is the format of the SEAG Transfer Test 2026?

Paper 1 and Paper 2 follow the same format and are designed to be at the same level of difficulty.

Before the main assessment begins, pupils complete a short untimed practice section containing:

5 English questions 5 Maths questions

These practice questions do not contribute towards the final result.

The main assessment then contains:

28 English questions 28 Maths questions * 60 minutes to complete the paper

Across both papers, that means your child will answer 56 English questions and 56 Maths questions that contribute towards their SEAG outcome.

This is why preparation should not only focus on whether a child understands a topic.

They also need to become comfortable switching between English and Maths, working accurately and maintaining concentration under time pressure.

What English topics are tested in SEAG?

The 2026 assessment is based on the Northern Ireland Key Stage 2 curriculum.

For English, SEAG identifies four main areas:

Comprehension Spelling and punctuation Grammar and syntax Vocabulary

Comprehension deserves particular attention.

A child may be a strong reader but still lose marks because they rush, miss a small detail or choose an answer that sounds reasonable rather than one that is actually supported by the passage.

Vocabulary can create similar problems. Children need to understand words from context, rather than relying only on memorised definitions.

By this stage of preparation, pupils should therefore be practising questions that require them to:

retrieve information accurately make sensible inferences understand unfamiliar vocabulary from context recognise correct grammar identify spelling and punctuation errors read instructions carefully before choosing an answer

The goal is not simply to “do more English”.

It is to find out which type of English question is costing your child marks.

What Maths topics are tested in SEAG?

The Mathematics section also comes directly from the Northern Ireland Key Stage 2 curriculum.

SEAG lists the main areas as:

Numbers Measurements Shape and Space Money Probability Data Representation

Children therefore need secure basic number skills, but preparation should go beyond straightforward calculations.

They should be comfortable interpreting worded problems, deciding which operation is needed and applying familiar Maths in less familiar situations.

This is often where children who appear confident in classroom Maths begin dropping marks.

For example, knowing how to multiply is different from recognising that multiplication is required inside a multi-step problem.

As November approaches, preparation should increasingly include mixed-topic questions rather than practising every topic in isolation.

The biggest mistake parents can make now

At this stage, constantly introducing new worksheets without analysing mistakes can waste valuable preparation time.

After every practice session, ask:

Why was this question wrong?

Was it because your child:

did not understand the topic? misunderstood the question? rushed? made a calculation error? struggled with vocabulary? ran out of time?

Those are very different problems and they require different solutions.

A child who understands fractions but repeatedly rushes fraction questions does not necessarily need another week of fraction lessons.

They need better exam discipline and checking habits.

How should your child prepare between now and November?

September and October should be used very deliberately.

First, identify weaker areas in both English and Maths.

Then combine three things each week:

Topic practice: strengthen genuine gaps in knowledge.

Mixed SEAG-style questions: train children to move between different question types.

Timed practice: gradually build the speed and concentration needed for a 60-minute paper.

Official SEAG practice papers are particularly valuable because they show pupils the actual assessment format and answer-sheet style they will encounter.

SEAG currently provides Practice Papers 1 and 2, answer sheets and a parents' answer guide free of charge on its website.

Important SEAG 2026 dates for parents

Parents should also make sure the administrative side is not forgotten.

For the 2026 assessment:

Registration closes: Friday 18 September 2026 at 11:59pm Pupil Cards available: Friday 9 October 2026 Paper 1: Saturday 14 November 2026 Paper 2: Saturday 21 November 2026 * Statements of Outcomes: Saturday 23 January 2027

Registration is especially urgent.

SEAG has confirmed that children whose completed Pupil Application has not been submitted before registration closes will not be registered to sit the 2026 assessment.

Your child does not need to be perfect before November

There is still time to improve.

What matters now is finding the areas where marks are being lost and dealing with those areas systematically.

A child struggling with comprehension needs targeted comprehension work.

A child making repeated mistakes in Maths word problems needs to learn how to break those problems down.

And a child who understands the material but performs poorly under time pressure needs timed SEAG practice rather than endless revision.

Preparation becomes much more effective when it is built around the individual child, rather than simply completing another practice paper every evening.

Preparing for the SEAG Transfer Test 2026?

At OTA Learning Studio, we support pupils preparing for the SEAG Entrance Assessment in English and Maths, including topic revision, comprehension, problem-solving, exam technique and timed practice.

With Papers 1 and 2 taking place on 14 and 21 November 2026, there is still enough time to make meaningful progress — but preparation now needs to be focused.

If your child is preparing for SEAG and you are unsure where their biggest weaknesses currently lie, you can book a free parent or student consultation.

We can identify what needs attention and build a focused preparation plan for the remaining weeks before the assessment.