SEAG Transfer Test Dates 2026: The Full Timeline

One thing worth knowing early: registration and the exam are months apart. Many families register in the summer and then wonder what to do with the gap. This guide covers that too.

What each stage really means

Registration (ran 18 May to 24 September, now closed)

You register your child by completing a Pupil Application through the SEAG process. This is the paperwork that books their place to sit the test.

The official wording is blunt for a reason: without a Pupil Application submitted before registration closes, a child isn't registered and can't sit the assessment that year. For 2026 that window has now shut. If your child is in P6 and sitting the test next year, it is worth knowing how early in the year it opens.

Pupil Cards (from 9 October)

A little before the papers, SEAG release your child's Pupil Card to download and print. It's the card they bring on the day, so grab it when it's available and keep it somewhere safe.

The assessments (November)

The transfer test is two papers, a week apart, on 14 and 21 November 2026. Each covers English and Maths, the two subjects on the SEAG test. There's no separate verbal reasoning paper.

The assessment can be sat in English or Irish (Gaeilge), so Irish-medium families are covered. The papers are sat in assessment centres under exam conditions.

Results (23 January 2027)

Your child receives a Statement of Outcomes showing how they did. This is what grammar schools use as part of their admissions. We break down exactly what the numbers mean in our guide to what counts as a good SEAG score.

What to do in the long gap before November

Most guides jump straight from registration to results and skip the months in between, but that gap is where preparation actually happens. Short, regular practice reliably beats last-minute cramming. A rhythm of 15 to 20 minutes a few times a week does far more than long, stressful sessions in October.

A rough guide by stage:

• Summer and early autumn: get comfortable with the style of questions. Confidence first, scores later.
• September and October: build up to timed practice and full mock papers, so test day feels familiar.
• November: ease off. Shorter sessions, and make sure your child is rested before the day.

The calm way to use this timeline

The single biggest favour you can do your child is to make the run-up feel steady rather than frantic. What helps isn't a burst of extra hours the week before. It's familiarity built up over months, and a parent who stays calm about the whole thing.