If your child is sitting the transfer test this year, the dates can feel scattered across a dozen websites. Here's the whole 2026 timeline in one place, and just as importantly, what actually matters at each stage. No panic, just the plan.
The 2026 SEAG transfer test runs from registration in May to results in January 2027.
The key SEAG dates for 2026 at a glance
When
What happens
18 May 2026
SEAG registration opens (a registration fee applies)
18 September 2026
Registration closes. This is the hard deadline
9 October 2026
Pupil Cards available to download and print
14 November 2026
First assessment paper
21 November 2026
Second assessment paper
23 January 2027
Statement of Outcomes (results) issued
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 (opens 18 May, closes 18 September)
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: if you haven't submitted a Pupil Application by the time registration closes, your child won't be registered and won't be able to sit the assessment that year. Registering early doesn't change anything about the test itself, it just gets it safely done.
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
This is the bit most guides skip. The months between registering and sitting are where preparation actually happens, and the evidence is clear that short, regular practice beats last-minute cramming. A calm 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. Keep it light, keep them rested, keep it calm.
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. Familiar questions, a bit of practice most days, and a parent who isn't panicking. That's what walks a child into the test feeling ready.
Practising for the SEAG test?
Transfer With Me is built specifically for the Northern Ireland transfer test, with real SEAG-format English and Maths questions and a friendly owl tutor that guides your child instead of just marking them wrong.
Registration closes on 18 September 2026. If a Pupil Application hasn't been submitted by then, your child can't be registered to sit the assessment that year.
When is the transfer test in 2026?
The two assessment papers are sat on 14 and 21 November 2026, a week apart.
What subjects does the SEAG test cover?
English and Maths only. There is no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper. The assessment can be sat in English or Irish (Gaeilge).
When do results come out?
The Statement of Outcomes is issued on 23 January 2027.
