With the first SEAG Transfer Test taking place on Saturday 14th November 2026, many P7 families across Northern Ireland are now making their final preparations. If you’re looking for SEAG Transfer Test tips to help your child feel ready, my advice is to keep these last few days as calm and familiar as possible.
This is my seventh year preparing children for the Transfer Test, and one thing I’ve learned is that the final week is just as much about confidence as it is about English and maths.
The hard work has been done. Children have completed practice papers, revised difficult topics and spent months developing the skills they need. The focus now should be on helping them feel confident enough to put those skills into practice.
Children are also very aware of the atmosphere around them. They notice when parents are worried, when conversations become more serious and when everything suddenly seems to revolve around Saturday’s assessment. Keeping things calm at home can make a real difference.
With the first SEAG Transfer Test taking place on Saturday 14th November 2026, many P7 families across Northern Ireland are now making their final preparations. If you’re looking for SEAG Transfer Test tips to help your child feel ready, my advice is to keep these last few days as calm and familiar as possible.
This is my seventh year preparing children for the Transfer Test, and one thing I’ve learned is that the final week is just as much about confidence as it is about English and maths.
The hard work has been done. Children have completed practice papers, revised difficult topics and spent months developing the skills they need. The focus now should be on helping them feel confident enough to put those skills into practice.
Children are also very aware of the atmosphere around them. They notice when parents are worried, when conversations become more serious and when everything suddenly seems to revolve around Saturday’s assessment. Keeping things calm at home can make a real difference.
1. SEAG Transfer Test Tips for the Final Week
In my own Transfer Test classes this week, we will be putting full practice papers to one side. Instead, I’ll concentrate on carefully targeted revision, revisiting topics children sometimes find trickier and reinforcing the strategies we’ve developed throughout the year.
At this stage, I wouldn’t recommend trying to squeeze several months of learning into a few days. It is much more useful to revisit familiar material, correct avoidable mistakes and remind children of what they already know.
For example, a short session might involve revisiting a particular maths topic, discussing a few comprehension questions or checking common punctuation mistakes.
If your child makes an error, use it as an opportunity to explain the correct approach rather than turning it into another lengthy revision session.
These SEAG Transfer Test tips are particularly useful during the final week, when confidence matters just as much as another practice paper.
The aim this week isn’t to learn everything again. It’s to help children use what they’ve already learned.
2. Remind Your Child How Far They Have Come
One thing I always try to do during the final week is encourage children to reflect on their progress.
Some of my pupils have been preparing for well over a year. When I think back to the topics they initially struggled with, the questions they couldn’t answer and the confidence they have developed, the improvement is remarkable.
I am incredibly proud of every one of them, not simply because of their practice test scores, but because of the effort and determination they have shown.
Parents can help by reminding children of specific achievements. Perhaps they once struggled with fractions but can now tackle more challenging problems independently. Maybe their reading comprehension has improved or they have become much better at managing their time.
These reminders are more meaningful than simply telling a child not to worry.
My own approach remains the same as it was in the first week of lessons: calm, encouraging and focused on helping children do their best.
3. What Should Children Do the Night Before the SEAG Test?
Friday evening should be about organisation and keeping routines familiar.
I would encourage parents to prepare everything well before bedtime. Lay out clothes, check the assessment centre’s instructions, plan the journey and set an alarm, ideally with a backup.
Make sure your child’s printed SEAG Pupil Card is ready. You don’t want to discover on Saturday morning that you need to find a printer.
What should your child bring to the SEAG Transfer Test?
For the 2026 assessment, the main things to remember are:
- Their printed SEAG Pupil Card or saved to your phone with a backup method of retrieving it.
- Any additional documentation requested by their assessment centre.
- A highlighter, if they wish to use one.
- Any permitted equipment or arrangements agreed through SEAG’s access arrangements process.
The assessment centre provides pencils, erasers and rough work paper. Children can use a highlighter on their question paper or rough work paper, but not on the answer sheet.
Always check your own assessment centre’s instructions before attending.
Should children revise the night before?
I would avoid late-night revision sessions.
If your child wants to spend twenty or thirty minutes looking over something familiar, that’s fine. However, I wouldn’t introduce new topics or ask them to complete another full practice paper.
A particularly difficult question on Friday evening could create unnecessary worry, and sacrificing sleep for another hour of revision is unlikely to be worthwhile.
A normal dinner, some time to relax and a sensible bedtime would be my priorities.
4. SEAG Test Morning: Keep Everything Familiar
Saturday morning isn’t the time to introduce a completely new routine.
Give your child a breakfast they normally enjoy, allow plenty of time to get ready and avoid rushing out of the house.
Arrive at the assessment centre early
Check the arrival time provided by your assessment centre and plan to be there comfortably beforehand.
Allow extra time for traffic, parking and unexpected delays. A rushed journey can create nerves before your child has even entered the building.
Late arrival is particularly important because children cannot be admitted once the assessment has started.
Encourage a toilet visit before the test
I would encourage children to use the toilet before leaving home and again at the assessment centre if needed.
If they leave the room during the timed part of the assessment, they may lose working time, so it makes sense to take the opportunity beforehand.
Dress comfortably
Over the years, I’ve heard from parents whose children found examination rooms either too warm or too cold.
Comfortable clothing with suitable layers is a sensible precaution, subject to any clothing instructions from the assessment centre.
Keep the journey relaxed
I wouldn’t spend the journey asking questions about percentages, punctuation or fractions.
Instead, remind your child to read questions carefully, use their time sensibly and move on if they become stuck.
They have practised these skills many times before.
5. What If Your Child Finds the SEAG Test Difficult?
This is something I would discuss with children before Saturday.
There will almost certainly be questions that some children find challenging. That is a normal part of an assessment designed to distinguish between different levels of performance.
I encourage children not to spend too long battling with one difficult question. Every question is worth a mark, so it is important not to sacrifice several easier questions for the sake of one particularly challenging problem.
If they are unsure of a multiple-choice answer, they should make their best choice rather than leaving it blank.
Children should also follow the timing approach they have practised during preparation. The real assessment isn’t the day to experiment with a completely different strategy.
6. What Should Parents Say After the First SEAG Test?
When your child comes out of the assessment centre, it’s natural to want to know how they got on.
You might be tempted to ask which questions appeared, whether they finished everything or if they found the paper difficult.
However, I would encourage parents to begin by recognising their child’s effort.
They have just completed the first of two important assessments, and that deserves some praise.
If they mention a difficult question, remind them that other children may have found it challenging too. SEAG results are standardised, so performance is not judged simply by looking at the raw percentage achieved.
One difficult question doesn’t determine a child’s final result.
I would also avoid lengthy discussions about individual answers immediately afterwards. Children sometimes remember questions incorrectly, and comparing answers with friends can create unnecessary anxiety.
There will be time to prepare for the second assessment on Saturday 21st November.
For now, let them enjoy something they have been looking forward to, whether that is a favourite meal, time with friends or simply an afternoon without revision.
Alongside these SEAG Transfer Test tips, parents often have practical questions about what happens on assessment day.
7. Frequently Asked Questions About the SEAG Transfer Test
When are the SEAG Transfer Tests in 2026?
The two SEAG Entrance Assessment papers take place on Saturday 14th November and Saturday 21st November 2026.
Children are expected to sit both papers.
How long is the SEAG Transfer Test?
Each assessment contains a practice section followed by a 60-minute main test. The main test includes English and maths questions, and eligible children may receive additional time through approved access arrangements.
Can my child start with maths instead of English?
Yes. SEAG allows children to begin the main test with either English or maths. I would recommend using whichever approach your child has practised and feels most comfortable with.
Should my child complete a practice paper the night before?
I wouldn’t recommend it. A short review of familiar material is fine, but rest, reassurance and a good night’s sleep are more valuable at this stage.
A Final Message to P7 Children
To every child sitting the SEAG Transfer Test this Saturday, be proud of how far you have come.
You have spent months learning new skills, tackling difficult questions and improving your understanding of English and maths. There will have been frustrating moments along the way, but all that effort has helped prepare you for this weekend.
Trust your preparation, read carefully, take your time and give it your very best.
Whatever happens, you should be proud of the work you have put in.
English and Maths Support with Education Support Hub
Since 2019, Education Support Hub has supported children across Northern Ireland with English, maths, phonics and SEAG Transfer Test preparation.
I provide carefully matched small-group online lessons for pupils from Primary 3 to Year 10, focusing on understanding, confidence and independence.
If you would like to discuss your child’s learning or arrange a no-obligation Zoom assessment, please get in touch.
Daniel Guiney
Founder, Education Support Hub
07513 286626
daniel@educationsupporthub.co.uk
www.educationsupporthub.co.uk