The Transfer Test in Northern Ireland

What is the Transfer Test?

Northern Ireland had, for many years an 11+ exam which was organised by the Department of Education. Many years ago, it consisted of Verbal Reasoning papers that often contained 100 questions which had to be completed in one hour.

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Later versions contained English, Maths and science questions. The last version managed by the Department of Education contained English and maths questions.

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This last version was abolished by the Minister of Education and it has been replaced by two different tests now known as The Transfer Test. They are not organised by the government but by two different bodies and the tests are now commonly known as the AQE (or Common Entrance Assessment) and the GL (or Post Primary Transfer Consortium test.)

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The tests are not compulsory and your child can sit no test at all, one version of the Transfer Test or both versions. Most grammar schools accept results from only one version of the test but some schools will accept results from either version of the test.

 

If you want your child to sit a Transfer Test then it is your responsibility, as the parent, to register your child for the tests.

 

Which Transfer Test or Tests that your child takes will depend on which grammar school or schools that you want your child wants to attend.

 

From this page you can find all sorts of information about all Northern Ireland grammar schools, the tests that they use, previous results and links to the school webpage.