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How many papers are there, and how long is each one?
Answered by Sam Stirling, former P7 teacher · Last checked: 2 November 2026
The short answer
There are two papers, sat on two Saturdays in November. Each one starts with a short practice section that isn't timed and doesn't count, then the main test: 28 English and 28 maths questions in 60 minutes.
Each paper, in order
- The practice section: 5 English and 5 maths questions. It isn't timed and doesn't count towards the result.
- The main test: 28 English and 28 maths questions, in 60 minutes. This is the part that counts.
Paper 1 and Paper 2 have the same format and are set at the same level of difficulty. The English part can be taken in Irish (Gaeilge) instead.
When they are
- Paper 1: Saturday 14 November 2026
- Paper 2: Saturday 21 November 2026
(SEAG has not yet published the dates for November 2027. We will update this page as soon as it does.)
Both papers are sat at your assessment centre (the SEAG grammar school you chose when you registered). If your child misses one, see what happens if they only sit one paper.
Last checked: 2 November 2026 by Sam. The official facts on this page come from:
- SEAG Assessment Guide (the two papers) (read 27 October 2026)
- SEAG Key Dates (read 27 October 2026)
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