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What happens if my child is ill on test day?
Answered by Sam Stirling, former P7 teacher · Last checked: 2 November 2026
The short answer
There's no second date for one child. If your child misses a paper, the paper they did sit is marked and their results are shown as an estimate, with an "e". If they sat a paper while unwell, that's raised through the Post Primary Transfer application, not through the marking.
If they miss one paper
SEAG says there's no alternative date for a child who misses one of the two papers. The one paper is marked and the Statement shows an estimate with an "e" after it. Each school decides how it treats an estimate, so ask the schools you are applying to. What if my child only sat one paper?
If they sit it while unwell
SEAG says this is dealt with as part of the Post Primary Transfer application process. It can't happen in the marking, because GL Assessment can only mark the answers.
The Post Primary Transfer application is how you apply for your child's Year 8 place. It's run by the Education Authority (EA), and you do it online, listing your schools in order of preference. For September 2027, it opens at 12 noon on Wednesday 27 January 2027 and closes at 12 noon on Wednesday 3 March 2027. If illness may have affected your child in the test, schools may take it into account, but they'll need independent documentary evidence, so check each school's criteria. There's more on how to apply for a post-primary school, and on the EA's own page.
If they're late
SEAG says pupils can't be let in after the test has started.
If the test can't go ahead at all
Saturday 28 November 2026 is SEAG's back-up date. It's only used if a test day is postponed across the whole of Northern Ireland, not for one child or one centre.
Last checked: 2 November 2026 by Sam. The official facts on this page come from:
- SEAG Get Answers (FAQs): missing a paper, unwell, arriving late, contingency date (read 28 October 2026)