Northern Ireland Transfer Tests - An alternative to the eleven plus

The centrally managed eleven plus is gone andthe child to sit three exams, the highest two
what we have as our replacement is not one butscores will count towards the final grade. It is not
two new sets of entrance exams to keep us onnecessary to sit all three exams, although it would
our toes.make sense as it increases the chances of a
With potentially 5 transfer tests for your child tobetter average mark.
sit depending on which post primary schools theyThe PPTC are again testing on English and
wish to apply for and two completely differentMathematics but are using a different style, the
exams formats to contend with, it is no wonderchild will be provided with a separate answer
that a lot of people wish that the eleven plus andsheet and the questions will be multiple choice.
academic selection stayed as it was.There will be an English and Mathematics exam
The AQE and PPTC are the two bodies who areheld on the same day with a break between the
now administering the Northern Ireland Transfertwo.
Tests, both have decided to base their exams onAlthough both types of entrance tests are based
the Literacy and Numeracy aspects of the Keyon the same syllabus it is a lot to ask of a p7
Stage 2 Revised Curriculum.child to manage them both. What's even more
AQE are using the Common Entrancetrue though is the stress that the parents are
Assessment, an entrance exam in the format ofnow under to obtain the right materials for each
the old eleven plus with only the English andexam and to keep on top of the changing face of
Mathematics beings assessed. The AQE will allowacademic selection in Northern Ireland.