About Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena is a voluntary grammar school in Northern Ireland, admitting pupils into Year 8 via the SEAG Entrance Assessment, the Northern Ireland 11 plus transfer test. The SEAG Transfer Test, taken in Primary 7 (P7), consists of two papers each covering English and Mathematics. The school selects pupils in strict rank order of their SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), applying published tie-break criteria only where scores are equal.
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena provides an outstanding academic education in Northern Ireland, with strong results and a wide range of extracurricular activities. GCSE 9–7: 70%.
About the SEAG Transfer Test at Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena is a co-educational controlled grammar school in Antrim, Northern Ireland, with a non-denominational ethos. Entry to Year 8 (Form 1) is academically selective via the SEAG Entrance Assessment — administered by the Schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) on behalf of voluntary, controlled and Catholic-maintained grammar schools across Northern Ireland. Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena admits 140 Year 8 pupils per year — the Department of Education approved Admissions Number in its official criteria.
The SEAG Transfer Test consists of two papers, each 60 minutes long, taken in November of Primary 7 (P7) and spaced one week apart. Each paper covers English (punctuation, grammar, spelling and comprehension) and Mathematics (the Key Stage 2 curriculum), in a mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions. The combined result is the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) — a numerical score normalised against the cohort age distribution, which Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena uses to rank applicants for admission.
For the current cycle (September 2027 entry), registration at seagni.co.uk closes at 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026 (£20 fee; families with Free School Meals Entitlement are exempt). Paper 1 is Saturday 14 November 2026 and Paper 2 is Saturday 21 November 2026, with results released on Saturday 23 January 2027. The Education Authority NI Transfer Portal window is TBC — last cycle it opened 27 January and closed at 12 noon on 19 February — with Offers Day expected in late April 2027.
ℹ️ Which criteria apply to your child: pupils sitting the November 2026 test are applying for September 2027 entry. Schools publish criteria for each entry year the preceding December, so the criteria on this page reflect the most recent official document. The mechanism changes rarely; this page will be updated when the September 2027 document is published.
This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, dates and oversubscription rules for Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena. For the most up-to-date guidance, refer to the school's official admissions page (linked in the Quick Facts panel below) and the SEAG website at seagni.co.uk.
Year 8 Transfer Test Guide for Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena Admissions Criteria
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena is a voluntary grammar school in Northern Ireland, admitting pupils into Year 8 via the SEAG Entrance Assessment (Transfer Test). The SEAG Transfer Test, taken in Primary 7 (P7), consists of two papers each covering English and Mathematics. The school selects pupils in strict rank order of their SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), applying published tie-break criteria only where scores are equal.
- ✓Register for the SEAG Transfer Test at seagni.co.uk — registration opened 18 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026. The fee is £20 (families with Free School Meals Entitlement are exempt).
- ✓Sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment in November of Primary 7 (P7) — two papers, one week apart (Saturdays 14 and 21 November 2026), each 60 minutes and each covering English and Mathematics.
- ✓Both papers must be sat to receive a full Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). Pupils sitting only one paper receive an estimated score (shown as ‘e’ on results) and are considered under Special Provisions only, with supporting evidence.
- ✓Upload your Statement of Outcomes (available from the SEAG portal from Saturday 23 January 2027) with the online Transfer Application to Cambridge House Grammar School.
- ✓Special Circumstances / Special Provisions: a two-stage process reviewed by the Admissions Committee, with medical or professional documentation plus P5/P6 standardised-test evidence.
- ✓Eligibility — applicants who sat the SEAG Entrance Assessment (with or without a Special Circumstances claim) and applicants with a valid Special Provisions claim are considered on equal terms.
- ✓Rank order — every one of the 140 places is allocated in strict rank order of SEAG Total Standardised Age Score, highest first.
- ✓Tie-breaks (equal scores at the cut-off), in order: (a) — ORDER OF PREFERENCE on the Transfer Application — first-preference applications selected before second, and so on; (b) — sibling enrolled in 2025-26; (c) — eldest or only child of the family; (d) — age, eldest first; (e) — randomised surname order: X D B H I Q Mc C Y K W S G Mac L E T Z A J U N R M F O V P.
- ✓Preference order IS used — unusually among SEAG schools, Cambridge House Grammar School selects first-preference applications before second and subsequent preferences when breaking ties. Listing the school first can matter.
- ✓Cambridge House is a rare SEAG school that DOES use order of preference as a tie-break — listing the school first can matter for tied scores.
- ✓Duty to verify — the school can require evidence for information on the application; false or missing information can cost the place. Full Admissions Criteria: www.cambridgehouse.org.uk.
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena Oversubscription Criteria
Every one of the 140 places is allocated in rank order of the SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) achieved in the November Entrance Assessment. The sub-criteria below are applied only to separate applicants with equal scores at the final places — transcribed from the official published criteria.
- (a) — ORDER OF PREFERENCE on the Transfer Application — first-preference applications selected before second, and so on
- (b) — sibling enrolled in 2025-26
- (c) — eldest or only child of the family
- (d) — age, eldest first
- (e) — randomised surname order: X D B H I Q Mc C Y K W S G Mac L E T Z A J U N R M F O V P
What Score Do You Need for Cambridge House Grammar School?
The school does not publish a fixed qualifying score — here is what the official documents and allocation statements actually show:
| 2026/27 last place | TSAS 177 |
| 2025/26 last place | TSAS 178 |
| 2024/25 last place | TSAS 174 |
| 2026/27 — admission number 140 | 168 applications, 140 admitted (all under the score criterion) |
Key Dates & Deadlines — November 2026 Test (September 2027 Entry)
| 📌 SEAG Registration opens | Monday 18 May 2026 at seagni.co.uk |
| 📌 SEAG Registration closes | 11:59pm, Friday 18 September 2026 (£20 fee; FSME exempt) |
| 📌 Pupil Cards available | Friday 9 October 2026 |
| 📌 Assessment Paper 1 | Saturday 14 November 2026 |
| 📌 Assessment Paper 2 | Saturday 21 November 2026 |
| 📌 SEAG Results released | Saturday 23 January 2027 — download from your SEAG portal account |
| 📌 Re-mark request window | 25 January – 3 February 2027 |
| 📌 EA Portal opens / closes | TBC — EA to confirm (last cycle: 27 Jan / 12 noon 19 Feb) |
| 📌 Offers issued (Offers Day) | TBC — expected late April 2027 (last cycle: 24 April) |
How to Apply to Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena via SEAG & EA NI
Step 1 — Register your child for SEAG
Register online at seagni.co.uk before 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026. The fee is £20 (FSME families exempt — upload EA evidence). A completed Pupil Application is required; an account alone does not register your child.
Step 2 — Sit the SEAG Entrance Assessment
Your child sits two SEAG papers — Saturdays 14 and 21 November 2026 — each 60 minutes, each covering English and Mathematics. Both must be sat for a full TSAS; a single-paper ‘e’ score goes through Special Provisions only.
Step 3 — Download your SEAG Statement of Outcomes
SEAG releases the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) on Saturday 23 January 2027. Download it from your SEAG portal account.
Step 4 — Open the EA NI Transfer Portal
The Education Authority NI confirms the 2027 window in due course (last cycle: opened 27 January, closed 12 noon 19 February) — you apply through this portal, NOT directly to the school.
Step 5 — List Cambridge House Grammar School as a preference
Enter your child's SEAG TSAS and Unique Pupil Number and upload the Statement of Outcomes plus any tie-break evidence. At this school, preference order is a tie-break — listing it first can matter for equal scores.
Step 6 — Submit by the EA Portal deadline
Submit before the EA's published deadline (TBC; last cycle 12 noon, 19 February). Late applications are considered at the EA's discretion in exceptional circumstances only.
Step 7 — Receive your offer on Offers Day
Offers are issued via the EA Portal, expected late April 2027. If unsuccessful you can appeal or join the waiting list through the EA.
SEAG Subjects Tested at Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena
The SEAG Entrance Assessment for Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena tests two subjects across two papers, sat about a week apart in November of Primary 7 (P7). Each paper lasts roughly 60 minutes and uses a mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions with no negative marking.
- English — reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Wide reading is the single biggest advantage here, building the vocabulary and inference skills the paper rewards.
- Mathematics — the full Key Stage 2 curriculum: number, fractions, decimals, percentages, measures, shape, data handling and multi-step problem solving, with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.
Both papers are combined into a single Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS), which Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena uses to rank applicants for its Year 8 places. There is no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper in the SEAG test.
SEAG Practice Papers for Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena uses the SEAG format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 12 × English & Mathematics tests
- 672 video explanations
- 30.5 hours of video content
- 4 English & Maths practice tests
- 224 video explanations
- 12 hrs video content
- 4 English & Maths practice tests
- 224 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
- 4 English & Maths practice tests
- 224 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena SEAG Transfer Test
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📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
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Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
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🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Cambridge House Grammar School (CHGS) is consistently regarded as one of the top grammar schools in the Mid and East Antrim area, with an excellent track record at GCSE and A-Level.
- Strengths: especially strong in STEM subjects, Languages and Humanities, with a balanced suite of applied and general GCSE and A-Level qualifications.
- Post-16: around 200 pupils in the sixth form, with roughly 78% progressing from Year 12 to Year 13.
- Progression: strong rates of entry to Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University and Russell Group universities.
Exam results vary year to year, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school website.
Catchment Area for Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena
Cambridge House Grammar School is a co-educational controlled grammar school of just over 900 pupils (around 140 per year group) on the Galgorm Road area of Ballymena (1 Cambridge Avenue, BT42 2EH). It attracts pupils from the town of Ballymena and a wide rural catchment across Mid and East Antrim, but does not operate a fixed catchment boundary.
Where applications exceed the available Year 8 places, the Board of Governors ranks applicants on the SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). For the current cycle, the EA portal window is TBC (last cycle: 27 January to 19 February). Always confirm the current criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Cambridge House is guided by the vision "Together we create futures" and four core values — integrity, resilience, empathy and respect — reflected in its motto "Per Laborem ad Honorem" (Through Work to Honour). Pastoral care and all-round pupil development are recognised strengths, supported by a house system (school colours green and red).
The school is especially renowned for its music department and long tradition of musical excellence, alongside a wide programme of sport, drama and other extracurricular clubs and societies within a supportive, inclusive community.
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to Cambridge House Grammar School for Year 8?
Applications to Cambridge House Grammar School are made through the Education Authority NI Transfer Portal — NOT directly to the school. For September 2027 entry the EA window is TBC (last cycle it opened 27 January and closed at 12 noon on 19 February). You will need your child's SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) and SEAG Unique Pupil Number, and to upload the Statement of Outcomes. List Cambridge House Grammar School among your preferences — at this school, preference order is used as a tie-break, so listing it first can matter.
Does Cambridge House Grammar School use the SEAG Transfer Test?
Yes — Cambridge House Grammar School uses the SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group) Entrance Assessment for admission to Year 8. Pupils sit two SEAG papers in November of Primary 7 (P7), each lasting 60 minutes and each covering English and Mathematics in a mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions. The combined result is the Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS).
What SEAG score do I need for Cambridge House Grammar School?
Cambridge House Grammar School does not publish a minimum TSAS — places are allocated in rank order, so the effective cut-off moves each year with the applicant pool. Recent year-labelled figures: 2026/27 last place: TSAS 177; 2025/26 last place: TSAS 178; 2024/25 last place: TSAS 174. Recent demand: 2026/27: 168 applications, 140 admitted (all under the score criterion) against an admission number of 140.
How many Year 8 places does Cambridge House Grammar School have?
Cambridge House Grammar School admits 140 pupils into Year 8 each year — the Department of Education approved Admissions Number in its official criteria document. Recent cycles: 2026/27: 168 applications, 140 admitted (all under the score criterion).
When are SEAG results released?
SEAG results (the Statement of Outcomes) for the November 2026 assessment are released on Saturday 23 January 2027. Parents/guardians can download the Statement of Outcomes from their SEAG portal account at seagni.co.uk and must upload it with their Transfer Application.
When is Offers Day for Cambridge House Grammar School?
Offers Day for September 2027 entry is TBC — expected late April 2027 (last cycle it was Friday 24 April). Offers are issued through the Education Authority NI Transfer Portal. If unsuccessful you can join the waiting list or lodge an appeal through the EA NI.
What type of school is Cambridge House Grammar School?
Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena is a co-educational controlled grammar school with a non-denominational ethos, located in Antrim, Northern Ireland. It admits 140 pupils into Year 8 each September.
How can my child prepare for the SEAG Test for Cambridge House Grammar School?
ExamTutor offers a complete SEAG preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all SEAG topic areas), and downloadable resources mapped to the GL Assessment SEAG specification. We recommend starting preparation 6-12 months before the November SEAG test to allow time for diagnostic, focused practice and confidence building.
Where can I find Cambridge House Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Criteria document for Cambridge House Grammar School is published on the school's official website at https://www.cambridgehouse.org.uk and via the Education Authority NI. Criteria for each entry year are published the preceding December — the September 2027 entry document is due around December 2026. Always check for the most up-to-date criteria, Open Day dates and required documents.
Sources: the school's official "Admissions Criteria" document (published via the Education Authority NI); seagni.co.uk. Transcribed and verified 13 August 2026.