Ballymena Academy Information

🏫 Ballymena Academy – SEAG Practice Papers with Video Explanations

SEAG Practice Test Pack 1

£35.00

• 4 High Quality Practice Tests.
• 4 x English & Maths Papers
• Video Solutions for all Questions!
• 12 Hours of Video Content.
• 224 Video Explanations.

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SEAG Practice Test Pack 2

£35.00

• 4 High Quality Practice Tests.
• 4 x English & Maths Papers
• Video Solutions for all Questions!
• 9 Hours of Video Content.
• 224 Video Explanations.

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SEAG Practice Test Pack 3

£35.00

• 4 High Quality Practice Tests.
• 4 x English & Maths Papers
• Video Solutions for all Questions!
• 9.5 Hours of Video Content.
• 224 Video Explanations.

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SEAG Practice Tests – Multi-Pack Bundle

£85.00

• 12 High Quality Practice Tests.
• 12 x English & Maths Papers
• Video Solutions for all Questions!
• 30.5 Hours of Video Content.
• 672 Video Explanations.

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Voluntary Grammar School | Co-educational | Ballymena, County Antrim | Ages 11–18

📚 History of Ballymena Academy

Ballymena Academy was founded in 1828, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious grammar schools in Northern Ireland. Located in the heart of County Antrim, the school has evolved over two centuries into a leading co-educational grammar school, combining traditional academic excellence with modern facilities and a forward-thinking approach to education.

The school is situated on an extensive, green campus in Galgorm Road, featuring purpose-built science labs, a sports complex, music suites, and a Sixth Form centre. The Academy maintains strong ties with its alumni community and is known for fostering a sense of pride, discipline, and community spirit.

Its motto is: “Tenax Propositi” – Firm of Purpose.

👨‍🎓 Pupil Numbers & Structure

• Total Pupils: ~1,300

• Year 8 Intake: ~180–190 pupils

• Sixth Form: ~350 students

• Gender: Co-educational

• Age Range: 11–18

• School Type: Voluntary Grammar School

• Religious Affiliation: Non-denominational (Christian ethos, inclusive of all faiths)

🎓 Academic Reputation

Ballymena Academy is regularly ranked among the top-performing grammar schools in Northern Ireland, with a strong reputation for both academic results and all-round pupil development. The school offers a rich, academically rigorous curriculum and a broad range of extra-curricular options to support student growth.

✅ Academic Strengths:

• High standards in Sciences, Mathematics, English, Modern Languages, History, and ICT

• Excellent preparation for university entry, especially for Medicine, Law, Engineering, and STEM careers

• Dedicated support for Oxbridge and Russell Group applications

📊 Academic Performance:

• GCSEs:

  • ~99–100% of pupils achieve 5+ GCSEs at grades A–C*, including English and Maths

  • ~90% of GCSE grades typically at A–B*

• A-Levels:

  • ~85–90% of A-Level grades at A–C*

  • High percentage of students progress to Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin, and Oxbridge

🏆 Awards & Recognition

• Top 10 Grammar School in Northern Ireland based on A-Level/GCSE performance

• Positive ETI Inspection Reports praising:

  • Teaching and learning quality

  • Academic outcomes

  • Pastoral care and safeguarding

• Recognised in:

  • UK Maths Challenge and Olympiads

  • Young Enterprise Northern Ireland

  • BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

  • Eco-Schools Green Flag Award

• Sporting excellence in:

  • Ulster Schools’ Rugby and Hockey competitions

  • Notable success in athletics, cricket, and swimming

🏫 Ballymena Academy – Contact Information

School Name: Ballymena Academy
Type: Co-educational Voluntary Grammar School (Ages 11–18)
Location: Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

📍 Address:

Ballymena Academy
89 Galgorm Road
Ballymena
County Antrim
BT42 1AJ
Northern Ireland
United Kingdom

☎️ Telephone:

+44 (0)28 2565 2782

📧 Email:

info@ballymenaacademy.org.uk

🌐 Website:

https://www.ballymenaacademy.org.uk

📱 Social Media:

• Facebook: Ballymena Academy

• Twitter/X: @BmenaAcademy

SEAG Score Needed to get into Ballymena Academy

Below is historical scores for Ballymena Academy from 2022 to 2014.

2022: Lowest Grade – AQE – 78
2021: N/A
2020: Lowest Grade – AQE – 95
2019: Lowest Grade – AQE – 95
2018: Lowest Grade – AQE – 95
2017: Lowest Grade – AQE – 81
2016: Lowest Grade – AQE – 94
2015: Lowest Grade – AQE – 98
2014: Lowest Grade – AQE – 96

As you can see from the above stats 95 in AQE test in recent years will have got you into Ballymena Academy. The highest score needed was 98 in 2015.
A 98 score in old AQE test is equivalent to 187 in new SEAG test, so based on past intake a minimum score of 187+ in SEAG test would give your child a very high chance of getting accepted into Ballymena Academy.

SEAG Comparison with historical AQE and PPTC outcomes:

*This is the minimum cohort percentile needed for that Band

Two examples:
A SEAG TSAS of 215 would be “equivalent” to a PPTC SAS of about 242 or an AQE SAS of about 109. A SEAG TSAS of 185 would be “equivalent” to a PPTC SAS of about 220 or an AQE SAS of about 94.

How to Use ExamTutor SEAG Transfer Test Practice Papers (with Video Explanations) to Achieve High Scores for Ballymena Academy

Preparing for the SEAG Transfer Test effectively is crucial to securing a place at highly competitive grammar schools like Ballymena Academy. To secure a place, students must achieve a high score in the SEAG Transfer Test. ExamTutor’s SEAG Practice Test Papers with Video Explanations provide a structured and effective way to prepare, ensuring students are fully familiar with the question types and exam format used in the 11+ entrance exam.

How ExamTutor SEAG Practice Papers with Video Explanations Help Students Succeed

1. Mirrors the SEAG Transfer Test Format

ExamTutor’s practice papers mirror the GL Assessment SEAG test format, covering:
📌 English – Reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
📌 Mathematics – Numerical reasoning, arithmetic, and problem-solving.

✔ By practicing with ExamTutor papers, students become familiar with the structure and content of the SEAG entrance exam, improving confidence and performance.

2. Identify Weak Areas & Improve Performance with a Structured Study Plan

A structured study plan is essential for SEAG Transfer Test success. Our practice papers:
✔ Help identify weaker subjects at the earliest stage.
✔ Allow students to focus on specific question types where they struggle.
✔ Include detailed answer explanations so students understand their mistakes and improve.

📌 Tip: Encourage your child to take regular timed practice tests to build exam stamina and confidence.

3. Boost Confidence with Video Explanations

Some SEAG transfer Test question types can be challenging for students. Our tutor-led video explanations:
🎥 Break down complex questions step by step
🎥 Teach proven problem-solving techniques
🎥 Show shortcuts and strategies to save time in the exam
🎥 Help students reinforce learning and build confidence

How to Use Video Explanations Effectively:

✅ Review incorrect answers with video solutions – Identify and correct mistakes early.
✅ Take notes on key strategies – Record important problem-solving techniques for future reference.
✅ Rewatch explanations for difficult topics – Reinforce learning by revisiting challenging areas.

✔ Video explanations ensure students fully understand concepts rather than just memorising answers.

4. Develop Strong Time Management & Exam Techniques

Success in the SEAG entrance exam isn’t just about knowledge—it’s also about:
✔ Time management – Completing questions quickly and accurately under exam conditions.
✔ Skipping tricky questions – Avoid wasting time on difficult questions and returning to them later.
✔ Eliminating wrong answers – Using logical reasoning to improve accuracy.

📌 Tip: Regular timed practice with ExamTutor tests ensures students develop these key exam skills.

5. Build Confidence Before the Big Day

Confidence is crucial for success in the SEAG exam. Our practice tests help by:
✔ Simulating real exam conditions – So students know exactly what to expect.
✔ Providing motivation through measurable improvement.

📌 Tip: Encourage your child to review their mistakes using our detailed video explanations to turn weaknesses into strengths.

Why Choose ExamTutor 11+ Practice Papers for SEAG transfer test Preparation?

✔ SEAG GL Assessment-style practice papers covering all tested subjects.
✔ Video explanations for step-by-step learning.
✔ Used successfully by thousands of students every year.

How to Get Started with ExamTutor Practice Papers

1️⃣ Take a practice test – Identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
2️⃣ Create a study plan – Focus on weaker areas while reinforcing strengths.
3️⃣ Practice regularly – Use ExamTutor timed papers to simulate real exam conditions.
4️⃣ Review mistakes using video explanations – Learn from errors and improve.
5️⃣ Track progress – Monitor scores over time to ensure continuous improvement.

📌 Tip: Start preparing at least 6–12 months before the exam to allow enough time for practice and improvement.

Ballymena Academy entry is highly competitive, but ExamTutor SEAG Practice Papers with Video Explanations provide a powerful tool to maximise your child’s success.

By mirroring the SEAG test format, identifying weak areas, improving time management, and building confidence, our practice tests give students the best chance of securing a high score and gaining admission to Ballymena Academy.

Why Choose ExamTutor 11+ Practice Papers for Ballymena Academy Preparation?

✔ SEAG style practice papers covering all tested subjects.
✔ Video explanations for step-by-step learning.
✔ Used successfully by thousands of pupils every year.

Achieving a high SEAG score for Ballymena Academy is very possible with the right strategy and tools. With ExamTutor’s exam-style papers and video explanations, you get both practice and expert guidance — exactly what’s needed to turn mistakes into mastery.

📌 Start preparing today with ExamTutor and set your child on the path to SEAG success! 🚀

📋 Admissions Criteria

If the number of applicants exceeds available places (~180), the following criteria apply:

1. Applicants ranked by SEAG score

2. Siblings of current or past pupils

3. Children of staff or past pupils

4. Pupils from contributory primary schools

5. Geographical proximity to the school

6. Random selection used only as a tie-breaker

✅ Special Circumstances and Provisions (e.g. illness, SEN, bereavement, newcomers to Northern Ireland) will be considered if evidence is provided.

📅 Admissions Timeline

SEAG Exam Information for ‘Ballymena Academy’.

The SEAG Group’ consists of 63 Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland that use academic selection for all or part of their Year 8 intake. The SEAG 2024 Entrance Assessment is for pupils who will be transferring to post primary schools and whose parents may be considering a place at a SEAG school for their child. Ballymena Academyis a SEAG School. Ballymena Academy will use the results from the SEAG Test to determine who gets offered a place at the school.

SEAG Registration and Exam Details
Parents can register their child at the SEAG website at the following address. SEAG (seagni.co.uk).The SEAG Entrance Assessment consists of two papers. Both papers assess English and Mathematics and both have an identical format consisting of three Sections:

1st Section – The Practice Test Section
This section contains 5 English followed by 5 Maths questions. These questions are designed to help pupils settle before the Main Test begins. The Practice Test is not assessed or timed.
2nd Section – English Main Test.
The English section of the paper consists of 28 questions (Q1-Q28) and is broken down into 4 sections:
1) “Punctuation Exercise” containing 5 multiple choice questions.
2) “Grammar Exercise” 5 multiple choice questions.
3) “Spelling Exercise” with 5 multiple choice questions.
4) Comprehension”. Contains a passage and are then asked 13 questions on the passage; 7 of these are multiple choice (Q16-Q22). The final 6 questions (Q23-Q28) are described as “free response”; the pupil writes the answer to each in the space provided in the Answer Sheet.
3rd Section – Maths Main Test.
The Maths section also has 28 questions (Q29-Q56) and is broken down into 2 sections:
1) The first 22 Maths questions (Q29-Q50) are multiple choice questions.
2) The final 6 Maths questions (Q51-Q56) are described as “free response”. For each of these questions the pupil works out the correct answer and writes the answer in the space provided in the Answer Sheet.
Pupils will have 60 minutes to answer the 56 Main Test questions.
They can choose to start with the English questions or with the Maths questions.
Each of the multiple choice questions has 5 possible answers.

Admissions Criteria for Ballymena Academy

Most Northern Ireland Grammar Schools are now using the SEAG Entrance Assessment instead of Transfer Test AQE or PPTC/GL Assessment. As part of their admissions criteria each school uses slightly different criteria versions for admissions. The vast majority of schools will have SEAG Band one as 1st criteria which means you need to score 206+ in the SEAG Entrance Assessment Test. If you don’t get band one then you will not be guaranteed a grammar school place in any school in Northern Ireland.
After criteria one, criteria two can vary depending on Grammar School. The majority of Grammar Schools 2nd criteria will be if a family member currently or in some cases has attended the school, other schools will go straight to SEAG TSAS scores. The main key point to note is that you need to aim for band one which is 206 in SEAG Entrance Assessment for the vast majority of Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland. Another key point is school preference, most schools don’t stipulate they have to be number one preference on the SEAG Application form to be considered for a place at their school. So, if you put down a Grammar School as 1st preference and don’t get the grade to get in, as long as your 2nd choice school doesn’t stipulate their school has to be 1st preference then it’s the same as putting the 2nd school down 1st on the SEAG application form.
Our advice is to read the Grammar School criteria carefully and know what your child needs to achieve to gain entry as a lot of parents get confused over the criteria. We keep an up-to-date database of past Transfer Test and SEAG scores you need to gain entry to all Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland.
Our SEAG products at bottom of the page are proven resources to give you child the best chance of getting a high score in SEAG, our Practice Test Papers with video explanations are a great starting point for the SEAG Exam. Our online and live tutor bootcamps are a great alternative to an expensive tutor and our mock exams are a great way to find out what level your child is currently at compared to other children who have taken our mock exams in the same area. Our mock exams will be pitched at examination level difficulty so you have an exact understanding of the level your child needs to aim for. Below is the criteria for this Grammar School. If you have any questions please contact us:
Ballymena Academy will use the Entrance Assessment provided by SEAG. If there are more applications than places available, the Total Standardised Age Score awarded following the Entrance Assessment will be used as part of the admission procedure. Precedence will be given to those applications which include a Total Standardised Age Score in respect of the Entrance Assessment provided by SEAG.
For a child to be considered eligible for admission to Year 8 in Ballymena Academy (“the School”), an application in his/her name on a completed Transfer Application, must be submitted according to the requirements of the Transfer Procedure conducted through the Education Authority.
PRIORITY to be given to applications:
1) In determining those children to be admitted, the Board of Governors will consider children who are resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the School before those children who are not so resident.
2) Priority shall be given, on equal terms, to two categories of application: • Applications for children who have taken the Entrance Assessment (provided by SEAG, as specified by the School) in an approved Assessment Centre, whether or not an application includes a claim for Special Circumstances (Special Circumstances: see Sections 4 and 5 below). • Applications for children for whom a valid claim for Special Provisions has been made (Special Provisions: see Sections 4 and 6 below).
Then, if places remain after all applications in these categories have been accepted, all remaining applications shall be considered.
CONSIDERING APPLICATIONS
If, after consideration of 1.3, there are still places available, all remaining applications shall be considered as follows.
• If the number of applications remaining does not exceed the number of places available, all shall be accepted.
• If the number of such applications exceeds the number of places available, the procedure identified in section 2 shall be applied until all places are allocated.
Applications for children who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment specified by the School (or for whom a valid Special Provisions claim has been made)
1) Where the number of applications for children who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment specified by the School along with those for whom a valid claim for Special Provisions has been made, exceeds the School’s Admissions Number, the School shall apply the Total Standardised Age Score obtained in the Assessment or determined by the process applied to Special Provisions claims, as detailed below at Section 6.
2) On the basis of the Total Standardised Age Score achieved in the SEAG Entrance Assessment or a Score allocated as a result of a claim for Special Circumstances and/or Special Provisions, applications shall be placed in rank order; higher scores will be accepted before lower scores.
3) Where the Total Standardised Age Score obtained by two or more children is identical, and insufficient places remain to admit both or all of them, the following sub-criteria shall be applied in the stated order. Precedence shall be given, in the following order to an application for a child:
4) who has sibling(s)* currently enrolled in the School, or has sibling(s) already approved for acceptance by the School in the current admissions process. (N.B. Preference shall be given on the basis of the greatest or greater number of siblings).
5) who is the eldest** or only child of the family to be eligible to apply for admission to the school (details to be supplied on the Transfer Application).
6) in order of preference with first preference applications being selected before second preference applications and so on.
7) who, at the time of application, attends a Primary School which is within the former Ballymena Borough Council area.
* Where applicable “sibling” is defined as another child of the family (Article 2(2) of the Domestic Proceedings (NI) Order 1980) to include, for example, half-brothers and sisters, together with children who are adopted or fostered.
** Twins and other multiples who are eldest in the family are treated as joint eldest children.
8) If, after the implementation of each of 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.3 and 2.3.4, there remain more applications with identical Total Standardised Age Scores than there are places available, then the following random selection process as determined by the Board of Governors and overseen by the Admissions Panel shall be applied to determine the remaining applications to be accepted:
• each application to be considered at this stage is allocated a random number electronically generated within ‘Microsoft Excel’;
• the applications are then ranked in order of the random number, with higher numbers having precedence.
9) Should any place(s) remain after all applications which include a Total Standardised Age Score or are made on the basis of a valid claim for Special Provisions have been accepted, then other applications shall be considered for the remaining place(s).
10) If the number of such applications does not exceed the number of places available, all the applications shall be accepted up to the School’s Admissions Number.
Ballymena Academy website for a more detailed Admissions Policy document – the https://www.ballymenaacademy.org.uk