Sullivan Upper School Holywood Information

🏫 Sullivan Upper School, Holywood – 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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Co-educational Voluntary Grammar School | Holywood, County Down | Ages 11–18

📚 History of Sullivan Upper School, Holywood

Sullivan Upper School was founded in 1877 through the bequest of Robert Sullivan, a lawyer and educational reformer who left funds in his will to establish a school in Holywood, County Down. The school began as a boys’ institution but became fully co-educational in the 20th century.

Today, Sullivan Upper is one of the top academic grammar schools in Northern Ireland, combining academic rigour with a strong focus on personal development, sport, music, and the arts. It maintains a reputation for excellence in public examinations, university entrance, and co-curricular achievement.

👨‍🎓 Pupil Numbers & Structure

• Total Pupils: ~1,100

• Year 8 Intake: ~130–140 students

• Sixth Form: ~300+ pupils

• Gender: Co-educational

• Age Range: 11–18

• School Type: Non-denominational Voluntary Grammar School

• Location: Holywood, County Down (near Belfast)

🎓 Academic Reputation

Sullivan Upper is consistently ranked among the top 10 grammar schools in Northern Ireland. Known for academic excellence, university success, and a vibrant school culture, it attracts students from a wide area across Greater Belfast, Bangor, and North Down.

✅ Academic Strengths:

• Outstanding performance in STEM, Languages, Economics, Humanities, and Music

• High success rate in Oxbridge and Russell Group university admissions

• Exceptional support for Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Computer Science

📊 Academic Results (Typical Year):

• GCSEs:

  • ~100% of students achieve 7+ GCSEs at A–C*

  • ~90% of all grades at A–A*

• A-Levels:

  • ~85–90% of grades at A–B*

  • ~70% of leavers proceed to Russell Group universities

🏆 Awards & Recognition

• Sunday Times NI Grammar School of the Year 2023

🏫 Sullivan Upper School – Contact Information

School Name: Sullivan Upper School
Type: Co-educational Voluntary Grammar School (Ages 11–18)
Location: Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland

📍 Address:

Sullivan Upper School
Belfast Road
Holywood
County Down
BT18 9EP
Northern Ireland
United Kingdom

☎️ Telephone:

+44 (0)28 9042 8780

📧 Email:

info@sullivanupper.holywood.ni.sch.uk

🌐 Website:

https://www.sullivanupper.co.uk

📱 Social Media:

• Twitter/X: @SullivanUpper

• Facebook: Sullivan Upper School

• Instagram: @sullivanupperschool

You can view the school’s location on the map below:

SEAG Score Needed to get into Sullivan Upper School Holywood

Below is historical scores for Sullivan Upper School Holywood from 2023 to 2015.

2023 Lowest Score – AQE 107 (rank order), AQE 97 (pool)
2022 Lowest Grade – AQE 109 (rank order), AQE 105 (pool)
2021 N/A
2020 Lowest Grade – AQE 107 (rank order), AQE 100 (pool)
2019 Lowest Grade – AQE 109 (rank order), AQE 103 (pool)
2018 Lowest Grade – AQE 106 (rank order), AQE 99 (pool)
2017 Lowest Grade – AQE 99
2016 Lowest Grade – AQE 98
2015 Lowest Grade – AQE 102
As you can see from the above stats and 109 in AQE in recent years will have got you into Sullivan Upper School Holywood. The highest score needed was 109 in 2022 and lowest 97 in 2023 via pool process.
A 109 score in old AQE test is equivalent to 215 in new SEAG test so based on past intake a minimum score of 215+ in SEAG test would give your child a high chance of getting accepted into Sullivan Upper School Holywood.

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 Sullivan Upper School Holywood

Preparing for the SEAG Transfer Test effectively is crucial to securing a place at highly competitive grammar schools like Sullivan Upper School Holywood. Using ExamTutor’s SEAG Transfer Test Practice Papers with video explanations is one of the smartest ways to build exam confidence, improve accuracy, and boost scores.

Below is a step-by-step strategy to help you make the most of your resources and target success.

🎯 Why ExamTutor Practice Papers Work

ExamTutor provides:

• Authentic SEAG-style questions in Maths and English

• Step-by-step video solutions that explain how and why each answer works

✅ Step-by-Step Strategy for Using ExamTutor SEAG Practice Papers

Step 1: Set a Study Schedule

• Begin preparation at least 6–9 months before the SEAG test (ideally by January or February of Primary 6)

• Aim for 2–3 practice sessions per week, gradually increasing frequency closer to the test (in November)

Step 2: Start with One Full Practice Paper

• Attempt a paper without a time limit

• Use the ExamTutor printable PDF

• Do not use help or calculators

📌 Tip: Start with a “practice” paper to assess your current level in:

• English (comprehension, grammar, punctuation)

• Maths (mental arithmetic, problem-solving, word problems)

Step 3: Review Your Answers Using Video Explanations

• After each paper, watch the video solutions provided by ExamTutor for every question you got wrong — and those you got right by guessing

• Pay attention to:

  • Why an answer is correct

  • How to avoid common traps

  • Time-saving strategies

• Take notes in a dedicated SEAG notebook

• 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 pupils fully understand concepts rather than just memorising answers.

Step 4: Focus on Weak Areas

• Track the types of questions you consistently get wrong:

  • In English: Inference, vocabulary, punctuation, grammar

  • In Maths: Fractions, word problems, percentages, multi-step logic

• Use targeted ExamTutor video lessons or supplementary topic-specific questions

📌 Tip: Keping a detailed track of questions you got incorrect can be reviewed at a later date to reinforce the topic.

Step 5: 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.

Step 6: Use Spaced Repetition

• Rotate papers every few weeks — don’t repeat the same one too soon

• Revisit older papers to ensure retention

• Use the “mark and reflect” method:

  • Mark answers

  • Watch relevant videos

  • Reflect on what you’ve learned and write a short summary

Step 7: Mock Exam Month (October)

• In the month before the SEAG test:

  • Do 2 full practice papers per week

  • Use ExamTutor’s practice test papers under realistic timed conditions

  • Review your mistakes using the videos within 24 hours

✅ How This Helps with Sullivan Upper School Holywood Admission

• Sullivan Upper School Holywood ranks applicants by SEAG score, giving priority to high scorers

• By using ExamTutor:

  • You build familiarity with SEAG-style questions

  • You strengthen core exam techniques

  • You develop accuracy under time pressure

  • You avoid repeat mistakes

📦 Suggested ExamTutor SEAG Resources

• 📘 SEAG Practice Papers Pack 1,2 & 3 with Video Explanations

👉 Available at: www.examtutor.co.uk through subscription packages

💡 Bonus Tips for Parents

• Avoid low quality repetitive practice tests, will only create a negative attitude

• Build a calm and positive home environment for study

• Focus on progress, not perfection

• Celebrate small wins to keep motivation high

• Use breaks and rewards to avoid burnout

📍 Final Thoughts

Why Choose ExamTutor 11+ Practice Papers for Sullivan Upper School Holywood 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 Sullivan Upper School Holywood 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.

✏️ Year 8 Admissions Criteria & How to Apply

✅ Entry via SEAG Transfer Test

Sullivan Upper School Holywood is part of the SEAG (Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group) and admits pupils into Year 8 based on performance in the SEAG Transfer Test.

🧪 SEAG Transfer Test Format

• The SEAG test replaces the previous AQE/GL systems

• Taken in November of Primary 7

• Two test papers:

  1. SEAG Test Paper 1

  2. SEAG Test Paper 2

• Each paper is 1 hour

• Questions are multiple choice and written responses

• Results are standardised and age-adjusted

Sullivan Upper School Holywood uses SEAG scores to rank applicants and apply admissions criteria.

📋 Admissions Criteria 

In the event of oversubscription, places are allocated using the following criteria:

1. Pupils with SEAG scores above the qualifying standard

2. Siblings of current or former students

3. Children of current staff or past pupils

4. Applicants from designated feeder primary schools

5. Proximity to the school (used as a tie-breaker)

✅ Special Circumstances and Special Provisions may be considered (e.g. illness, SEN, relocation)

📅 Admissions Timeline

💷 Fees

• Sullivan Upper School is a state-funded voluntary grammar school – no tuition fees

• Optional costs may apply for:

  • Uniform and PE kit

  • Music tuition

  • Trips and activities

  • Voluntary school fund contribution

SEAG Exam Information for Sullivan Upper School Holywood

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. Our Lady’s Grammar School is a SEAG School. Sullivan Upper School Holywood 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 Sullivan Upper School Holywood

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:
ENTRANCE TEST RESULTS Please ensure that you enter the score awarded by the Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) in the SEAG Entrance Assessment, together with the SEAG Candidate Number, on the Transfer Application. The original notification from SEAG indicating your child’s Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) should be uploaded to the Transfer Application.
Capital Fee The Capital Fee is £140 per annum.
ADMISSIONS POLICY
The Board of Governors will consider for admission into Year 8 initially only those applicants who have taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment provided by the Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) and who have been awarded a result in the form of a Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS). The score in the SEAG Entrance Assessment, together with the candidate number, should be entered on the Transfer Application. The original notification from SEAG indicating the child’s Total Standardised Ages Score (TSAS) should be uploaded to the Transfer Application.
The Board of Governors will not use as a criterion for admission the position of preference given to the school by the applicant on the Transfer Application; for example a pupil who has chosen Sullivan Upper School as a second preference (and whose application to their first preference school has been unsuccessful) will be considered in the same way as all first preference applicants. When considering which children should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or uploaded with the Transfer Application. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that all information relevant to the School’s criteria is detailed on or uploaded with the Transfer Application.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR ENTRY OF PUPILS INTO YEAR 8
During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered.
1. Children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission will be selected for admission to the school before any child not so resident. The child’s birth certificate and proof of address must be uploaded to the Transfer Application. Proof of address eg utility bill, bank statement, driving licence (with sensitive information redacted).
2. The first 120 places from the admissions total of 150 will be allocated to those applicants who have applied and provided a SEAG Total Standardised Age Score [including those to whom Special Circumstances or Special Provisions apply] on the basis of the rank order of their respective scores with those achieving higher scores being allocated places before those achieving lower scores. If several applicants are eligible for the 120th place because they have equal scores then all such applicants will be allocated places up to the school’s admission number and on application, if necessary, of the criteria listed in criteria 3 (below).
3. Following the allocation of places as described in criteria 2 (above), a limited pool of around 45 applicants will be identified from the remaining applicants, again by rank order of their SEAG Total Standardised Age Scores [including those to whom Special Circumstances or Special Provisions apply], who are ranked within the highest 165 SEAG scores with those achieving higher scores being allocated to the pool before those with lower scores. If several applicants are eligible for the 165th place because they have equal scores then all such applicants will be included within the pool. Then all remaining available places up to the school’s admissions number will be allocated from this pool upon application of the following criteria which will be applied in the order in which they are set out:
3.1 Applicants who are entitled to free school meals [“entitled to free school meals” will mean applicants who are listed on the Education Authority register as entitled to free school meals at the date on which their parent/guardian submitted the post-primary Transfer Application
3.2 Applicants who, at the date of their application, have a child of the family currently enrolled at the school; Child of the family covers: a child born to a married couple or to a couple in a civil partnership; a child born to a cohabiting couple; a child born to a single parent; a child of either/any of those people by a previous marriage, civil partnership or relationship; a child living with a couple who has been treated as a “child of the family” whether there is a marriage or a civil partnership or not; a child living with an individual, who has been treated as a “child of the family”; an adopted or fostered child; a situation where for example an orphaned cousin is being brought up with a family or individual.
3.3 Applicants who are transferring from one of the following schools (listed alphabetically): • Glencraig Integrated Primary School • Holywood Primary School • St Patrick’s Primary School, Holywood • Sullivan Upper Preparatory Department;
3.4 Applicants who, at the date of their application, are the eldest child of the family to be eligible to be admitted to the school, including only children.
3.5 Applicants who are transferring from one of the following schools (listed alphabetically): • Ballyholme Primary School, Bangor • Bangor Central Integrated Primary School, Bangor; • Campbell College Junior School; • Crawfordsburn Primary School, Bangor • Dundonald Primary School, Dundonald; • Gilhahirk Primary School, Belfast • Grange Park Primary School, Bangor • Kilmaine Primary School, Bangor; • Knocknagoney Primary School, Belfast • Rathmore Primary School, Bangor • St Comgall’s Primary School, Bangor • Strandtown Primary School, Belfast • Towerview Primary School, Bangor;
3.6 Applicants who are resident within the Holywood postal district of BT18; In the event that there are fewer applicants complying with a particular criterion than there are places available or remaining, those applicants complying with that criterion will be admitted and the next criterion will be applied to the remaining applicants. In the event that there are more applicants complying with a particular criterion than there are places available or remaining, those applicants complying with that criterion will go forward to be considered under the next criterion and those not complying will be eliminated.
3.7 In the event that there are more applicants than there are places available or remaining on the application of the last criterion above (3.6), applicants will be selected for the remaining place(s) on the basis of the following criteria, in order:
3.7.1 The SEAG Total Standardised Age Score, those achieving higher scores being allocated places before those achieving lower scores.
3.7.2 If more than one applicant is eligible for the final place because they have equal scores, preference will be given to the applicant whose normal place of residence is located nearest to the front entrance [Belfast Road entrance] of the school by the most direct route by road. The school will be responsible for determining the distance between the pupil’s home and the school and will use the RAC Route Planner in conjunction with maps to establish the distance. “Normal place of residence” will be taken to mean the applicant’s address appearing on the Transfer Application.
3.7.3 In the unlikely event that, on the application of the criteria above, two or more applicants are tied for the final place(s), then the applicants will be ranked for acceptance on the basis of a computer-based process which will make use of the names of applicants as shown on their Transfer Application. The process is carried out by means of a computer programme which, for each applicant, generates a ranking number using the details from the Transfer Application as the seed for a random number generator. The outcome, for any given applicant, is dependent only on the applicant’s name i.e. “Forename”, “Middle Name” (if applicable) and “Surname”, as recorded on the Transfer Application, and is not affected by the details of any other applicant. Although the process is repeatable, and the results may therefore be subsequently verified, it is not possible to predict, in advance of running the programme, what the result will be for any given set of details. Applicants with the lowest ranking numbers will be given places up to the number of places available. Further details may be obtained from the Principal.
4. If, following the application of the criteria outlined above (criteria 1, 2 and 3), all the available places for admission have not been filled, the Board of Governors will consider any other applications, firstly from applicants who have received a SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (those with higher scores being allocated places before those with lower scores), and then from applicants who have not taken the SEAG Entrance Assessment. Allocation of these remaining places, if any, will be by application of the criteria outlined in criteria 3 above.
WAITING LIST The school operates a waiting list policy. For Year 8, all applications for admission to Year 8 that were initially refused [i.e. in the Transfer Procedure] will be automatically added to the waiting list. Late applications and new applications received after the Transfer Procedure concludes and applications where new information has been provided will also be added to the waiting list. All applications on the waiting list are ranked according to the published criteria for entry of pupils into Year 8 for the academic year for which application is made. The waiting list will be in place until the end of the academic year for which application is made. Parents should contact the school if they wish their child’s name to be removed from the waiting list.
Visit Sullivan Upper School Holywood website for a more detailed Admissions Policy document – https://www.sullivanupper.co.uk