For Portadown families, the transfer test represents a significant academic milestone. Whether your child is sitting the AQE (used by most grammar schools) or the GL assessment, the educators we work with help them prepare systematically — covering maths, English, and the reasoning skills these tests demand.
AQE and GL Assessment Preparation
The two transfer test formats — AQE (three papers) and GL (one paper) — require different preparation strategies. AQE focuses on maths, English, and reasoning across three separate sittings, while GL combines everything into a single assessment. The educators we work with in Portadown are experienced with both formats and will tailor preparation to whichever your child needs, or both if they're applying to schools that use different tests.
Scheduling That Works
Scheduling needs to work for the whole family. In Portadown, we offer morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend availability to fit around school, sport, and family commitments. Whether the preference is a fixed weekly slot or a more adaptable arrangement, we accommodate it. During busier periods — mock exam season, for instance — many families increase frequency before scaling back again.
What Families Should Know
Tutoring works best when there is clear communication between the tutor, the learner, and the family. In Portadown, we encourage parents to share what they observe at home — frustration with homework, avoidance of certain topics, comments about lessons. This context helps the tutor target the right areas. We also keep families informed of what is covered each week, so there is never any guesswork about whether things are on track.
When to Start Preparing
Most families in Portadown start transfer test preparation at the end of P5 or the beginning of P6. Starting 12-18 months before the test gives enough time to build skills gradually. We begin with a diagnostic assessment to identify strengths and gaps, then create a structured weekly plan that covers all the content areas while building speed and accuracy under timed conditions.
If your child is preparing for the transfer test in Portadown, we can help. Drop us a message for a diagnostic assessment and a clear preparation plan.