SEAG Standardised Scores Explained
If you've received your child's SEAG results and are wondering what all the numbers and bands actually mean, you're definitely not alone!
The SEAG results can look a little confusing at first, so here's a simple breakdown.
What is a Standardised Age Score?
Your child's Standardised Age Score (SAS) takes into account their performance in the test as well as their age.
The English/Gaeilge and Maths scores are each reported separately, with scores ranging from 69 to 141. A score of 100 is the average.
So, in simple terms:
- 100 = around average
- Above 100 = above average
- Below 100 = below average
The two scores are then added together to give your child's Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS).
The TSAS ranges from 138 to 282, with 200 being the average.
What does the SEAG Band mean?
Your child will also receive a Band from 1 to 6.
The bands show roughly where your child's overall performance sits compared with other children who took the assessment.
The bands are divided by percentile, with the top 40% of pupils placed in Band 1.
The remaining pupils are then divided into the other bands:
| BandApproximate percentage of pupils | |
| Band 1 | Top 40% |
| Band 2 | Next 10% |
| Band 3 | Next 10% |
| Band 4 | Next 10% |
| Band 5 | Next 10% |
| Band 6 | Lowest 20% |
So, if your child receives Band 1, they are in the highest 40% of pupils who took the assessment.
A Band 2 means they are in approximately the next 10%, and so on.
What is the percentile?
The Cohort Percentile gives you another way of seeing where your child sits compared with the rest of the cohort.
For example, a percentile of 80 means your child's result was higher than approximately 80% of the children who took the assessment.
It can be a useful way of putting the result into context rather than focusing on the raw number of questions your child got right.
Don't panic over the numbers!
SEAG results can look a little daunting when you first see them.
Remember that the standardised score isn't simply a percentage mark. It is designed to put children's results onto a common scale, taking age and test performance into account.
And most importantly, the result is just one part of your child's post-primary transfer journey.
Once you've worked out what all the numbers mean, you can focus on the next step: looking at the admissions criteria for the schools you're considering and seeing how they use SEAG results.
Numbers explained, panic over!
