1. What is the CEA?

The CEA is an assessment mechanism currently being developed by grammar schools in Northern Ireland to facilitate the continuation of academic selection following the ending of the 11-plus transfer tests in the 2008-09 academic year. Only pupils wishing to apply to a school retaining academic selection and using the CEA need undertake the assessment. They will sit the papers in grammar schools during their P7 year.

2. What will the format of CEA be?

CEA will consist of three one hour papers which are similar in format to the current 11-plus. They will assess English and Mathematics and will not include a science element. Marks will be awarded on the basis of the best two scores and accordingly, parents may elect to enter their children for two of the three assessment sessions.

3. Will the CEA be open to the same criticisms as the current 11-plus?

The CEA is not our preferred option but has been forced upon us by the unwillingness of successive Education Ministers to engage in a serious debate on our proposals for Computer Adaptive Testing, which would be a much more child-friendly form of assessment. Nevertheless, we are committed to designing an assessment to the highest technical standards possible in the current circumstances. Moreover, the provision for marks to be awarded on the basis of the best two out of three scores is designed to guard against pupils underperforming on an "off day."

4. Will primary schools prepare pupils for the CEA?

There is no obligation on primary schools to undertake specific preparation for the CEA. The CEA is based on the teaching pupils will receive in their normal classes. It is intended that guidance material will be made available to parents to assist children in familiarising themselves with the format of the CEA, and materials currently available for 11-plus preparation, with the exception of science items, may still be used.

5. How has the CEA been designed?

The CEA has been designed employing procedures similar to those used for A-Levels, having a chief examiner with extensive knowledge of test design, together with a team of revisers who are teaching professionals at primary level with long experience of preparing pupils for the 11-plus.

6. Will parents have to pay for the CEA?

Currently the funding of the CEA is a matter for political negotiation. If finance is not forthcoming we will be forced to make a modest charge. The charge will be waived in the case of parents of children in receipt of free school meals.

7. If I wish my child to sit the CEA what is the registration process?

The registration process for the CEA will begin in the final term of a child's primary 6 year. Application forms will be provided to primary schools and will also be available from other sources including the internet and participating post-primary schools. Full instructions on how to register will accompany the form.

8. Will children be considered for a school operating the CEA if the child has not completed the CEA?

Each school operating the CEA will publish its own admissions criteria and parents should consult the admissions criteria of the school in which they are interested. It is anticipated that performance in the CEA will be used to determine which applicants best satisfy a school's academic criteria.