Pupils sit up to three tests in English and Maths in November and December.

The best two scores will count.

Sitting the test costs £35 — but costs nothing for children entitled to free school meals.

The tests will include questions on a poem, a prose passage, maths and basic skills.

Pupils will write in pencil on the answer booklets and extra working out paper will be provided which must be returned with the answer booklets.

The pupils will sit their exams in the grammar schools. The plan is that they will be grouped with others from the same primary school.

There will be orientation days before the tests so that parents and children can get an idea of the school layout and where they are sitting. They also may get to know their exam invigilators.

The papers will be marked in two centres locally by experienced markers. When the marks are calculated, age related adjustments will be made.

These are the first transfer tests compiled by AQE — which has an unnamed chief examiner and a team of revisers who are primary school teaching professionals with experience of preparing pupils for the 11-plus.