The PPTC Transfer Test (formerly known as the GL test in Northern Ireland) is the alternative NI assessment used by Catholic-maintained and integrated grammar schools.
Where this format is used
The PPTC test is used by the Catholic-maintained and several integrated grammar schools across Northern Ireland. Knowing which format your child will sit is the single most important fact to establish before buying a single practice paper, because format-specific practice is dramatically more useful than generic practice.
Paper structure & timing
The PPTC test is a GL Assessment-based assessment with a standardised single sitting in November. It typically includes English, Maths and reasoning components.
Unlike AQE, the PPTC test is sat on a single morning, which intensifies the importance of one-day performance but reduces the multi-week scheduling pressure on families.
Question style & what it rewards
PPTC follows GL Assessment's familiar style: discrete subject sections, multiple-choice answer transfer, and predictable question types. It is the closest NI equivalent of mainland GL Assessment papers.
It rewards the same disciplined, format-specific practice that mainland GL papers do, with the additional pressure of a single make-or-break sitting.
How to prepare for it specifically
Combine GL Assessment practice papers from the mainland with NI-specific workbooks for cultural and curriculum alignment. The skills are transferable but local context matters.
Many NI families sit both AQE and PPTC, especially where the target school list spans both systems — plan the autumn calendar carefully if this applies to you.
Common myths about this format
A common myth is that the two NI tests are interchangeable. They are not — they have different formats, different scoring and different participating schools. Choose your preparation route based on the schools you are targeting.
Practical recommendations
Practical recommendation: confirm which test (or both) your target schools accept before buying any materials. The wrong test preparation is worse than no preparation because it builds confidence in the wrong format. Treat the format as a craft to be learned alongside the underlying subject material, not as a hurdle to clear once and forget about.