Standardised Age Scores
A child’s test mark begins as a raw score — the number of answers they got right. This is then adjusted to create a standardised age score, helping to make the results fairer across all pupils sitting the assessment.
This adjustment takes two main things into account: how difficult the test was and the child’s age when they completed it.
Why is this adjustment made?
Children in the same year group are not all the same age. A pupil born early in the school year may be almost twelve months older than a pupil born near the end of it. That age difference can affect performance, so the standardisation process helps reduce any unfair advantage linked to age.
Each child will receive a standardised score for English and Maths. These are then combined to give a Total Standardised Age Score, which is the figure most grammar schools consider when applying their admissions criteria.
Cohort Bands
Alongside the standardised scores, SEAG also assigns each child to a cohort band. This gives a broad indication of where a child’s result sits in relation to the other children who took the assessment that year.
Once all results have been calculated, pupils are ordered by their total standardised score and grouped into bands. Because this is based on the performance of the full year group, the score boundaries for each band may differ from one year to the next.
Band A — Strongest overall performance
Band B — Performing above the average range
Band C — Performing within the average range
Band D — Performing below the average range
Different schools use cohort bands in different ways. For some, the band may play a key role in selection, while others may focus more heavily on the total standardised score. For this reason, it is important to read the admissions guidance for each school carefully.
