Post-primary transfer tests have been cancelled in the North of Ireland amid a Covid-19 surge.
The decision was announced just four days before thousands of pupils were due to sit the first of a series of exams on Saturday.
The tests are used to select pupils by the majority of NI grammar schools.
It comes as schools are likely to shut until after the half-term break in mid-February as part of efforts to stem the soaring number of coronavirus cases.
The transfer tests are run by the Association for Quality Education (AQE) and the Post Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC).
The AQE tests were due to go ahead on 9, 16 and 23 January.
The PPTC test was due to take place on Saturday 30 January with a supplementary test on Saturday 6 February.
In a statement to BBC News NI, AQE said the tests would not take place in January due to the public health situation.
They said that they would now consult with the 34 grammar schools who use their tests on a way forward.
The PPTC said an expected announcement by the executive that schools would move to remote learning for many pupils until late February meant their tests would not proceed.
“If no pupils are able to sit the Entrance Assessment on 30th January 2021 because of Covid restrictions, and these restrictions would not have ended before 6th February 2021 then PPTC will be unable to provide an assessment for any pupils,” they said.
“The responsibility falls on PPTC schools to ensure that their admissions criteria cover this contingency.”
“PPTC accept that this decision may be disappointing to many children who would have welcomed the opportunity to take the assessment.”
“We wish all children well in their future pathways.”
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