Today thousands of P7 pupils will sit the first paper in this year's transfer test - an annual ritual inflicted on our children that has endured through numerous elections, devolved administrations and education ministers.
It is an unloved and discredited process, placing enormous pressure on children as young as ten, whose parents may strongly dislike the system but feel they have no other option if they wish their child to have the chance of a grammar school education.
Supporters of academic selection like to claim that Northern Ireland has a great education system.
In fact, numerous studies have highlighted the sharp inequalities that exist, the widespread underachievement and the detrimental impact that tests have on young children.
A new report from Queen's University Belfast is just the latest to underline the significant issues around academic selection, saying it disadvantages those who are already the most disadvantaged in our society.
The paper, by Professor Joanne Hughes and Dr Rebecca Loader, said that selection 'perpetuates middle-class advantage and limits potential for the development of a more integrative and inclusive education system.''
They add: ''It seems particularly egregious that the young and most vulnerable in the most disadvantaged Catholic and Protestant communities are the victims of an education system that manifestly fails to serve their interests.''
In schools, the focus on maths and English for the purposes of the transfer test at the expense of other subjects such as history, geography, art and music is also criticised.
If we manage to get the Stormont Executive restored, any future education minister should take careful note of the findings of this and previous studies which provide abundant evidence of the negative effect of a two-tier system which fails so many of our children.
Unfortunately, any change - even if the political will existed - will come too late for the youngsters sitting the transfer test today.
Not only are the tests unregulated, there are also separate exam processes, meaning some pupils will sit up to five papers, which cannot be viewed as acceptable.
From next November, a common post-primary test is due to take place which will be used by the majority of selective schools.
This is at least an improvement on the current situation but ultimately we need to see academic selection at age ten or eleven ended and a fair and equitable system established which best serves all our children, not just the most advantaged.
