PETER Weir has claimed that "no viable alternative" has been offered by those calling for transfer exams to be suspended.
The education minister added that anything suggested "seems a lot less fair than having a test".
He told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme that he had been working with test providers, who would pitch papers at a level taking into account disruption during the Covid-19 crisis.
Support would also be offered to children across the education system to help catch up on lost learning.
However, he added: "Those who are seeking simply to remove the transfer test for this year have not offered any feasible alternative by which schools can actually select."
Responding to criticism that plans for a full return to classroom learning in September are unrealistic, he said he accepted that not all schools may be able to cater for all children.
However, he added that with lack of community transmission of coronavirus "things are moving in a very positive direction".
"I hope further changes can be made which can enable a full resumption in September."
