Bexley 11+ Grammar Schools and Selection Test Guide
Bexley operates a distinct selection test for its four grammar schools. The test is separate from both the Kent Test and Medway Test.
How this regional 11+ system works
Bexley operates a distinct selection test for its four grammar schools. The test is separate from both the Kent Test and Medway Test.
Use this flagship page to understand the regional structure, then verify the current entry-year policy with the relevant local authority, consortium and individual grammar school. Registration windows, test providers, score-sharing arrangements, priority areas and oversubscription rules can change.
Four things parents need to understand
Four grammar schools
Bexley has Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar, and Townley Grammar.
One selection test
A single Bexley Selection Test is used for all four grammar schools.
Three ability areas
The current test assesses verbal ability and English comprehension, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
Selective does not always mean offered
Most places are still subject to individual school admissions criteria such as distance.
Step-by-step grammar-school admissions process
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Register for the Bexley test | Registration is required even for children attending Bexley primary schools. |
| Prepare for the current weighting | Build verbal/English, numerical and non-verbal ability. |
| Sit the selection test | Testing is held through schools and grammar-school test centres. |
| Review the result | Understand selective status and any high-score priority category. |
| Apply for grammar schools | Name the schools on the secondary-school application and review their oversubscription criteria. |
What the 11+ may assess
Verbal ability and English
Bexley currently weights verbal ability, including English comprehension, heavily.
Numerical reasoning
Mathematical and numerical reasoning contribute to the standardised score.
Non-verbal reasoning
Visual reasoning forms a further component.
Age standardisation
Bexley reports a weighted age-standardised total rather than a simple raw-paper total.
Official familiarisation material should be the starting point. Third-party practice is most useful when its question types, timing, response format and difficulty resemble the current test. Scores from unrelated publishers should not be treated as interchangeable predictions.
Grammar schools and selective routes covered
- Beths Grammar School
- Bexley Grammar School
- Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
- Townley Grammar School
Retain a separate school-specific SET page when it has substantial unique value: current admissions-policy detail, distinct test stages, catchment analysis, travel guidance, school-specific search demand or a strong existing ranking. Thin school summaries should be merged into this regional flagship.
How to prepare effectively
1. Diagnose
Identify strengths and gaps in the exact subjects required by the target test. Record the reason for errors, not just the score.
2. Teach
Repair curriculum, vocabulary and reasoning gaps explicitly before relying on repeated papers.
3. Practise
Use short targeted sets, then mix skills so the child must recognise the appropriate method independently.
4. Time and rehearse
Introduce timing after accuracy is secure. Progress towards realistic papers, answer-sheet practice and full-session stamina.
Scores, qualifying standards and offers
A qualifying score, standardised score, rank and effective allocation score can mean different things. A child may be academically eligible but still not receive an offer because the school is oversubscribed.
Historical scores can help parents understand competitiveness, but they should not be presented as guaranteed future thresholds. Applicant numbers, age standardisation, priority categories, address rules and school capacity can all change the final allocation picture.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the Kent Test is valid for Bexley grammar schools.
- Missing the Bexley registration deadline.
- Treating selective status as a guaranteed offer.
- Ignoring distance and individual school oversubscription rules.
- Using raw-score practice claims as if they translate directly to Bexley’s standardised outcome.
Official information and related SET guides
Official admissions sources
Related School Entrance Tests guides
11+ Year 4 Preparation11+ Year 5 Preparation11+ Year 6 Final Preparation11+ Practice Tests11+ Exam Timelines11+ Syllabus Guide
Bexley 11+ Grammar Schools and Selection Test Guide FAQs
How many Bexley grammar schools are there?
Four.
Does one test cover all four?
Yes. Bexley uses one Selection Test for the four grammar schools.
What does the test assess?
The current test covers verbal ability and English comprehension, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
Does being selective guarantee an offer?
No. Most applicants are still ranked using each school’s oversubscription criteria.
Is Bexley the same as Kent or Medway?
No. Bexley, Kent and Medway operate separate selection systems.
Can children outside Bexley sit the test?
Yes. Bexley states the test is open regardless of where the child lives, but school allocation criteria still apply.
Build the plan around the actual admissions policy
Confirm the current test, school criteria and application stages first. Then build the relevant knowledge and reasoning skills, use practice diagnostically and add realistic timed rehearsal only when accuracy is secure.
Editorial framework updated August 2026. Verify all dates and admission arrangements for the relevant entry year directly with the authority, consortium and school.
11+ Grammar School Guides by Region
Grammar-school admissions vary considerably across England.
Select your region below for guidance on local 11+ tests,
grammar schools, admissions policies, preparation,
qualifying scores and school applications.
Birmingham & West Midlands
Birmingham and West Midlands grammar schools,
entrance testing and regional selective admissions.
View Birmingham & West Midlands 11+ guide →
Warwickshire
Warwickshire grammar schools, priority areas and
West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test guidance.
View Warwickshire 11+ guide →
Liverpool & Wirral
Wirral grammar schools, local assessment arrangements
and selective routes around Liverpool.
View Liverpool & Wirral 11+ guide →
Manchester & Trafford
Trafford grammar schools and the different selective
admissions routes around Greater Manchester.
View Manchester & Trafford 11+ guide →
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire grammar schools, entrance testing,
qualifying ranks and applications.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire grammar schools, local 11+ testing
and school-specific admissions arrangements.
View Lincolnshire 11+ guide →
Devon
Compare selective routes around Plymouth, Torbay
and Colyton.
View Devon 11+ grammar schools guide →
Bournemouth & Poole
Grammar-school admissions serving Bournemouth,
Poole and the wider Dorset area.
View Bournemouth & Poole 11+ guide →
Yorkshire & North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire grammar schools and other
school-specific selective routes across Yorkshire.
View Yorkshire 11+ grammar schools guide →
Medway
Medway Test preparation and grammar-school admissions,
separate from the Kent Test system.
Bexley
Bexley Selection Test guidance and admissions
to Bexley’s four grammar schools.
Sutton
Sutton Selective Eligibility Test, grammar-school
second stages and admissions.
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire grammar schools and the
Secondary Transfer Test admissions system.
Kent
Kent Test guidance, grammar assessment and
individual grammar-school admissions criteria.
View Kent 11+ guide →
Essex
CSSE entrance testing and grammar-school admissions
across Essex and Southend.
Berkshire
Compare Slough Consortium, Reading School and
Kendrick School selective admissions.
Hertfordshire
South West Herts and other selective-school
admissions arrangements across Hertfordshire.
More 11+ and Private School Practice
Private School Practice Tests
Explore additional practice resources for selective
independent and private school entrance assessments.
11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Tests
Practise verbal reasoning skills including vocabulary,
relationships, classifications, sequences and codes.
Start with the current admissions policy of the schools
you are considering. There is no single national 11+
examination, and neighbouring regions can use different
tests and admissions rules.