Medway 11+ Grammar Schools and Medway Test Guide
Medway operates its own 11+ selection system. The Medway Test is separate from the Kent Test, although one school has a specific policy allowing Kent Test grammar assessment as well.
How this regional 11+ system works
Medway operates its own 11+ selection system. The Medway Test is separate from the Kent Test, although one school has a specific policy allowing Kent Test grammar assessment as well.
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
Separate from the Kent Test
Children seeking most Medway grammar-school places need the Medway Test rather than assuming Kent Test coverage.
Open beyond Medway residents
Children can take the Medway Test whether or not they live in Medway.
Results precede school applications
Families receive the test outcome before the secondary-school application deadline.
Distance matters strongly
Medway warns that out-of-area families may be unlikely to receive a grammar place even after a grammar assessment.
Step-by-step grammar-school admissions process
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Register for the Medway Test | Use the Parent Portal within the current registration window. |
| Sit the correct test session | Medway-school and out-of-area pupils can have different testing arrangements. |
| Receive the result | Interpret grammar or non-grammar assessment separately from school allocation. |
| Apply for schools | Submit preferences through the local authority where you live. |
| Use appeals correctly | After allocation, parents can appeal refused grammar-school applications. |
What the 11+ may assess
English
The Medway Test includes literacy-related assessment; check the current specification.
Mathematics
Core numerical assessment forms part of selection.
Reasoning
Use current Medway familiarisation information for the exact component structure.
Written work
Check the current weighting and format rather than relying on old Medway guides.
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
- Fort Pitt Grammar School
- Holcombe Grammar School
- Rainham Mark Grammar School
- Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School
- Rochester Grammar School
- Chatham Grammar and other Medway selective routes
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
- Using the Kent Test instead of registering for the Medway Test.
- Assuming an out-of-area pass guarantees a place.
- Missing the Medway Test registration window.
- Failing to apply through the home local authority.
- Confusing a grammar assessment with final allocation.
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
Medway 11+ Grammar Schools and Medway Test Guide FAQs
Is the Medway Test the same as the Kent Test?
No. They are separate selective systems.
Can children outside Medway sit the test?
Yes. Medway states that a child can take the Medway Test whether or not they live in Medway.
Does passing guarantee a place?
No. Oversubscription and distance rules still apply.
When are results available?
For the 2027 entry cycle, Medway schedules results before the 31 October 2026 school-application deadline.
What if my child is assessed non-grammar?
Parents can still name grammar schools and later use statutory appeal rights after refusal.
Does any Medway school accept Kent Test assessment?
Medway notes an exception in Chatham Grammar’s policy; always verify the current school policy.
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+ Preparation by School Year
Preparation should change as children move through primary
school. Use these guides to match the amount and type of
practice to the child’s stage.
11+ Year 3 Preparation
Develop reading, vocabulary, mathematics and
reasoning foundations without intensive test pressure.
11+ Year 4 Preparation
Introduce structured preparation and the main
11+ question types before the core preparation year.
11+ Year 5 Preparation
Use a structured revision timetable covering
syllabus completion, timing and mock tests.
11+ Year 6 Preparation
Consolidate performance with final revision,
exam-month preparation and test-day planning.
Explore 11+ grammar schools
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.
Selective School Practice Resources
Private School Practice Tests
Practice resources for independent and private
school entrance assessments.
11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Tests
Practise vocabulary, verbal relationships,
classification, sequences, codes and related
11+ verbal reasoning skills.