What is the Bexley Selection Test and why is it necessary?

Grammar schools are academically selective, meaning your child must meet a certain academic standard to be eligible for a place. To find this out, your child must take the Selection Test and achieve the selective test mark that is decided by the Grammar School Head Teachers.

This test is commonly known as the 11 Plus, as children are typically 11 years old when they begin grammar school.

The test assesses verbal ability and English comprehension, numerical reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Only children who achieve the selective mark will be eligible for consideration for entry to a Grammar School in Bexley.

Contents

The Bexley Selection Test in September 2025 is for children born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015 who will start secondary school in September 2026.

By registering your child for the test, you confirm that you have read and accepted all the information provided. The test is open to all children, regardless of where they live, but places are allocated according to each school’s oversubscription criteria.

Secondary schools in Bexley aim to hold their open events in September and October 2025, and the grammar schools will hold at least one open session after the selection test results are published and before the October half term. More details, including the full admissions process, will be available:

• in the future 'Admission to Secondary Schools in Bexley 2026' online booklet - published by September 2025
• or, in your home Local Authority’s admissions information if you do not live in the London Borough of Bexley

To be considered for a place at a Bexley Grammar School through the coordinated secondary application process, your child must:

• achieve the selective standard in the Bexley Selection Test, taken at the beginning of Year 6 (previously known as the '11 plus)
• list one or more Bexley Grammar Schools as preferences on your eAdmissions application

Testing of children outside the normal age range

• if a child sits the test outside their normal age group and is not deemed selective, they cannot retake the test until Year 7 of secondary school
• the admission authority for the preferred school decides whether a child can be admitted outside their normal age group
• children sitting the test outside the usual age range are typically in a class one year ahead or behind in primary school
• if your child was not born between 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015, you will not be able to register for the test online and will need to contact the School Admissions Team with your child’s details in order to register your child for the test
• incorrect date of birth on the registration form will result in disqualification from the test

Requests for out-of-age secondary applications must be made in writing (email or letter) to all Bexley schools which are to be included as preferences on your secondary online application.

Grammar School admission authorities will decide whether the child can be admitted outside their normal age group if deemed selective.

Testing after September 2025

• year 6 pupils can only take the test once
• if you move into the area while your child is in Year 6 and you did not register from your previous address before 31 May 2025, they can be tested for the first time in secondary school
• Testing in Years 7, 8, or 9 is available for children attending an all-ability school and achieving the selective standard
• second-time test takers will be tested at the end of the academic year
• for more details, contact your preferred Bexley Grammar School

Bexley Grammar Schools and places 

Grammar Schools

Bexley has 4 Grammar Schools:

• Beths Grammar School (boys)
• Bexley Grammar School (mixed)
• Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School (mixed)
• Townley Grammar School (girls)

Places

• a single test is used for admission to all four grammar schools
• a total of 800 places will be available across these schools in September 2026. 
• achieving the selective standard does not guarantee a grammar school place unless your child is among the top 180 highest scorers
• most places are offered based on the distance between home and school

Grammar School admissions and oversubscription criteria

Grammar schools allocate places based on their oversubscription criteria, with home-to-school distance being a key deciding factor in most cases.

Full admissions policies for each school are available on their respective websites.

If grammar school places remain unfilled after the initial allocation, additional places will be allocated in the following order:

• children who scored one mark below the selective score, ranked according to the school’s oversubscription criteria
• children who scored two marks below, ranked in the same way

Registration dates and process

It is your responsibility to register your child online for the Bexley selection test, including if they attend a primary school in Bexley. Public libraries provide internet access if you do not have a computer at home. If you do not have an email address, we recommend creating one through a free provider such as Google, Yahoo, or Hotmail

• the online registration site opens on 1 May 2025 and closes at midnight on 31 May 2025
• late registration requests will not be accepted, and there is no appeal process for late applications
• upon submission, you will receive a confirmation email with an application reference number starting with SA. Your application is not valid without this confirmation
• if you experience any difficulties with online registration, you can call or email the School Admissions Team for assistance

Requesting special arrangements

There are some special arrangements that can be made, depending on the nature of a child’s disability or need. They will reflect the arrangements that are made within a child’s own school, such as enlarged and coloured papers for a child with a visual impairment or additional time for children whose condition means that they work more slowly than others. If your child has a disability or special need, you should first discuss the need for any possible special arrangements with your child’s Head Teacher

• special arrangement requests must be submitted by the Head Teacher between 1 May 2025 and 31 May 2025
• each request is assessed individually and must include copies of supporting reports from consultants or other professionals
• parents must ensure Head Teacher applications and all supporting evidence are submitted before the deadline
• submitting a request for special arrangements does not register your child for the Bexley Selection Test. Parent or Carer's must separately register their child for the Bexley Selection Test online
• late applications (after 31 May 2025) will not be accepted
   

Considerations before registering

If you make an error in your registration or have a query regarding it, please do not create multiple applications, instead please email selectiontests@bexley.gov.uk, and wait for a response.

• the Bexley Selection Test is highly competitive, with approximately 30% of applicants being deemed selective in recent years
• each year, Bexley Selection Test registrations are later withdrawn. To avoid unnecessary costs, ensure you genuinely wish your child to take the test and have discussed this decision with them before submitting the registration form
• tests for other Grammar Schools, such as those in Sutton and Medway, may be scheduled on the same dates as the Bexley test. Bexley will not provide alternative test dates to accommodate other exams

Test centres and dates

• the test centres are the four Bexley Grammar Schools listed above
• if your child will be sitting the test in their own Bexley primary school, they will sit the test on Tuesday 9 September
• you will be able to lookup your child’s Test centre date, time, and location online via the Bexley Selection Test webpage by Monday 1 September
• please contact the School Admissions Team by Tuesday 2 September if you are having trouble looking up your child's Test centre details online, and:
  • you registered your child for the test
  • your child does not attend one of the listed primary schools that manage their own test

Familiarisation and practice for the Bexley Selection Test

• coaching or tutoring for the Bexley selection test is not supported by the Grammar Schools or the London Borough of Bexley
• the London Borough of Bexley does not support any form of 'mock' testing before the selection test
• children should be able to attempt all questions using what they have learned in school
• reading a wide range of books may help improve English comprehension and vocabulary
• when you register your child for the Bexley Selection Test, you will receive a link to a familiarisation pack in your registration confirmation email
• you can work through the pack with your child to help them understand the test format and the types of questions they will encounter
• practice questions will also be provided at the start of each test section

Bexley Selection Test papers

The Bexley Selection Test assesses verbal ability and English comprehension, numerical reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Both test papers will be taken in the same session. 

GL Assessment is the Bexley Selection Test provider. While they also administer the Kent selection test, these are separate tests. Achieving a selective standard in the Kent test or any other selection test will not be considered for the Bexley Selection Test.

Test format and structure

• the Bexley Selection Test consists of two separate booklets
• each test is divided into sections, with a set time allocated for each section
• both tests are timed and consist of multiple-choice questions
• each paper lasts approximately 50 minutes, plus additional time for instructions and practice questions
• verbal ability assesses vocabulary, comprehension, and verbal reasoning skills
• numerical reasoning measures the ability to solve mathematical problems, with content not exceeding what children are expected to learn by the end of Year 5
• non-verbal reasoning assesses the ability to recognize patterns, understand relationships between objects, and make logical deductions
• the invigilator will lead students through the test, instructing them when to move to the next section
• all working out must be done in the test booklet, as rough paper will not be provided
• each test session lasts from two and a half to three hours, including instructions, both test papers, short practice examples and a break between the papers

Items to bring for the test

• two sharp HB pencils, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener (in a clear bag or case
• spare pencils, erasers, and sharpeners will be available at the test centre if needed
• a wristwatch may be worn, but each test centre has a clock, and time reminders will be given
• a small bottle of water and a small snack for the break between test papers (no fizzy or sticky drinks)
• no additional equipment is required or allowed
• mobile phones must be switched off before entering the room to prevent disruption
• all personal items must be left at the side of the room during the test

Late testing and absences

• if your child is unwell or faces serious personal circumstances, for example a family bereavement or illness, please do not send them to the test. Notify their Head Teacher immediately
• medical evidence, for example a doctor's note, is required to confirm the illness
• reasons other than illness or serious personal circumstances will not be accepted
• arrangements may be made for them to sit the test by the first week of October
• if a child sits the test while unwell or upset, no retrospective allowances can be made
• children who fall ill during the test and cannot complete it will not be given another opportunity to retake it. A Review Panel will determine whether the child should be deemed selective
• punctuality is essential – late arrivals will not be allowed to sit the test, and no alternative session will be offered. Plan your journey in advance, allowing extra time for travel delays

Selection process and scoring

• your child meeting the selective standard is based on the total weighted age-standardised score achieved in the test
• all children who take the test are ranked in order of their total age-standardised score
• the Council, in conjunction with the four Grammar Schools, determines the selective score
• more children are deemed selective than the number of available places, as some will be offered places at other higher preferred schools
• in 2024, a total of 6,423 children sat the test, and 2,009 achieved the selective standard, with 800 grammar school places available
• the top 180 children with the highest total age-standardised scores are placed in one of the highest priority groups for their preferred grammar school
• other selective pupils are not guaranteed a place, as offers depend on the School's admissions criteria, such as distance and sibling priority

Scoring process

You will be informed of the total age-standardised score, which determines whether your child meets the selective standard.

• the test papers are marked externally
• 50% from the verbal ability score
• 25% from the numerical ability score
• 25% from the non-verbal ability score
• raw scores (the number of correct answers) are converted into age-standardised scores to account for the child’s age at the time of the test, ensuring fairness for younger candidates
• the average total weighted age-standardised score is 200, with approximately two-thirds of candidates scoring between 170 and 230
   

The test provider and enquiries

• Bexley Selection Test papers are provided by GL Assessment
• all enquiries regarding the test must be directed to the School Admissions Team or your child’s Head Teacher
• GL Assessment cannot provide information directly to parents or respond to individual concerns

Test results and a review of test scores

• you will be able to lookup your child’s test results online via the Bexley Selection Test webpage in early October 2025 - date to be confirmed
• results will be shared with your child's Bexley primary school Head Teacher for reference if a Head Teacher review request is deemed appropriate
• test results will not be automatically sent to out-of-borough schools, so it is the responsibility of parents/carers to advise their school of the outcome of their test
• Head Teachers will have the opportunity to request a review of a child’s test score, but this process will take place after results are published and after the secondary school application deadline
• Parents/carers of children not deemed selective will receive details on how to appeal. It is your responsibility to appeal directly to the Bexley secondary school

If your child is not deemed selective, but you believe there are grounds for a review, you should:

• still include a Grammar School preference on your secondary school application
• Discuss with the Head Teacher whether a review request should be submitted

The Independent Review Panel will only change selective decisions in exceptional circumstances. Their decision is final, and there is no appeal process beyond this stage.

Schools that manage their own test

There are schools inside and outside of Bexley that manage their own test. A list of these schools can be found below: