UK Rank #92 In-site school
Beths Grammar School
Bexley
Ofsted: Good Boys only
Consortium guide
Bexley 11 Plus
The Bexley Selection Test is the shared 11 Plus route for the borough's four grammar schools: Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Townley. It combines English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, then the schools use the result alongside their own admissions policies. The important context is that a selective result keeps the route open, but final options still depend on school type, distance, oversubscription and the journey a child would make each day.
4 schools GL Assessment / CEM 18 downloads
6 key dates
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Bexley route is unusually easy to name but still takes a little unpacking. One shared Bexley Selection Test is used for the borough’s four grammar schools: Beths Grammar School, Bexley Grammar School, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, and Townley Grammar School. A child does not sit four different entrance exams for those schools. The result from the shared test is the academic gate into the Bexley grammar admissions process.
The test itself is a GL Assessment route made up of two multiple-choice papers. Across the papers, children meet English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, so the exam is not just a school-curriculum test and not just a reasoning test either. It is trying to build a broad academic picture from reading, numerical work, language logic and visual problem solving.
The point that often causes confusion is what happens after the result. A selective score means the grammar route remains available, but it does not make the four schools identical and it does not remove normal admissions rules. Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Townley differ by school type, setting, journey pattern and oversubscription policy. The Bexley page therefore has to do two jobs: explain the one shared exam, then show how that single result leads into four separate school decisions.
Geography matters more here than it first appears. Bexley attracts families from inside and outside the borough, and the schools sit in different parts of the local travel map. A score can make a school possible on paper while the daily journey, school character or admissions priority makes another Bexley option more realistic. That is the shape of the route: one test, four schools, and a final decision that depends on much more than the test name.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Bexley route.
UK Rank #54 In-site school
Bexley Grammar School
Welling, Bexley
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
UK Rank #49 In-site school
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
Sidcup, Bexley
Ofsted: Good Mixed
UK Rank #58 In-site school
Townley Grammar School
Bexleyheath, Bexley
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Bexley Selection Test consists of two 50-60 minute multiple-choice papers. These are designed to assess your child’s academic ability and problem-solving skills in the subject areas below. Each paper contains a mix of all four subjects.
Paper structure
Each Paper (GL Assessment) Contains:
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
English Comprehension Questions
Ability to understand, interpret and analyse written text.
Maths Questions
Numerical reasoning questions up to content taught at the end of Year 5.
Verbal Reasoning
Aptitude to understand, analyse and draw conclusions logically from spoken and written information.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Questions designed to test your child’s ability to understand, analyse and draw conclusions logically from visual information, for example diagrams, patterns, and shapes.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
The Bexley 11 Plus Test is age-standardised to compare children as fairly as possible. Each child receives:
Score breakdown
Verbal Ability
verbal reasoning and English comprehension
Numerical Ability
Maths
Non-Verbal Ability
non-verbal reasoning
How the final score is worked out
The overall score is worked out from the standardised section scores below.
50%
verbal ability
25%
numerical ability
25%
non-verbal ability
There is no set pass mark. The selective score is calculated after the standardised scores. Typically, around one third of children achieve the selective score, which allows them to progress in the admissions process. Approximately two thirds of children score between 170-230 in the total weighted age-standardised score, with the average mark being 200.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
You must complete an online application via the Bexley Borough Council website to register your child for the Bexley 11 Plus Test. This is required whether you reside in Bexley or are applying from outside the area, and late registrations will not be accepted.
Key dates
Registration opens
Thursday 1st May 2025
Registration closes
Saturday 31st May 2025
Test date for Bexley primary pupils
Tuesday 9th September 2025
Test date for out-of-borough pupils
8th-11th September 2025
Results day
Typically mid-late October 2025
National offer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Online Registration with Bexley Borough Council
Visit the Bexley Borough Council website during the registration period and complete the application form for the Bexley Selection Test. You will need to provide your child’s details and the name of their primary school. Please note that the registration window for 2026 entry is now closed.
For children outside the age range
If your child is due to start secondary school in September 2026 but was not born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015, please contact SelectionTests@bexley.gov.uk for further guidance.
Keep a copy of your confirmation
After completing the registration, you may receive a confirmation email. Be sure to keep this email for your records.
05 / Resources
Practice papers and familiarisation materials
These local PDF copies are useful for format practice and timing; dates, paper formats, and registration details can change, so the current admissions page remains the source to trust.
English
Maths
PaperMaths
GL Assessment Maths Practice Paper 1
Mark schemeMaths
GL Assessment Maths Practice Paper 1
PaperMaths
GL Assessment Maths Practice Paper 2
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Paper 1
Mark schemeNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Paper 1
Verbal Reasoning
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
Mark schemeVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 2
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 3
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Skills Paper
Mark schemeVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Skills Paper
Non-Verbal Reasoning
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
Mark schemeNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Paper 2
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Paper 3
06 / Linked schools
Schools on this route
These are the schools currently mapped to the Bexley route in Grammar School Hub.
Search workspace
Search and filter schools
Search by school or area, then narrow the shortlist by school type, Ofsted, or test pattern where it helps.
Compare up to 4 schools
4 schools
Assessment type
No schools selected to compare yet.
UK Rank #49
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
Sidcup / Bexley
Ofsted: GoodMixed
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- 7.3 candidates/place
- Attainment 8
- 75.6
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 98.9%
UK Rank #58
Townley Grammar School
Bexleyheath / Bexley
Ofsted: OutstandingGirls only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 75.0
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 98.7%
UK Rank #92
Beths Grammar School
Bexley / Greater London
Ofsted: GoodBoys only
- Assessment
- CEM
- Competition
- ~7.3 candidates/placeEstimate
- Attainment 8
- 71.6
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 100.0%
UK Rank #54
Bexley Grammar School
Welling / Bexley
Ofsted: OutstandingMixed
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- ~7.3 candidates/placeEstimate
- Attainment 8
- 74.7
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 99.6%
07 / Shortlisting
Admissions points to compare school by school
Once the route itself is clear, treat the linked schools as separate choices. This is usually where travel, oversubscription rules, and school fit start to matter most.
In Bexley, the score keeps the grammar route open; it does not make the four schools interchangeable. Journey time, school type, campus setting and oversubscription rules separate Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Townley.
Check these before you rank schools
- Journey patterns to Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Townley on an ordinary school day
- Single-sex versus mixed options if both styles are still on your table
- How oversubscription rules affect what a qualifying score really means at each school
- Whether each school's pace, atmosphere, and location still feel right for your child
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child in preparing for the Bexley Test can have a big impact on their chance of success. Below are some strategies to help them prepare.
Start Early
Start preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to build skills gradually and reduce the chance of feeling overwhelmed.
Use Practice Papers
Complete Bexley 11 Plus exam past papers together, and practice timed sections. This will help familiarise you child with the exam format, and improving scores will boost their confidence.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track their progress and dedicate extra time to the topics and question types that they find more challenging.
Encourage Daily Reading
Regular reading increases vocabulary, improves comprehension, and develops analytical thinking which are all skills vital for the Bexley 11 Plus.
Try Online Tools
Educational platforms provide targeted practice and offer personalised feedback, making study sessions engaging and effective.
Keep preparation steady, structured, and positive, and help your child feel confident and prepared in time for exam day.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which Bexley schools use the shared Selection Test?
Beths Grammar School, Bexley Grammar School, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, and Townley Grammar School use the Bexley Selection Test. The test is shared, but each school still has its own admissions policy and local journey pattern.
Can a Bexley selective result still miss a preferred school?
Yes. A selective result keeps the Bexley grammar route open, but final offers still depend on the named school, preferences, distance, oversubscription and the number of applicants that year.
Why do the four Bexley schools still feel different after one shared test?
The Bexley Selection Test is shared, but Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Townley differ by school type, location, admissions policy and daily journey. The test explains academic eligibility; the school decision still happens school by school.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Bexley?
The live process usually sits with Bexley Council and the individual schools in the consortium. The official pages remain the source of truth for registration windows, test venues, access arrangements and final admissions instructions for the relevant year.