GCSE rank #92 In-site school
Beths Grammar School
Bexley
Ofsted: Good Boys only
Consortium guide
Bexley 11 Plus
Understand how the Bexley Selection Test works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
4 schools GL Assessment / CEM 6 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
All 4 grammar schools across Bexley which are part of the Bexley Grammar Schools Consortium.
Test Format
Provided by GL Assessment. Mixture of English & maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions across two papers.
Eligibility
There are no formal admissions criteria; any child in Year 6 can sit the Bexley 11 Plus.
Places Available
On average, the Bexley Grammar Schools Consortium is capable of admitting 800 places across the borough.
Applications
Around 6000 children sit the exam each year.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Bexley Selection Test is the 11 plus exam used by all grammar schools within the Bexley Borough and provided by GL Assessment.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Bexley is a shared test route used by the four grammar schools in the borough, so it is usually the quickest way to understand the exam, the timetable, and the schools that stay in play before you start comparing them one by one.
The shortlist usually becomes clearer once you compare the daily journey to Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Townley alongside each school’s admissions rules.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Bexley route.
GCSE rank #54 In-site school
Bexley Grammar School
Welling, Bexley
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
GCSE rank #49 In-site school
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
Sidcup, Bexley
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #58 In-site school
Townley Grammar School
Bexleyheath, Bexley
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
What to compare next
- Daily travel time to each school, not just the test result
- How each school handles oversubscription after the selective score is met
- Single-sex versus mixed options and which setting suits your child better
- Whether the pace of preparation still feels sensible once the shortlist is realistic
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.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
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:
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
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.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
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.
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 this section
- Travel and realism
- Oversubscription rules
- School-by-school fit
In Bexley, the shared test makes the research stage simpler, but the final order usually depends on distance, route practicality, and how each school feels once you compare them side by side.
Check these before you rank schools
- Daily travel time to each school, not just the test result
- How each school handles oversubscription after the selective score is met
- Single-sex versus mixed options and which setting suits your child better
- Whether the pace of preparation still feels sensible once the shortlist is realistic
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.
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
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.
09 / FAQs
Questions families often ask
Use these answers as a planning guide, then confirm the live admissions details for your application year.
In this section
- Common questions
- Decision checks
- Application-year details
Does one Bexley Selection Test result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Bexley Selection Test route lets one test result support several school applications. The important caveat is that final admissions rules can still differ between the schools using that route.
Does a qualifying score guarantee a place? +
No. A strong or qualifying result may keep a school in play, but final offers still depend on the admissions policy, oversubscription rules, and how competitive that year is.
What should parents compare once the route itself is clear? +
Parents usually make better decisions when they compare the differences between Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Townley rather than treating them as interchangeable just because they share a test. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Bexley? +
The live process usually sits with Bexley Council and the individual schools in the consortium. This page helps you understand the route, but the final registration and admissions instructions should always be checked on the live official pages for the relevant year.