GCSE rank #152 In-site school
Chatham Grammar
Chatham, Medway
Ofsted: Good Girls only
Consortium guide
Medway Test 11 Plus
Understand how the Medway Test works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
6 schools GL Assessment 7 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
The Medway Test is used by all 6 grammar schools in the Medway Grammar Schools Consortium.
Test Format
The test provider is GL Assessment, and includes the content in the areas of: maths; English; and verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Eligibility
Any child in Year 6 can sit the Medway Test.
Places Available
Planned Admission Numbers (PANs) can vary by year for each school in the Medway Grammar Schools Consortium.
Applications
Grammar schools in the Medway area are over-subscribed.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Medway Test is an 11 Plus exam set by GL Assessment. Used only by grammar schools within the Medway Council area, the exam is made for identifying pupils performing at the level expected for grammar school entry.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Medway Test 11 Plus is a shared route used by 6 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Medway Test route itself is clear, the shortlist usually improves when you compare travel, admissions rules, and school fit instead of treating every school on the route as interchangeable.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Medway Test route.
GCSE rank #132 In-site school
Fort Pitt Grammar School
Chatham, Medway
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #144 In-site school
Holcombe Grammar School
Chatham, Medway
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #145 In-site school
Rainham Mark Grammar School
Gillingham, Medway
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #114 In-site school
The Rochester Grammar School
Rochester, Medway
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #109 In-site school
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Rochester, Medway
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
What to compare next
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Medway Test includes multiple choice papers in English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning, along with a separate creative writing task. They are designed to assess your child’s academic ability and reasoning skills, and compare their results against their cohort of applicants.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Paper 1: English (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Maths (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 3: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
Verbal reasoning
Includes codes, sequences and logic using words, letters and symbols.
Non-verbal and spatial reasoning
Focuses on patterns, shapes, sequences and 3D spatial awareness.
Covers reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and literacy-style questions.
Based on Year 5 and early Year 6 curriculum topics, with a focus on applying knowledge to unfamiliar problem-solving questions.
Not included in the curriculum.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
Your child’s Medway 11 Plus Test raw mark is age-standardised to ensure that younger age on the date of sitting does not cause unfair advantages. Each child receives a final score is calculated using a weighting system as follows:English × 2, Maths × 2, Reasoning × 1
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
Every year a minimum total weighted score is determined based on ~25% of the total number of children attending Medway-maintained schools. This number becomes the cut off for the highest scoring children who take the test. In 2025, 482 children were assessed as grammar, which was equivalent to 25% of the cohort.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for the 11 Plus Medway Test, complete the online application on the council website. This is required whether you live in Medway or are applying from outside the area.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration opens
Monday 2nd June 2025
Registration closes
Friday 13th June 2025
Test date for Medway school pupils
Tuesday 16th – Wednesday 17th September 2025
Test date for external candidates
Weekend of 20th – 21st September 2025
Results day
Wednesday 15th October 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National offer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Register online with Medway Council
Visit the Medway Council website during the registration window and complete the Medway Test application form. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend.
Test centre for non-Medway schools
Medway Council will assign a test centre where your child can sit the Medway Test in September if they do not attend a Medway primary school.
Keep your confirmation email
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email which you should keep to refer to it later.
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
The shared route keeps the testing process simpler, but the final shortlist usually depends on how each linked school applies its admissions rules and how practical each option still looks once travel is taken seriously.
Check these before you rank schools
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation for the Medway Test makes a huge difference. Here are some practical steps you can take to help them succeed:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to give them ample time to confidently build the skills they need.
Use Practice Papers
Work through Medway-Test-style 11 Plus test papers in simulated test conditions. This helps your child get accustomed to the format and practices exam technique.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track your child’s progress to identify the areas and topics they find the most difficult to succeed in.
Encourage Daily Reading
Reading regularly strengthens their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which help out with the the English and reasoning papers.
Try Online Tools
Use online platforms that offer Medway 11 plus test papers specific practice questions and personal feedback to help make revision more engaging and effective.
Keeping preparation consistent, structured, and positive can help your child feel confident and ready for the test on the 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 Medway Test result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Medway 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 which Medway schools are realistic, whether you are also weighing Kent options, and how travel into the Medway towns changes the shortlist. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Medway Test? +
The live process usually sits with Medway Council and the participating schools. 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.