Keep the two registrations separate
One account or confirmation does not enter your child for both tests. Save a registration reference for each and check that both sets of details use the correct legal name, date of birth and address.
Registration windows can be very different. For the 2026 tests for 2027 entry, Bexley closed registration on 31 March, while Kent closed on 1 July. Both windows have passed. Families planning a later entry year must use the new official timetables when published.
Compare the test formats
| Route | What the published format includes |
|---|---|
| Bexley | Verbal ability and English comprehension, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning in multiple-choice papers. |
| Kent | English and maths, plus reasoning papers. A separate writing exercise may be used in the headteacher assessment process. |
Use the familiarisation materials linked by each organiser. General English and maths work may help with both, but paper layout, timings and instructions can differ.
Check clashes before promising both tests
Compare the actual test invitations, including arrival and collection times. A date range on an admissions page does not mean you can choose any date in that range.
Bexley explicitly says it will not rearrange a test to accommodate another exam. Contact the organisers if sessions overlap, then make a decision using their written responses. Do not assume an illness or exceptional-circumstances session can be used as a convenient replacement.
Decide what each result would let you apply for
Write down the Bexley schools and the Kent schools you would accept. Beside each, add the journey, academic requirement and priority category for your address. If one test leads only to schools you would never use, reconsider that registration.
After results, keep the two score reports separate. The Bexley score explanation and Kent score explanation show why the numbers cannot be compared directly.
You then make one normal secondary application through your home council, naming individual schools in preference order. Include realistic alternatives even when your child has qualified in both areas.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Still wondering?
Can a Bexley score be used for a Kent grammar school?
Do not treat the results as interchangeable. Each school specifies its accepted test route; Kent and Bexley operate separate selection arrangements.
Will Bexley move the test if it clashes with another exam?
Bexley’s 2026 guidance says it will not provide alternative dates to accommodate other grammar school exams. Check the actual session before assuming both tests are possible.
Do we apply through both councils after the tests?
For ordinary Year 7 entry, list the individual schools on your home council’s CAF, even if the schools are in both Bexley and Kent.
Official sources
Checked 28 Sept 2026