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Are you considering a grammar school in the London Borough of Bexley for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about admissions in 2024–2025. Keep reading to:
Find out more about grammar schools in Bexley
Learn about the Bexley Selection Test – the local 11 plus exam
Discover which subjects your child will be tested on
Plus, get exclusive resources to help your child prepare!
Which schools use the Bexley Selection Test?
Dates for your diary
Bexley Selection Test registration opens: Wednesday 1st May 2024
Bexley Selection Test registration deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
Bexley Selection Test exam: between Monday 9th and Thursday 12th September 2024
Bexley Selection Test results: October 2024 (exact date TBC)
Secondary school application deadline: 31st October 2024
School allocations: 3rd March 2025
Dates can vary, so always check with your target schools!
What is the Bexley Selection Test?
The Bexley Selection Test is an academic exam (formerly known in the area as the 11 plus) used by grammar schools in Bexley, London. All four grammar schools in the borough use the Bexley Selection Test. This means that your child only needs to take the test once, even if they’re applying to two or more grammar schools in the borough.
The Bexley Selection Test takes place in September in Year 6. If your child goes to a Bexley primary school, they will likely take the test at their own school. Alternatively, your child will be allocated a test centre, which will be one of the four grammar schools or another secondary school in Bexley.
Note that if your child is applying for a grammar school within Bromley, Kent or Medway, they will take a separate exam. Find out more information about these exams:
What's on the Bexley Selection Test?
The Bexley Selection Test consists of two test papers which are provided by GL Assessment. Each paper contains approximately 50 minutes of questions, plus time for instructions and practice questions. All the questions in the Bexley Selection Test are multiple-choice.
Both papers are divided into smaller, individually-timed sections. Each paper includes a mixture of questions in:
English comprehension: how well your child can understand, interpret, and analyse written text
Maths: Key Stage 2 content taught up to the end of Year 5
Verbal reasoning: using logic to solve problems with written information, like letters, words, symbols and numbers
Non-verbal reasoning: using logic to solve problems with visual information, such as diagrams, shapes and pictures
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How is the Bexley Selection Test marked?
After the test, your child’s papers will be sent to GL Assessment for marking.
First, each paper is marked to provide a 'raw' score. This is the sum of your child's marks for correct answers.
Next, each raw score is age-standardised based on your child's age in years and months at the time of taking the test. This is to ensure that younger children aren't disadvantaged.
Your child will be given an age-standardised score for each of the three main subject areas: verbal ability (verbal reasoning and comprehension), numerical ability (maths), and non-verbal ability (non-verbal reasoning).
They will also receive one total age-standardised score that will be used to decide whether they are selective or not. The total score is weighted by following this formula:
50% of the verbal ability score + 25% of the numerical ability score + 25% of the non-verbal ability score
Achieving a total weighted standardised score of 200 represents that the child is at an average academic level for their year group.
What's the pass mark for the Bexley Selection Test?
There is no specified pass mark for the Bexley Selection Test. Each of the four grammar schools has 180 places available in Year 7. The 180 children with the highest scores applying to each grammar school will be eligible for a place at that school.
The Bexley Selection Test is competitive. Around 30% of children who take the test achieve a mark high enough to be considered for a grammar school place in the borough.
How to apply to Bexley grammar schools
If you're considering a Bexley grammar school for your child, it's a good idea to speak to your child's teacher first. Grammar schools are academically-selective and select children working towards the top of their year group. Your child's teacher will be able to indicate whether they think your child will be able to keep up with the pace in a grammar school.
Registration for the Bexley Selection Test opens on the Bexley local authority website on Wednesday 1st May 2024 and closes on Friday 31st May 2024.
After you've registered your child, you'll receive a test invitation. This will tell you where and when your child is due to sit the test. This will either be at their primary school or at a testing centre. The test will take place during the week commencing Monday 9th September 2024.
If you are considering grammar schools outside Bexley, remember to register for their exams too.
How can I help my child prepare for the Bexley Selection Test?
The Bexley Selection Test is designed to be challenging. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the exam in September 2024.
Bitesize learning
It’s important to build a good knowledge base before the 11 plus. Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.
Atom Home makes learning a more enjoyable process for your child. They'll explore exciting worlds full of interactive questions, earning coins to spend in the Atom shop. Atom adapts to your child, showing them questions at just the right level of difficulty to keep them motivated.
Read widely
11 plus exams test your child’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.
Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.
Refine exam technique
When your child feels confident with the topics they’ve learnt in Year 5, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.
Practice tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and build confidence working under test conditions. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning and highlight knowledge gaps for further improvement.
With Atom Home, you'll unlock online mock tests and printable practice papers. Enjoy automatic marking and progress tracking with the online tests, and help your child get familiar with the real exam experience with printable practice papers.
Celebrate progress
Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.
Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.
Tailored preparation for the Bexley Selection Test
Wish you could give your child a roadmap to success in the Bexley Selection Test? You can. Atom Home has everything you need to get prepared, in one package.
You don't need a tutor to get into your top-choice grammar school. You just need Atom. We’ll create a tailored plan for your child and support them along their fun revision journey.
Online and printable 11 plus practice papers
90,000+ adaptive questions
500+ hours of on-demand video lessons
Automatic marking and instant progress data
Navigate the Bexley Selection Test with confidence.
Start your free trial today. Our local admissions specialists will get to work on your child’s plan. Relax, Bexley Selection Test prep is sorted.
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