Most primary schools in Bexley hold the test on their own sites. But some use a testing centre, and if your child is at school elsewhere, they’ll also be invited to one of those.

There will be two test papers containing a mixture of questions on verbal reasoning, comprehension, non-verbal reasoning and mathematical reasoning. Each paper will be divided into timed sections, and instructions will be given on an audio soundtrack. Most questions are multiple-choice, and all answers are marked on a separate machine-readable answer sheet. There will be a short break between the two test papers.

Special arrangements

If your child requires special arrangements, you will need to complete our special arrangements application form, as well as register your child for the test.

What to do if your child misses the test

If your child is ill on the day of the test, or something serious has happened that could affect them (like illness or death in the family), please don’t take them to the test, and inform us straight away.  We can usually make arrangements for an alternative test session. We will ask for evidence to support your request. If you send your child to the test, we can’t make any allowances afterwards.

If your child becomes ill during the test, please inform us immediately, to discuss the situation.

We are unable to arrange alternative test sessions for pupils who arrive late or have another selection test planned for the same day as the Bexley selection tests.

How the test is marked

The raw scores (the number of correct answers in each section) are converted to an age-standardised score to make allowance for the child’s age at the time of the test and to ensure that younger children are not disadvantaged. Children will be given a separate age-standardised score for each of the three subject areas, verbal ability, numerical ability and non-verbal ability, and one total age-standardised score that will be used to decide whether the child is selective or not. The total score is weighted, by adding 50% of the verbal ability score, 25% of the numerical ability score and 25% of the non-verbal ability score. The mean (average) total weighted age-standardised score is 200.

What to do when you get the results

You will receive your child’s result on Friday 7 October 2022. If they are deemed selective, you can include Bexley grammar schools in the six preferences you put on their secondary common application form.

Headteachers can ask us to review your child’s score, however, we don’t agree to any reviews until after the closing date to apply for secondary schools. If you think your child’s score should be reviewed, you should still include grammar schools on your application form and talk to your child’s headteacher.

How grammar school places are filled

The top 180 selected pupils automatically make up the highest priority group for places at their preferred school. The rest of the children who apply will go through each school’s admissions process. 

You can ask the school about their admissions arrangements, or read our PDF booklet - Admission to secondary schools in Bexley 2023 - 2024 for more information. The 2023 booklet will be available before Thursday 1 September 2022.

If all the children deemed selective have been allocated places and there are still vacancies, schools will consider creating a reserve list for pupils that scored one or two marks below the selective score.

If you have any other questions about selection tests we have a PDF booklet - Selection test leaflet about the test. Alternatively, please email us at selectiontests@bexley.gov.uk