Bexley 11 Plus Registration 2026: Key Dates and How to Apply

The Bexley 11 plus, also called the Bexley Selection Test, is used by all four grammar schools in the London Borough of Bexley. Registration for 2026 closed on 31st March 2026. The exam takes place in September 2026. Results are sent in early October 2026. Your child only needs to sit the test once. The test is administered by Quest Assessments and covers verbal ability, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

If you are thinking about applying to a grammar school in Bexley, this guide covers everything you need to know about the Bexley 11 plus, the registration dates, all four grammar schools, how the Bexley Selection Test works, how it is scored, what the selective standard is and exactly how to prepare your child. 

Key facts

• Test name: Bexley Selection Test 

• Area covered: London Borough of Bexley 

• Test provider: Quest Assessments

• Papers: Two multiple-choice papers (~50 minutes each)  

• Subjects tested: Verbal ability and comprehension, numerical reasoning, non-verbal reasoning 

• Scoring: Weighted age-standardised score 

Bexley 11 plus 2026 dates

• 1st March 2026: Bexley 11 plus registration opened, via the Bexley local authority website 

• 31st March 2026: Bexley 11 plus registration closed 

• 3rd August 2026: Test centre date, time and location available to view online via the Bexley Selection Test webpage 

• 2nd to 10th Sept 2026: Bexley Selection Test for children at Bexley primary schools (at their own school) 

• 7th to 10th Sept 2026: Bexley Selection Test at the four grammar schools (for children outside Bexley) 

• Early October 2026: Test results sent to parents 

• 31st October 2026: Secondary school common application form deadline 

• 1st March 2027: National secondary school offers day 

How to register for the Bexley Selection Test

Registration for the Bexley Selection Test takes place through the London Borough of Bexley website. Registration is completely free.

If your child attends a Bexley primary school

Children at maintained Bexley primary schools are not automatically entered for the test. You still need to register through the Bexley Council website during the registration window. Your child will then sit the test at their own primary school on a weekday between 2nd and 10th September.

If your child attends a school outside Bexley

If your child attends an independent school or a school in another local authority, you must still register through the Bexley Council website during the registration window. Your child will be allocated a test date at one of the four Bexley grammar schools between 7th and 10th September.

The four Bexley grammar schools

All four grammar schools in the London Borough of Bexley use the Bexley Selection Test. This means your child sits the test once and can apply to any or all four schools using the same result. You do not need to register separately for each school.

• Beths Grammar School

• Bexley Grammar School

• Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School

• Townley Grammar School

Many families in the Bexley area also consider applying to nearby schools in Kent, including Dartford Grammar School and the Wilmington Grammar Schools. These schools use the Kent Test, which is a completely separate exam with its own registration process. If you are applying to both Bexley and Kent schools, your child will need to register for and sit both tests separately.

What does the Bexley Selection Test involve?

The Bexley 11 plus exam consists of two separate test papers, both taken in the same session on the same day. The test is administered by Quest Assessments.

Both papers are timed, multiple-choice, and divided into sections, with a set amount of time for each section. An invigilator clearly tells pupils when to start and stop each section, so children do not need to manage their own timing. All working out must be completed in the test booklet; no separate rough paper is provided.

Paper 1 (Approx. 50 minutes - multiple choice)

• Verbal ability: Reasoning and problem-solving using words, letters, vocabulary and language patterns

• English comprehension: Reading an unseen passage of text and answering questions to show understanding, vocabulary and inference skills

Paper 2 (Approx. 50 minutes - multiple choice)

• Numerical reasoning: Mathematical problem-solving based on content no more advanced than the end of Year 5 curriculum; no Year 6 content is tested

• Non-verbal reasoning: Using logic to recognise patterns, understand shape relationships and apply logical thinking without using words or numbers

How long does the test take?

Each paper lasts approximately 50 minutes. The full test session, including instructions, short practice examples at the start of each paper, both papers and a brief break between them, typically lasts between two and a half and three hours. Make sure your child has a good breakfast and is well rested before the test day.

How is the Bexley Selection Test scored?

The Bexley Selection Test uses a weighted, age-standardised scoring system. Here is how it works, step by step.

Step 1: Marking

After the test, papers are marked externally. Each correct answer earns a mark. No marks are deducted for wrong answers, so your child should never leave a multiple-choice question blank.

Step 2: Weighted scoring

The raw scores are combined using a weighting formula. The three tested areas do not carry equal weight; verbal ability and English comprehension together carry double the weight of either numerical or non-verbal reasoning.

Step 3: Age standardisation

After weighting, scores are age-standardised based on your child's exact date of birth. This ensures that younger children, those born in July or August, are not disadvantaged compared to older classmates. The adjustment is automatic and built into the scoring process.

The average total weighted age-standardised score is 200. Approximately two-thirds of children who sit the test score between 170 and 230. Parents are informed of their child's total weighted age-standardised score when results are sent in early October.

What is the selective standard for the Bexley 11 plus?

There is no fixed pass mark for the Bexley 11 plus. The selective standard is agreed each year by the London Borough of Bexley Council and the four grammar schools, after all the test results have been collected.

Around 30% of children who sit the Bexley Selection Test typically achieve a score high enough to be assessed as selective. Being assessed as selective means you can apply for a Bexley grammar school place, but it does not guarantee you will receive one.

All four Bexley grammar schools are popular and regularly oversubscribed. When more children meet the selective standard than there are places available, each school applies its own oversubscription criteria. These typically include:

• Children who are looked after or previously looked after

• Children with a sibling already attending the school

• Children living closest to the school (measured by straight-line distance)

Always check the specific admissions policy for each school you are applying to before finalising your preference list on the common application form.

How to apply to Bexley grammar schools - step by step

1. Speak to your child's teacher (before registering)

It is worth asking your child's teacher whether they think your child is working at the level needed for a grammar school environment. Grammar schools select children working towards the top of their year group. A candid conversation with the teacher can save you and your child a significant amount of stress later. 

2. Register for the Bexley Selection Test (March each year)

Registration opens on 1st March and closes on 31st March each year. Register through the London Borough of Bexley website. Registration is free. After registering, your child's test date and location will be available online from 3rd August. 

3. Sit the Bexley Selection Test (September)

Children at Bexley primary schools sit the test at their school between 2nd and 10th September. Children from outside Bexley sit the test at one of the grammar schools between 7th and 10th September. 

4. Receive results and complete your application (October)

Results are sent in early October. If your child has been assessed as selective, list your preferred Bexley grammar schools on your secondary school common application form. Submit the form to your home local authority on 31st October 2026.

5. Receive your school offer (1st March 2027)

National offers day is 1st March 2027. You will be told which school your child has been allocated. If your first-choice school is not offered, you have the right to appeal the decision and can ask your child's current headteacher about whether a review request is appropriate. 

Applying to schools outside Bexley too?

Many families in the Bexley area also consider grammar schools in neighbouring Kent. The four Bexley grammar schools are in the London Borough of Bexley, which is a different authority from Kent County Council. If you want to apply to Kent grammar schools as well, your child will need to sit two completely separate tests.

• Dartford Grammar School and Dartford Grammar School for Girls use the Kent Test. The Kent Test registration window opens on 1st June and closes on 1st July each year. This is separate from the Bexley registration.

• Wilmington Grammar School for Boys and Wilmington Grammar School for Girls also use the Kent Test.

• Grammar schools in Bromley and Medway run their own separate selection processes with different tests, different registration windows and different exam dates.

If your child is preparing for both the Bexley Selection Test and the Kent Test, preparation will need to cover both the Quest Assessments format and the GL Assessment format, as the two exams have different question types and styles. If you're also considering Kent grammar schools, explore our guide on How to Register for Kent 11 Plus 2026 for important dates, registration steps, and key deadlines. 

How to prepare your child for the Bexley 11 plus

The Bexley Selection Test is competitive. The good news is that consistent, well-targeted preparation makes a real and measurable difference. Here is how to approach it. 

1. Start in Year 4 or Year 5

Begin preparation at least 12 months before the September exam. Short daily sessions of 20 to 30 minutes are far more effective than long, infrequent cramming sessions. Our 11 plus tuition is structured around this gradual, confidence-building approach from the very start.

2. Focus heavily on verbal ability and English

Together, verbal ability and English comprehension account for 50% of the weighted score, the single largest component. Building strong vocabulary, comprehension and verbal reasoning skills should be the priority in your preparation plan. Daily reading underpins all three of these areas.

3. Read every day across different genres

Encourage your child to read for at least 10 to 15 minutes every day. Mix fiction with non-fiction, different genres and different authors. Discussing what your child reads builds the analytical and inference skills the English comprehension section directly rewards. This habit makes a measurable difference over time.

4. Practise Quest Assessments question types

The Bexley test is administered by Quest Assessments, which uses specific question formats. Familiarising your child with Quest-style verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning questions early is a real advantage. Use our free 11 plus practice papers to build this familiarity before moving to timed practice.

5. Introduce realistic mock exams

Once your child is confident with the content, introduce full timed mock practice under realistic exam conditions. Our 11 plus mock exams are built to replicate the Bexley test experience and come with a detailed breakdown of results, so you always know what to focus on next.

6. Use the summer for a focused final push

With the exam in early September, the summer holidays are a critical window. Our 11 plus intensive summer course gives your child a structured, expert-led boost in the final weeks before the exam, combining content revision, exam technique and timed practice in one focused programme.

For personalised, one-to-one support from tutors who know the Bexley Selection Test format and the Quest Assessments question style, our 11 plus tutors start with a diagnostic assessment and build a targeted plan specific to where your child is right now. 

Final thoughts

The Bexley 11 plus is one of the most convenient grammar school selection systems in South East London. One test, four schools, and a straightforward annual timetable. But convenient does not mean easy. With around 5,800 children competing for a limited number of selective places each year, preparation matters enormously.

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we have been helping children earn places at grammar schools across Bexley and beyond. Whether your child is in Year 4 and just getting started or in Year 6 and needs a focused final push, we have a programme built around exactly where they are right now.