Bexley Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Grammar school consortia in the UK are collaborative groups of grammar schools that work together to administer entrance exams. They are typically formed by a group of grammar schools in a particular area or region, who have come together to create a common entrance examination. This test is known as the 11+ or eleven plus exam, and is taken by students seeking Year 7 entry into these selective schools.
Since its inception, the Bexley Grammar School Consortium has played a vital role in the selective education system catering to students in Bexley, offering a standardised process for admitting students based on their academic abilities.
All the schools within the Bexley Grammar School Consortium utilise the same entrance test, ensuring fairness in the admissions process. Consequently, students only need to take the test once, even if they are applying to multiple schools within the consortium.
The primary objective of the Bexley Consortium is to streamline the admissions process for its grammar schools and ensure consistency in the selection process. The grammar schools within the consortium collaborate, sharing resources, expertise and administrative efforts with the aim of providing equal opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to pursue a high-quality education.
Complete List of Grammar Schools in Bexley
There are currently four grammar schools in the Bexley Grammar School Consortium:
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School
⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exam and admissions process!
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Bexley Grammar Schools
Bexley Consortium entrance exam results form a common basis for admission decisions among participating grammar schools. Students who demonstrate excellent performance in the examination are eligible for consideration for admission to various schools within the consortium, thereby enhancing their prospects of securing a place at a grammar school. Here are key details about the Bexley 11+ exam:
Registration closing date: June
Common Application Form (CAF) closing date: October
Exam date: September
Exam board type: GL Assessment
Pass mark: Aim for 80%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: London Borough of Bexley, 0208 303 7777
Bexley Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
All four grammar schools adhere to the Bexley Coordinated Secondary School Admissions Scheme. Only children who pass the Bexley entrance test can be considered for admission in Year 7. However, parents should be aware that achieving the necessary pass mark in the 11+ exam isn’t a guarantee of a Year 7 place at a Bexley grammar school.
As part of the admissions process, you and your child are invited to attend Open Days at your preferred school. These events will provide you with the opportunity to tour facilities, meet members of staff and talk to current pupils.
To be considered for a Year 7 place at a Bexley grammar school, you must first register your child for the eleven plus exam.
How to Register for the Bexley Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
To apply for a Year 7 place at a Bexley grammar school on behalf of your child, you must complete an online application form via your Local Authority (LA) before the closing date in June. In addition, you will be required to fill out the Common Application Form (CAF) and indicate your preferred school/schools. The deadline for this is in October.
Bexley Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Bexley 11+ exam consists of two multiple-choice papers, each lasting approximately 50 minutes.
⇒ Test 1: Verbal Skills – Comprehension, Technical English & SPAG, Verbal Reasoning
Consists of two sections ➤ The paper begins with a reading passage, followed by a series of comprehension questions. Then there are questions that test two of the following three topics: Spelling, Punctuation and Sentence Completion. A subsequent Verbal Reasoning section evaluates your child’s ability to discern rules and relationships between words and letters.
⇒ Test 2: Mathematics & Non-Verbal Reasoning (with elements of Spatial Reasoning)
Consists of two sections ➤ Section 1 covers Mathematics questions that assess students’ mathematical skills, problem-solving abilities and logical reasoning. Section 2 is broken down into multiple timed subsections that assess Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) and Spatial Reasoning. NVR questions test students’ ability to solve problems using visual and abstract reasoning. Spatial Reasoning tests spatial awareness, mental rotation, visualisation and problem-solving skills.
The exam is produced by GL Assessment. All questions are multiple-choice and answers should be marked in the specially provided answer booklet. Most questions will require one correct answer to be selected. Some Verbal Reasoning questions may require two answer choices to be selected. Rough paper will not be provided but your child can write on the question booklet to help them work out the answers. These workings are neither submitted nor marked.
Students will be given a separate age-standardised score for each of the three subject areas:
- Verbal Ability – Comprehension, Technical English and VR
- Numerical Ability – Mathematics
- Non-Verbal Ability – NVR and Spatial Reasoning
One total age-standardised score will then be used to decide whether your child is eligible for entry. The total score is weighted, by combining 50% of the Verbal Ability score, 25% of the Numerical Ability score and 25% of the Non-Verbal Ability score.
Bexley 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
The scores are age-standardised and take into account the number of available places. The minimum standardised score to be achieved is 216, while top applicants typically score over 246.
Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests are on track to pass the Bexley 11 Plus.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Bexley 11+ exam.
Passing the test does not guarantee that your child will be offered a place. It simply means they have surpassed the required threshold. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
Practice Papers for the Bexley Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
All schools that are part of the London Borough of Bexley use the shared Bexley Selection Test for their 11+ Exam. This exam is created by the exam board GL Assessment. The resources below are specifically designed to match the GL Assessment format used by Bexley Grammar Schools. They will therefore prove ideal for children currently preparing for the eleven plus exam:
Full Practice Tests
The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the Bexley 11+ Exam. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:
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11+ Bexley Practice Tests Bundle
English
The following 11+ resources provide full preparation for the English section of the Bexley Selection Test, maximising your child’s Comprehension and Technical English skills:
Full Practice Tests
Comprehension
11+ Inference Skills – Pack 1
11+ Inference Skills – Pack 2
Technical English
Masterclasses
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11+ Bexley English Bundle
Verbal Reasoning
To help your child master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Bexley Selection Test, we recommend the following 11+ resources:
Full Practice Tests
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
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11+ Bexley Verbal Reasoning Bundle
Mathematics
The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Bexley Selection Test, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Problem Solving – Pack 1
11+ Problem Solving – Pack 2
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Masterclasses
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11+ Bexley Mathematics Bundle
Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning
The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal (NVR) and Spatial Reasoning (SR) abilities ahead of the Bexley Selection Test:
NVR Full Practice Tests
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4
NVR Masterclasses
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
SR Full Practice Tests
11+ Spatial Reasoning – Pack 1
SR Skill Specific Practice
âś… You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning section of the Bexley 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Bexley NVR & SR Bundle
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Bexley Grammar Schools: Results & Leavers’ Destinations
Bexley Grammar Schools – Progress 8 Scores
Progress 8 is a metric used to measure the advancement students make from primary school (the end of Key Stage 2) to secondary school (the end of Key Stage 4). It provides insight into the educational value schools provide by evaluating students’ academic progress.
To calculate the Progress 8 score, the actual achievements of students in eight core subjects, such as English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, and languages, are compared to their expected achievements. These expectations are based on their prior attainment at the end of primary school. The score is determined by the average progress students make across these subjects.
đź“Š Please refer to the chart below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Bexley:
Source: Gov.uk
A positive Progress 8 score indicates that students, on average, have made more progress than expected, while a negative score suggests that they have made less progress than expected. A score of zero means that students have progressed as expected.
Bexley Grammar Schools – Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refer to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at Bexley grammar schools.
Russell Group universities are widely renowned institutions, acclaimed for their outstanding performance against various key indicators. These universities exhibit exceptional research output, housing eminent scholars and groundbreaking discoveries. Their academic standing is exemplary, attracting talented individuals from across the world.
Among the esteemed Russell Group members are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both renowned for their historic legacy, academic eminence and rigorous educational offerings. With illustrious faculty and a commitment to excellence, these universities have maintained their prestigious status for centuries.
đź“Š The chart below shows the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Bexley:
Source: Gov.uk
As the chart above shows, a significant number of students from Bexley Grammar Schools are offered places at top universities in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About The 11 Plus (11+) Bexley Grammar School Consortium
Does Bexley have grammar schools?
Yes, Bexley has four selective grammar schools. Click here to access the articles we have for each of these schools, addressing their history and ethos, as well as all the details about their 11+ entry procedure.
When should students register for the Bexley 11+ exam?
The deadline to register via the Local Authority is in June of the year preceding entry. A Common Application Form must also be submitted, indicating your preferred school/schools. The deadline for this is in October.
When do grammar schools in Bexley hold their 11+ exam?
Grammar schools in the Bexley Consortium hold their 11+ exam in September.
What is the format of the Bexley 11+ exam?
The Bexley test consists of two multiple-choice papers, each lasting approximately 50 minutes. The papers cover the following subject areas: English (Comprehension & Technical English), Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning).
What is the pass mark at Bexley grammar schools?
The minimum standardised score to be achieved is 216, while top applicants typically score over 246. Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the Bexley 11 Plus.
Who is the 11+ exam provider for Bexley?
Bexley’s grammar schools use GL Assessment as their 11+ exam provider.
The information provided about the Bexley Grammar School Consortium was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.
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