The Medway 11+ test explained

Medway has six selective (grammar) schools:

• Holcombe Grammar School (Boys)
• Chatham Grammar School for Girls
• Ford Pitt Grammar School
• Rainham Mark Grammar School
• Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School (Boys)
• The Rochester Grammar School (Girls)

There is also one bilateral school – The Howard School – which allocates 25 per cent of its places based on the results of the 11+ and places these children in a separate grammar stream.

The Medway Test consists of three separate papers:

• An extended writing exercise: usually writing an essay about a given title
• A mathematics paper: multiple choice
• A verbal reasoning paper: multiple choice

Twenty per cent of the marks are allocated for the verbal reasoning paper, 40 per cent for mathematics and 40 per cent for the writing task. The tests are designed to identify 23 per cent of children as suitable for grammar school education, with approximately a further two per cent selected through a review process, where their work from their current primary school will be taken into account. 

Children have to take the Medway Test, which is used for Medway grammar schools only. In previous years, children who passed the Medway test could apply for a grammar school place in Kent, and vice versa, but now your child will have to take both the Medway and Kent test if you want to apply for schools in both areas. The tasks are designed to minimise the effects of coaching so that all children have an equal opportunity.

CEM will no longer be providing 11+ tests from September 2023. Further information will be added to this page in due course. We recommend contacting individual schools for more information about their new test provider. 

Registration for the Medway test usually takes place from early June to late June, with tests taking place mid-September. Admissions can be made via the local authority website at www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions or you can complete a registration form and return it to your child’s primary school (if you live in Medway) or to the Student Services Admissions Team, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR. You can contact admissions by email at [email protected] or by phone on  01634 331110. 

Your child's test venue will depend on which primary school they currently attend. Each Medway primary school decides where and when to undertake the testing for their children and the vast majority choose to administer the test in their own school setting. Children from outside the area will take the 11+ at an independent test centre.

Each paper is marked based on the number of correct answers for maths and verbal reasoning, and against specific criteria for the writing paper. The scores are then standardised – in other words, your child’s age at the time of the test is taken into account. There is no definitive pass mark, as the minimum selective score set differs each year dependant on the size of the year group and the number of children taking the test. Overall, the maximum standardised score is 700; successful children scored 513 and above for 2017 admissions.

If your child is not successful in the Medway test, you have two choices – you can either apply for a review of your child’s case where their English, maths and science work from their primary school will also be looked at by a panel, or you can make an appeal. All the information you need to do this will be included with your child’s assessment decision letter.

Your child's school should be able to give you advice on preparing for the test, including guidance on whether they feel your child is of grammar school ability.

Please note that while every effort has been made to ensure the information we provide is accurate, admissions arrangements change regularly and it is essential that you check for the most up-to-date advice on schools' own websites.

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