Medway 11+ test dates 2026
If your child is in Year 5 and you are considering a grammar school in Medway, you may have questions about the Medway 11 plus, also known as the Medway Test.
This guide explains the Medway Test for 2026, including the key dates, test format, scoring system, qualifying score, grammar schools, admissions process and practical advice for preparing your child.
What is the Medway 11+?
The Medway 11+, officially called the Medway Test, is the selective school entrance test used by the grammar schools in Medway.
The test is taken by children in Year 6 before they move to secondary school. All six Medway grammar schools use the same Medway Test, meaning your child only needs to sit the test once even if you are considering more than one Medway grammar school.
The Medway Test assesses children across:
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- Spatial reasoning
The test is designed to assess academic ability, including skills that go beyond the normal Key Stage 2 curriculum. This is an important point because the Bexley 11 plus test examines knowledge up to Year 5 level, which is something that Quest Assessments have committed to for this year.
Which grammar schools use the Medway Test?
There are six grammar schools in Medway that use the Medway Test:
- Chatham Grammar School – mixed
- Fort Pitt Grammar School – mixed
- Holcombe Grammar School – mixed
- Rainham Mark Grammar School – mixed
- Rochester Grammar School – girls
- Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School – boys
All six schools use the same Medway Test, so your child does not need to sit a separate test for each Medway grammar school.
This is an important distinction for parents who are considering grammar schools across different areas.
For example, if your child is also applying for a grammar school in Kent, Bexley or Bromley, those areas have their own selective tests. Passing the Medway Test does not replace those tests.
When is the Medway Test 2027?
For children seeking secondary school entry in September 2027, the Medway Test is scheduled for September 2026.
The date depends on the type of primary school your child attends.
Children attending a Medway maintained primary or junior school
The test is scheduled for:
Tuesday 15 September and Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Children with approved special arrangements may sit the test on:
Thursday 17 September or Friday 18 September 2026, depending on arrangements made by their primary school.
Children who do not attend a Medway primary or junior school
Children attending schools outside Medway will sit the Medway Test at an allocated Medway Test Centre on either:
Saturday 19 September or Sunday 20 September 2026.
One day will be allocated to each child.
This is particularly relevant to families living outside Medway who are considering Medway grammar schools.
When will my child find out where they are taking the Medway Test?
Medway Council states that test invitations will be sent by the end of August 2026.
If you supplied a valid email address when registering, the invitation will be sent by email. Parents should check their junk or spam folders if they have not received it.
The invitation will tell you:
- Where your child will sit the test
- When your child will sit the test
Your child must attend the allocated venue and allocated day.
Can I choose my child’s Medway Test date?
No.
Medway Council allocates the test date rather than allowing parents to choose one.
There is also no alternative test date if the Medway Test clashes with another selective school test.
This is particularly important for families considering grammar schools in more than one area.
For example, if your child is also taking another 11+ test and the dates clash, you may have to decide which test your child sits. Medway Council states that test dates and venues cannot be swapped between children.
What is in the Medway 11+?
The Medway Test consists of three papers.
There is at least a 20-minute break between the papers.
Paper 1: English
The English paper lasts:
30 minutes
There are also five minutes of unscored practice questions.
The English paper assesses:
- Reading comprehension
- Punctuation
- Grammar
The paper must be completed within the 30-minute timed period.
What does this mean for preparation?
Your child should not simply practise spelling and grammar exercises.
They also need to be comfortable reading and understanding passages of text, identifying information, making inferences and working accurately under time pressure.
Paper 2: Mathematics
The mathematics paper lasts:
50 minutes
There are also two minutes of unscored practice questions.
The test covers Key Stage 2 mathematics, including areas such as:
- Times tables
- The four operations
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Percentages
- Ratio
- Geometry
- Area
- Perimeter
- Measurement
For Medway 11 plus preparation, it is therefore important that children have a strong grasp of core maths skills rather than relying purely on memorised methods.
Paper 3: Reasoning
The reasoning paper has a total timed duration of:
45 minutes
It is divided into two sections:
Verbal reasoning – 25 minutes
Verbal reasoning involves solving problems using words, letters, symbols and logical relationships.
Children may need to:
- Identify patterns
- Recognise relationships between words
- Solve problems using language and logic
- Identify sequences
Non-verbal and spatial reasoning – 20 minutes
This section uses shapes, diagrams and visual patterns.
Children may need to:
- Complete visual sequences
- Identify similarities and differences
- Recognise patterns
- Use spatial awareness
- Solve problems involving shapes and diagrams
Importantly, verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not normally taught as part of the Key Stage 2 curriculum. The Medway Test uses these areas to assess potential as well as what children have already learned at school.
How is the Medway Test scored?
This is one of the most important things for parents to understand.
The raw marks from each paper are first calculated.
The scores are then age-standardised.
Age standardisation is intended to ensure that younger children are not disadvantaged simply because they are younger than other children taking the test.
The three standardised scores are then combined using this weighting:
English × 2
Maths × 2
Reasoning × 1
So, in simplified terms:
Medway Test total = (English standardised score × 2) + (Maths standardised score × 2) + (Reasoning standardised score × 1).
This means English and mathematics carry twice the weighting of reasoning when calculating the final weighted score.
That is a useful point for parents planning their child’s preparation.
What is the Medway Test pass mark?
There is an important distinction here.
There is no fixed Medway Test pass mark.
Instead, children’s weighted scores are ranked and a qualifying threshold is established after the results are known.
Consequently, the qualifying threshold can change from year to year depending on the size and performance of the cohort.
Atom Learning reports the following recent lowest total weighted scores for which children were eligible for Medway grammar school places:
| Year | Lowest reported qualifying weighted score |
| 2025 | 482 |
| 2024 | 492 |
| 2023 | 488 |
| 2022 | 487 |
| 2021 | 483 |
| 2020 | 490 |
These figures should be treated as historical guidance rather than a target or guaranteed pass mark. The qualifying threshold can change each year.
What score should my child aim for in the Medway Test?
Because there is no fixed pass mark, it is risky to tell parents:
“Your child needs to score X.”
The qualifying threshold varies between cohorts.
A better approach is to make sure your child is developing the skills needed across all three papers and is becoming increasingly comfortable with the timing and question formats.
Historical scores can provide useful context, but they should not become the sole target of preparation.
Does passing the Medway Test guarantee a grammar school place?
No.
This is a crucial distinction.
Meeting the Medway Test qualifying standard means your child is eligible for consideration for grammar school places. It does not guarantee a place at your preferred grammar school.
Medway grammar schools can be oversubscribed, and individual schools apply their own admission criteria when allocating places.
Parents should therefore research the admission arrangements for each grammar school they are considering.
Does passing the Medway 11+ test give access to Kent or Bexley grammar schools?
This is particularly relevant to families in Bexley, Welling, Blackfen and surrounding areas.
The Medway Test is a separate test from the selective tests used elsewhere.
Children applying for grammar schools in Kent, Bexley or Bromley need to take the relevant separate examination.
So if your child is considering schools across several selective areas, don’t assume that one test covers everything.
You need to research the individual test and registration requirements for each area.
This is an important part of planning your child’s 11 plus journey.
Medway 11+ preparation for children from Bexley and South East London
For families in Bexley, Welling, Blackfen and surrounding areas, Medway grammar schools may be one of several selective-school options.
This can make the 11 plus process more complicated because your child may potentially be preparing for more than one test.
For example, a child could be considering:
Medway grammar schools
alongside:
Kent grammar schools
and/or:
Bexley grammar schools.
These tests should not be treated as interchangeable.
Parents should check the individual requirements, registration deadlines and test formats for every area they are considering.
Medway Test 2027: Key dates at a glance
| Event | Date |
| Medway Test registration opens | 18 May 2026 |
| Medway Test registration closes | 12 June 2026 |
| Test invitation sent | By end of August 2026 |
| Medway maintained primary/junior schools test | 15–16 September 2026 |
| Special arrangements test dates | 17–18 September 2026 |
| Non-Medway primary school test | 19–20 September 2026 |
| Medway Test results | 14 October 2026* |
| Secondary school application deadline | 31 October 2026* |
| National Offer Day | 1 March 2027* |
* These dates are provided in the Atom Learning guide. Medway Council’s current test-dates page confirms the test arrangements but does not display the results/application dates on that page. Parents should therefore check the latest official admissions information before relying on these dates.
Frequently Asked Questions: Medway 11+
What is the Medway 11+?
The Medway 11+, officially known as the Medway Test, is the selective school entrance test used by the six grammar schools in Medway.
How many Medway grammar schools are there?
There are six grammar schools in Medway that use the Medway Test: Chatham Grammar School, Fort Pitt Grammar School, Holcombe Grammar School, Rainham Mark Grammar School, Rochester Grammar School and Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School.
Do children have to take the Medway Test for each grammar school?
No. The six Medway grammar schools use the same Medway Test, so your child only needs to sit the test once if you are considering multiple Medway grammar schools.
What subjects are in the Medway Test?
The Medway Test covers English, mathematics and reasoning. The reasoning element includes verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning.
Is there a pass mark for the Medway Test?
There is no fixed pass mark. A qualifying threshold is established after the results have been assessed, meaning the threshold can change from year to year.
What score does my child need to pass the Medway Test?
There is no guaranteed score because the qualifying threshold varies between years. Historical qualifying scores can provide context, but parents should not treat a previous year’s score as a guaranteed target for a future cohort.
When is the Medway Test 2027?
For September 2027 secondary school entry, children attending Medway maintained primary or junior schools are scheduled to sit the test on 15–16 September 2026. Children attending schools outside Medway are scheduled to sit it on 19–20 September 2026, with one date allocated to each child.
Can a child from Bexley take the Medway Test?
Yes. Children who do not attend a Medway primary or junior school can be allocated a Medway Test Centre. Families considering Medway grammar schools from Bexley and South East London should also remember that the Medway Test is separate from the Bexley Selection Test.
Is the Medway Test the same as the Kent Test?
No. The Medway Test and Kent Test are separate selective school entrance tests. A child applying for grammar schools in both areas needs to follow the relevant registration and testing arrangements for each area.
Does passing the Medway Test guarantee a grammar school place?
No. Passing the qualifying threshold makes a child eligible for consideration, but individual grammar schools have their own admission criteria and places can be oversubscribed.
How can I prepare my child for the Medway 11+?
The amount of preparation needed depends on your child’s existing English, maths and reasoning skills. Starting early enough to identify and address weaknesses can reduce the need for last-minute intensive preparation. If your child has been attending an 11 plus tuition centre, it’s highly probable that he or she has covered the necessary content.
Looking for downloadable resources? Head to our downloads page.