8
The Basics
The Bexley Selection Test is the standard 11 Plus Grammar School entrance exam for the four selective schools in the Borough of Bexley.
The papers are prepared by CEM and are fairly standard in their structuring, except for the fact that (reasonably unusually) the second paper includes both multiple choice and open answer maths questions. By far the majority of the questions remain multiple choice, but it is important when preparing for the mathematical side of the exam, to practise open answer questions as well.
The exam is split into two papers, both of which are sat on the same day and last roughly an hour (probably a little less).
Paper 1 includes English and Verbal Reasoning, while Paper 2 measures Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Further details on each paper can be found below.
The schools covered by the Bexley Test are as follows:
-
Beths Grammar School
-
Bexley Grammar School
-
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School
-
Townley Grammar School
Paper 1 - English & Verbal Reasoning
Paper 1 is entirely multiple choice and computer marked. The English and Verbal Reasoning sections are usually separated as two distinct sections with time allocated accordingly.
The real papers last between 50 and 60 minutes, including 10 minutes of practise time. Our papers last a full hour and are designed to be just a touch longer than the real thing, to help build resilience and good time management practice.
Grab a sample paper
Verbal Reasoning
Things to remember
Pen & paper wins every time
There are no online tests for any of these schools.
Don't get distracted with apps and other digital solutions. Focus your time on getting used to printed, exam-style mock papers that help familiarise with the real thing.
The closer you can get to the experience of the day itself, the better prepared your child will be when their moment arrives.
Get used to watching the clock
Timing is crucial, always have a clock in the room.
Although it varies year-by-year, the PESE contains roughly 45-50 questions and lasts about 45-50 minutes. Get your little trooper used the keeping an eye on the clock, you won't be there to help them on test day. 1 minute per question is a good rule of thumb, and by working quickly they can build up reserve time for the trickier questions later in the test.
Be careful where you put your answers
There is a separate answer sheet.
Get used to this early on, answering on a separate sheet may not be intuitive, but the consequences of letting this slip on test day are dire. There are no points for showing working and no points for anything marked on the question paper itself. It's the multiple-choice answer sheet, or nothing, so it's crucial to make this part of your revision structure.
If in doubt, guess!
Never leave a multiple-choice question blank!
There will be questions that either your superstar can't conquer, or it simply isn't worth wasting them time on for that 1 point (10 minutes on 1 question/point at the sacrifice of the time to complete 10 more, is not a good trade!).
There's a 1 in 5 chance every time you guess, so have a go!
DOWNLOAD PAPERS
Bexley Secondary Test Mock Papers
Click below to download mock papers for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the Bexley Secondary Test exams.
For when you need just that little bit extra...
Maths Bitesize: Short, timed papers that focus exclusively on selected mathematical topics
Paper 2 - Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
The second paper in the Bexley Test again covers two distinct areas, in this case Maths/Numeracy and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Again the test lasts roughly an hour and the subjects are ordinarily separated into two sections.
As mentioned previously, the Bexley Maths section differs slightly from most other papers in that although the majority of questions are multiple choice, in most years there are a short selection of open answer maths questions with the opportunity to show working. These represent the minority of the maths questions, but our papers are structured to include five open answer maths questions at the end of every mock, to help mimic and prepare for, the real thing.
Grab a sample paper
