Quest Assessment for Bexley Grammar Schools: What Parents Need to Know

Families applying to Bexley grammar schools for Year 7 entry need to understand one critical fact before planning their preparation: the Bexley 11+ test is paper-based, not the online adaptive digital version used by independent schools. This distinction is fundamental — the preparation strategy, practice materials, and exam techniques required for a paper-based fixed-difficulty test are substantially different from those needed for the online adaptive Quest used by schools such as Dulwich College or The Perse School Cambridge.

This guide explains the Bexley grammar school selection process in full: which schools participate, what the test format looks like, how Bexley's transition to Quest Assessments (from GL Assessment in 2026) changed things, and how to approach preparation for 2026–2027 and beyond. For specialist preparation, visit our Quest Assessment tuition page.

The Key Fact: Bexley Uses Paper-Based Quest, Not Online Quest

The London Borough of Bexley moved from GL Assessment to Quest Assessments for its 2026 grammar school selection. This was a significant change in assessment provider. However, Bexley retained a paper-based format rather than adopting the online digital platform Quest runs for independent schools.

What this means in practice: the Bexley test is administered on paper at a supervised test venue (not at home, not on a computer). Children sit in an examination hall, complete printed answer sheets by hand, and work through printed question booklets. The test is non-adaptive — all candidates see the same questions in the same order, with no algorithm adjusting difficulty in real time. The test consists of two papers, each approximately 50 minutes, administered in a single session on one day.

Families who prepare their children primarily with online adaptive Quest platforms designed for independent schools will find their children are underprepared for the specific experience of sitting a two-paper, 100-minute supervised paper exam. Paper-based timed practice must be central to any Bexley preparation programme.

The Bexley Schools: Grammar and Partially Selective

The Bexley 11+ selection test is used for entry to grammar and partially selective schools in the London Borough of Bexley. The schools involved in the selection process are as follows.

School	Type	Location
Beths Grammar School	Boys' grammar	Bexley
Bexley Grammar School	Mixed grammar	Welling
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School	Mixed grammar	Sidcup
Townley Grammar School	Girls' grammar	Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath Academy	Partially selective	Bexleyheath
Chislehurst School for Girls	Partially selective	Chislehurst
Eltham Hill School	Partially selective	Eltham
Erith School	Partially selective	Erith

The four grammar schools (Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup, Townley) select exclusively by academic ability and are the primary targets for families seeking grammar school places in this area. The partially selective schools offer a proportion of places based on the selection test. Always verify the current list of participating schools on the Bexley Council website, as this can be updated.

The Move from GL Assessment to Quest in 2026: What Changed

Prior to 2026, Bexley grammar schools used GL Assessment for 11+ selection. For 2026 entry, the London Borough of Bexley moved to Quest Assessments as its new provider. The paper-based delivery format was retained.

This change in provider brought modifications to question style and design. Quest VR and NVR questions differ somewhat from GL questions, though they test the same fundamental skills. Quest's VR section tends to feature more code-based and letter sequence questions; its NVR section emphasises spatial rotation and matrix completion. Children who have prepared exclusively with GL Assessment materials may find some Quest question types unfamiliar. Use Quest-specific practice materials for Bexley preparation from 2026 onwards.

The scoring method remained the same: age-standardised scores (SAS) adjust raw scores for each child's exact age at the time of the test. There is no published SAS threshold for qualifying for Bexley grammar schools — the council allocates places based on ranked SAS performance.

Test Format: Two Papers, Each 50 Minutes

The Bexley Selection Test consists of two multiple-choice papers, each running for approximately 50 minutes. The papers cover English comprehension and grammar, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. All questions are multiple-choice. Children mark answers on a separate answer sheet (bubble sheet), not in the question booklet. Marks must be clear and unambiguous — a common cause of lost marks is smudged or double-marked answer boxes.

The two-paper format means children sit for approximately 100 minutes total (plus instructions and practice questions), with a short break between papers. Managing concentration and accuracy across this full duration is a distinct challenge. Children who have not practised under full-length paper conditions often experience a drop in accuracy in the second half of Paper 2. Building stamina through timed full-length mock tests is essential.

The non-adaptive format means that unlike online Quest, children can revisit and change answers within each paper. Strong time management — aiming to attempt all questions, then returning to uncertain ones with remaining time — is therefore a viable and valuable exam strategy.

Registration: Dates, Process, and Critical Deadlines

Registration for the Bexley Selection Test is managed by the London Borough of Bexley Council, not by individual schools. This is different from online Quest tests for independent schools, where families register directly with each target school.

For 2026–2027 entry: registration opened 1 March 2026 and closed at midnight on 31 March 2026. No late registrations were accepted. There is no appeals process for missed deadlines. The test itself typically takes place in September of Year 6, with results communicated to families in October.

For 2027–2028 entry: registration is expected to open in approximately March 2027. Check bexley.gov.uk in February 2027 for the official opening date. Do not rely on third-party websites for registration dates. There is no fee for registering.

Both resident and non-resident families (living outside the London Borough of Bexley) can apply, subject to the same registration deadline. After the test, families who receive a qualifying result can name Bexley grammar schools on their secondary school application through the normal Local Authority admissions round.

Paper vs Online Quest: A Direct Comparison

Feature	Bexley Paper-Based Quest	Online Quest (Independent Schools)
Delivery	Paper, supervised venue	Computer, at home or target school
Adaptivity	Non-adaptive (all see same questions)	Maths/NVR/VR adaptive; English non-adaptive
Answer method	Mark on paper answer sheet	Click or type on screen
Format	Two papers, each ~50 minutes	Continuous session, ~70 minutes
Can revisit questions?	Yes (within each paper)	Only in non-adaptive English; No in adaptive sections
Registration	Via Bexley Council (March)	Via each individual school
Scoring	Age-standardised SAS	Age-standardised SAS

Preparation Strategy for Bexley Paper-Based Quest

The most important principle: centre preparation on paper-based practice, not online adaptive platforms for independent schools. The skills are the same; the experience is fundamentally different.

Use Quest-specific practice materials. Since Bexley moved from GL to Quest in 2026, use Quest-style VR and NVR questions rather than GL Assessment materials. Quest VR favours code-based tasks and letter sequences; Quest NVR emphasises matrix completion and rotations. GL materials will not adequately prepare children for the Quest question style.

Build English comprehension depth. Practise multiple-choice comprehension questions in timed conditions. Focus particularly on inference and deduction questions (not just factual retrieval). Reading widely across fiction and non-fiction is the most effective long-term preparation for this section. SPAG questions (spelling, punctuation, grammar) may also appear.

Develop Maths problem-solving fluency. Cover all KS2 topics through to Year 5–6 level. Prioritise multi-step word problems, fraction and percentage calculations, data interpretation, and mental arithmetic speed. Timed Maths practice (written and mental) is essential.

Practise full-length timed papers monthly. From March of Year 6, children should sit full two-paper mock tests under exam conditions: 50 minutes per paper, quiet supervised environment, completing actual answer sheets with pencil. Review every incorrect answer after each mock — analysis is more valuable than volume.

Practise answer sheet technique. Filling in bubble-sheet answer papers accurately is a specific skill. Children must locate the correct numbered box, mark clearly and firmly, and avoid double-marking. Begin practising with answer sheets early — not just question booklets.

Start early. The optimal start point is September of Year 5 (12 months before tests in September Year 6). January of Year 6 is the latest a structured programme should begin. Children starting only in the summer term of Year 6 (June–September) have fewer than three months of preparation, which is insufficient for children who need to develop new skills in NVR or VR.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bexley Grammar School Quest Assessment