Bexley parents are waiting for the Bexley Selection Test results in early October 2026, but Bexley Council has not yet published the exact results date. Parents should therefore avoid relying on an assumed results day. The council's admissions pages say only that results will be sent by email in early October.
The result is important, but it is not the final school-place decision. Families still need to complete the secondary school application through eAdmissions by 31 October. Understanding the difference between the test score, selective status, top-180 priority and the later allocation of school places can make the weeks after results much easier to navigate.
When do Bexley Selection Test results come out?
Bexley Council says that results for the 2026 Bexley Selection Test will be emailed in early October 2026. The exact date is still to be confirmed, so parents should not plan around a specific results day unless the council publishes one.
The 2026 tests were taken between Monday 7 and Thursday 10 September at grammar school venues. Children testing at primary schools acting as test centres sat the test between Wednesday 2 and Thursday 10 September. Test invitations had been issued from 6pm on Monday 3 August.
Results are also shared with each child's Bexley primary school headteacher for reference.
Once the result arrives, the important next step is not simply to react to the number. Parents need to understand what the result means for selective status, school preferences and the 31 October application deadline. Our guide to 11-plus results day and next steps explains the wider decisions families may need to make.
What are Bexley parents actually waiting for?
The Bexley Selection Test is used by four grammar schools. Bexley Council says there are 800 grammar school places in total, with the top 180 highest scorers receiving the highest priority for places.
| School | Intake |
|---|---|
| Beths Grammar School | Boys |
| Bexley Grammar School | Mixed |
| Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School | Mixed |
| Townley Grammar School | Girls |
| All four schools | Boys, girls and mixed provision |
The central question for most families is whether their child is deemed selective. Bexley Council says approximately 30 per cent of applicants are deemed selective.
That is separate from actually receiving a grammar school place. A selective result makes a child eligible to be considered under the grammar schools' arrangements, but parents must still submit their secondary school preferences through the normal application process. The difference between qualification and allocation is explained further in our guide to being qualified versus offered a grammar school place.
How does the Bexley weighted score work?
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The Bexley Selection Test consists of two papers covering verbal ability and English comprehension, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Each paper lasts approximately 50 minutes, with additional time for instructions. Both papers are taken in one session lasting around two and a half to three hours, including instructions, a short break and both papers.
Bexley Council says the papers are marked externally and the scores are age-standardised. The total weighted score is then calculated from three components: 50 per cent comes from verbal ability, 25 per cent from numerical ability and 25 per cent from non-verbal ability.
That weighting matters because the final total is not simply an unadjusted count of correct answers across the two papers. Parents wanting more background on this type of scoring can read our explanation of 11-plus standardised scores.
The average total weighted score is 200. This does not mean 200 is a pass mark. Bexley Council does not publish a fixed selective score in advance, so families should not treat 200, or any other number circulated before results, as a guaranteed threshold.
For a refresher on one of the assessed areas, our 11-plus non-verbal reasoning guide explains the terminology and question type.
What does the 170 to 230 score range mean?
Bexley Council says the average total weighted score is 200 and approximately two-thirds of candidates score between 170 and 230.
That range is useful for perspective because it shows where a large majority of scores are concentrated. It does not create a pass band. A score between 170 and 230 is not automatically selective or non-selective simply because it sits above or below the average.
For parents, the practical lesson is to avoid reading too much into the number in isolation. A score of 200 is the average, not a published qualifying mark, and the 170 to 230 range describes the distribution of candidates rather than the rule used to award grammar school places.
Bexley Council's selective decision and the separate admissions process are therefore more important than trying to convert the score into an unofficial pass mark.
What does top 180 mean for Bexley grammar schools?
The top 180 and being deemed selective are two different things.
Bexley Council says approximately 30 per cent of applicants are deemed selective. Separately, the 180 highest-scoring children receive the highest priority for grammar school places, from 800 places in total.
This distinction matters because parents can easily assume that only the top 180 children are selective. That is not what the council's information says. Top-180 status concerns priority for places. Selective status applies to a wider group of children who may then be considered for grammar school admission through the schools' arrangements.
Equally, being deemed selective should not be confused with receiving an offer. Parents still have to name their preferred schools on the secondary school application and submit it by the deadline.
What should you do in the week Bexley results arrive?
The week results arrive is best used for checking the outcome carefully and turning it into an application plan rather than making an immediate decision based only on the score.
- Read the result carefully and distinguish the weighted score from the child's selective status.
- Remember that a weighted score of 200 is the average, not a published pass mark.
- Check whether any reference to top-180 priority applies, without confusing that with the wider selective decision.
- Read Bexley Council's Admission to Secondary Schools in Bexley 2027/28 booklet, published on 1 September 2026.
- Decide which schools you intend to name on the secondary school application and prepare to submit through eAdmissions by 31 October.
- If your child is not deemed selective and you are considering a review, discuss the available review options with your child's headteacher and keep the relevant grammar school preference on the application.
The last point is particularly important. Bexley Council says parents pursuing a review should still include a grammar school preference on the secondary school application. Information about the broader 11-plus appeals process can also help parents understand the terminology they may encounter later.
What happens between results and the 31 October deadline?
Whatever the test result, the secondary school application still needs to be submitted by 31 October through eAdmissions. The result does not replace the application, and a selective child is not automatically entered for a grammar school place.
Bexley Council published Admission to Secondary Schools in Bexley 2027/28 on 1 September 2026. Parents can use the council's admissions information alongside the result when deciding how to complete their school preferences.
If your child is not deemed selective and you intend to pursue a review, Bexley Council advises discussing review options with your child's headteacher. You should still include the grammar school preference on the secondary school application while pursuing that route.
Our guide to the 11-plus common application form explains the role of school preferences in the wider admissions process.
The next major date after the application deadline is National Offer Day. For this cycle, online applicants are due to receive emails after 5pm on 1 March 2027, with first-class letters posted on the same day.
FAQ
Is 200 a pass mark for the Bexley Selection Test?
No. Bexley Council says 200 is the average total weighted score, while approximately two-thirds of candidates score between 170 and 230. The council does not publish a fixed selective score in advance. Parents should therefore treat 200 as a statistical average, not as a guaranteed threshold for being deemed selective.
Does being in the top 180 mean the same as being selective?
No. Bexley Council says approximately 30 per cent of applicants are deemed selective, while the 180 highest scorers receive the highest priority for grammar school places. Top-180 priority is therefore a particular admissions priority within the process, not the definition of which children are deemed selective.
What should I do if my child is not deemed selective?
Bexley Council advises parents to discuss review options with their child's headteacher. If you decide to pursue a review, you should still include the relevant grammar school preference on the secondary school application. The application must still be submitted through eAdmissions by 31 October, regardless of the test result.