Medway 11 Plus (Medway Test) Guide 2024-2025: Tuition Academy (Medway)
Considering a grammar school in Medway for your child? We’ve compiled the essential information you need about admissions for the 2024-2025 academic year. Let Tuition Academy (Medway) be your guide to:
- Understanding grammar schools in the Medway area
- Demystifying the Medway Test – the local 11 plus exam
- Knowing the subjects your child will be tested on
Medway Grammar Schools: Which ones use the Medway Test?
All Medway grammar schools use the Medway Test for admissions:
- Chatham Grammar School
- Fort Pitt Grammar School
- Holcombe Grammar School
- Rainham Mark Grammar School
- Rochester Grammar School
- Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School
Important note: Chatham Grammar School, Fort Pitt Grammar School, and Holcombe Grammar School are single-sex. Proposed changes could make them co-educational starting September 2025, but this is still under discussion.
The Medway Test: What you need to know
The Medway Test is the 11-plus exam specific to Medway grammar schools. Your child only needs to sit it once, even if they apply to multiple schools in the area.
Key points about the Medway Test:
- When: September of Year 6
- Where: Your child’s Medway primary school or a designated local test centre
- Format changes for 2024: The test now consists of three papers: English, maths, and reasoning (this replaces the previous four-paper format)
Medway Test Subjects in detail
- English: This test assesses reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation. Encourage your child to read widely for the best results.
- Maths: Covers Key Stage 2 topics like arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, geometry, and more. You should expect questions to be challenging to demonstrate problem-solving skills.
- Reasoning: This includes both verbal (analysing written information) and nonverbal (analysing visual information) reasoning. It tests logic and problem-solving skills not directly taught in the primary curriculum.
Scoring the Medway Test: How it works
The Medway Test is scored in three stages:
- Raw scores are calculated for each paper.
- Scores are age-standardised to ensure fairness.
- A total weighted score is calculated using a specific formula (English and maths scores are weighted more heavily than reasoning).
The pass mark varies yearly, depending on the cohort’s size and performance. It’s set at a certain percentile, ensuring only the highest-achieving students are eligible for grammar school places.
Applying to Medway Grammar Schools: Your checklist
- Register for the Medway Test: Registration typically opens in May/June of Year 5.
- Apply for school places: You’ll receive test results in October. Use them to complete the secondary school application form by the deadline.
- National Offer Day: In March of Year 6, you’ll receive the school placement offer.
How Tuition Academy (Medway) Can Help
At Tuition Academy (Medway), we provide small group tuition at our Rochester centre to help your child prepare for the Medway Test. Our expert tutors focus on building a solid foundation in the key subjects, developing exam techniques, and boosting confidence. Please contact us today to learn how we can support your child’s grammar school aspirations.