Question 1Aim for about 60 seconds
A car travels at 45 mph for 1.5 hours. How far does it travel?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, 67.5 miles
How to work it out
Distance = speed × time = 45 × 1.5 = 67.5 miles.
Bexley Selection Tests
Bexley grammar schools use GL papers in maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
At a glance
- Subjects
- Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
- Usually held
- September
- Set by
- GL Assessment
- Schools
- 4
The papers
| Stage | Paper | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection Tests | English & Maths | 50 | 60 minutes |
| Selection Tests | Verbal & Non-verbal | 50 | 60 minutes |
Paper formats are indicative and change from year to year. Always check the current arrangements with the school or local authority.
How to prepare for the Bexley
The Bexley Selection Tests covers maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
Verbal reasoning is a set of learnable question types, such as letter codes, hidden words and word analogies. Learning each type, then practising it against the clock, lifts scores quickly.
Non-verbal reasoning is about spotting patterns in shapes: rotations, reflections, sequences and matrices. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.
Schools that use the Bexley
- Beths Grammar School Bexley
- Bexley Grammar School Bexley
- Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School Bexley
- Townley Grammar School Bexley
Try some Bexley style questions
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
What does the word “appalling” mean?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, shocking and very bad
How to work it out
- “Appalling” (adjective) means shocking and very bad.
- For example: The traffic was appalling this morning.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Complete the analogy.
baker is to bread as florist is to ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, flowers
How to work it out
- Say the link between “baker” and “bread” as a sentence.
- The same sentence links “florist” and “flowers”.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure completes the grid?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
- Across each row the shading changes in the same way; down each column the shape changes.
- The missing figure needs the bottom row’s shape and the right column’s shading.
Questions parents ask
What subjects are in the Bexley?
The Bexley tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
When is the Bexley?
The main test usually takes place in September. Dates change each year, so always confirm them with the school or local authority.
How should my child prepare for the Bexley?
Build the core skills in Year 4 and 5, learn each question type, then practise timed papers in the Bexley format. Prism builds this plan automatically from a free starting assessment.
Find out where your child stands today
Prism starts with a free assessment across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then builds a weekly plan for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.
Start the free assessment