Sitting the Medway Test (11+)
This content is for the September 2024 test (September 2025 Year 7 admission).
In the meantime, see our secondary admissions scheme for information about the 2024 test.
When and where your child will sit the test
You will be sent your Medway Test invitation by the end of August 2024.
If you registered online your invitation is sent by email only.
If you registered in any other way, you will receive your invitation by post.
Check your junk or spam folders if you have not received your invite. If you have not received your invitation by the end of August 2024, please email medwaytest@medway.gov.uk.
Your invitation will tell you where and when your child is due to sit the test. Your child must only attend the test at their allocated venue and on their allocated day.
Multiple birth (twins/triplets etc) children will sit their test on the same day, regardless even if one or more twin sibling has been granted special arrangements. This means that one or more twin sibling may test at a different test centre to each other. Please plan your journey to ensure you are on time at multiple test centres.
Important test day information
All parents and carers must read the test day information sheet before the test.
Download a test day information sheet
Registration form
If your child is sitting the test at a test centre and not in their current primary school, you must also complete a pupil registration form and take it with you on test day.
Download a pupil registration form
How to get to your test centre
If your child is sitting the test at a test centre, they would have been allocated a test centre. You can find all the addresses and entrances of the test centres in the table below.
| Test centre name | Address | How to access the test centre |
|---|---|---|
| Balfour Junior School | Balfour Road, Chatham, ME4 6QX | Main school gate, Balfour Road. (Use ME4 6QY for sat nav) View entrance on map |
| Chatham Grammar | Rainham Road, Chatham, ME5 7EH | Main school gate, Rainham Road View entrance on map |
| Fort Pitt Grammar School | Fort Pitt Hill, Rochester, Chatham, ME4 6TJ | Main school gate, Fort Pitt Hill View entrance on map |
| Holcombe Grammar School | Letchworth Avenue, Chatham, ME4 6JB | Letchworth Avenue (ME4 6NP) View entrance on map |
| Leigh Academy Rainham | Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8GS | Main school gate, Otterham Quay Lane View entrance on map |
| Rainham Mark Grammar School | Pump Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 7AJ | Main school gate, Pump Lane View entrance on map |
| Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School | Maidstone Road, Rochester, ME1 3EL | Lower entrance, Maidstone Road View entrance on map |
| The Hundred of Hoo Academy | Main Road, Hoo, Rochester, ME3 9HH | Main school gate, Main Road View entrance on map |
| The Rochester Grammar School | Maidstone Road, Rochester, ME1 3BY | Vehicle and pedestrian entrance, Maidstone Road View entrance on map |
If your child requires access or mobility requirements to get around the test venue, email School Services before the test on medwaytest@medway.gov.uk.
Withdrawing your child from the test
If you wish to withdraw your child from the test please email your request to medwaytest@medway.gov.uk. Once you withdraw your child from the test you cannot change your mind and re-register them after the closing date.
Exam stress
If your child attends a Medway school and is experiencing exam stress, please contact the school for the Medway Emotional Support Team or the MCH Emotional Wellbeing Service.
Other support is available from:
- NHS NELFT (resources for children and parents/carers)
- Young minds (managing exam stress)
- Young minds (parental advice)
- Childline
- NHS.
Rules for when your child is attending the Medway Test
When your child attends the Medway Test they must follow the rules below.
Arrive on time
Late arrivals will not be let into the test venue once registration has closed, as there cannot be any interruptions or distractions for other children.
The test cannot be sat at a later date so the arranged test dates are your child’s only chance to sit the test.
You must leave the test centre after your child has been registered. However, we recommend that you do not go too far during the test, so that you are not delayed in collecting your child after the test.
Tell us if your child is ill on the day of the test
If your child is ill on the day they are due to sit the Medway Test, you must email medwaytest@medway.gov.uk.
If your child was due to sit the test in their own school, you should also report them as ill to the school as per the school’s policy.
Wear school uniform
All children sitting the Medway Test must wear their school uniform (not including children who are electively home educated).
Not bring valuable property with them
Your child should not have any valuable objects with them for the Medway Test. We are not responsible for the loss or damage of a child’s property before, during or after the test.
Items not allowed in the test room
Items you cannot bring are listed on the parent information sheet that we will send with your invitation by the end of August. If these items are found with your child they will be confiscated and your child will be disqualified from the Medway Test.
If your child realises they have an item that is not allowed, they must give it to an invigilator before they enter the test room.
Mobile phones are not allowed in the test room. They must be switched off during the test and kept outside the test room.
Recording answers
Answer sheets are used in all test papers. Only answer sheets are marked by the optical reader. Answers in any question booklet are not marked.
If your child records their answer somewhere other than where they are instructed to e.g. in the question booklet or in the wrong place on the answer sheet, it will not be transposed to the correct place on the answer sheet and they will receive zero marks for the question(s). Using a highlighter or pen on an answer sheet means it will not be marked. Your child must use a HB pencil to complete their answer sheets.
Instructions are given on what your child should do if they make a mistake.
Extra paper is not provided for any test. Workings out should be done in the question booklet.
Permitted items
Your child can bring
- HB grade pencils
- an eraser/rubber
- a pencil sharpener.
Further information about what to bring will be sent with your invitation by the end of August.
Breaks, drinks and snacks
Please make sure your child has breakfast and has been provided with enough food and drink to get them through the breaks in case of any delays.
If your child is sitting the test on a weekend day in a test centre or St Andrew’s School, please make sure that refreshments for breaks are in a clear bag, labelled with your child’s name.
Some children taking the test may have serious allergic reactions so please make sure that snacks provided are free from nuts, fish or shellfish, etc.
The testing environment
Medway Council expects all children to follow good behaviour in the test environment. This is so all candidates have a calm and safe environment available.
Distracting, disruptive, aid or assisting behaviour during the test day at the test venue will not be allowed.
A child will only be given one warning for any behaviour that is distracting or disruptive during the test day.
If the behaviour continues after their warning, the invigilation team has the authority to remove children from the test day. If this behaviour occurs, it is likely the child will be asked to leave.
If this happens, you'll be contacted and your child will not be allowed to complete the test.