How to Cope When Your 11+ Exam Board Changes | Bexley’s New Quest Test Explained

In February 2026, Bexley announced that its 11+ Selection Test will move to a new exam provider, Quest Assessment, introducing the new Bexley Quest 11+ test from 2026.

Whenever an exam board changes, many parents panic that everything about their child’s preparation might suddenly be wrong.

The reassuring reality is that while exam providers may change, the core skills tested in the 11+ remain remarkably consistent.
At Tutor Rise, we have helped families navigate grammar school exam changes for more than a decade. Having supported pupils preparing for entrance tests set by GL Assessment, CEM, Quest and a wide range of grammar and independent schools, we know that children with strong academic foundations adapt confidently when formats evolve.

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Bexley 11+ Exam Change: Quick Summary

• New exam provider: Quest Assessment
• Applies from: 2026 Bexley Selection Test
• Registration window: 1–31 March 2026
• Subjects expected: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Competition level: Around 30% of pupils reach the selective standard

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Why Has the Bexley 11+ Exam Board Changed?

Local authorities occasionally review their testing providers to ensure that the selection process remains fair, reliable and up to date.

Bexley has changed exam providers several times over the past 14 years:

• GL Assessment
• CEM
• GL Assessment again
• Quest Assessment from 2026

Although the provider changes, the skills being tested remain largely the same.

Grammar school entrance exams continue to assess:

• Reading comprehension
• Vocabulary depth
• Mathematical reasoning
• Logical thinking

For parents, this is the key message.

The format may evolve, but the academic foundations required for success do not suddenly change overnight.

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How Competitive Is the Bexley Selection Test?

The Bexley 11+ remains highly competitive.

Recent figures show:

• 5,866 pupils sat the test
• 2,070 were deemed selective

This means roughly 30% of pupils achieve the selective standard.

However, reaching the selective standard alone does not guarantee a grammar school place. 

Grammar schools still apply their own admissions policies when allocating places.

A comprehensive preparation strategy is therefore essential. Families benefit most from preparation that develops strong reading, reasoning and mathematical skills rather than focusing narrowly on a single test format.

At Tutor Rise, we help pupils build these foundations through structured 11+ online tuition, guiding families step by step as children prepare for grammar school and independent school entrance exams. This approach means pupils are well prepared even when exam formats change, such as the recent move from GL to Quest in Bexley.

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Important Registration Information for Parents

Families wishing to sit the 2026 Bexley Selection Test must register during the official registration window:

1 March – 31 March 2026

Two key points are often overlooked:

• Children attending Bexley primary schools are not automatically registered
• Late applications are not accepted

If the registration deadline is missed, there is no appeal process to sit the test that year.

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What Actually Changes When an 11+ Exam Board Changes?

When a borough moves to a new exam provider, the appearance of the test may change, but the underlying academic expectations remain similar.

What might change

• Question layout and formatting
• Timing of sections
• Multiple-choice versus written answers
• The mix of reasoning question styles

What usually stays the same

• Reading comprehension difficulty
• Mathematical reasoning level
• Vocabulary expectations
• Logical thinking skills

Strong reading comprehension skills remain one of the most important foundations for success in any 11+ exam.

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Understanding the Bexley Quest 11+ Test

Quest Assessment is a newer provider of selective entrance exams.

Based on the official familiarisation materials, the Bexley test is expected to assess four key areas:

• English
• Mathematics
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning

These subjects are widely used across grammar school entrance exams throughout the UK.

Quest assessments are already used in selective school admissions. At Tutor Rise, we have already helped pupils successfully prepare for and perform strongly in these assessments.

Parents who would like to explore the style of questions can view some official Quest familiarisation materials:

Quest 11+ English Practice Questions

Quest 11+ Maths Practice Questions

Quest 11+ Verbal reasoning Practice Questions

Quest 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions

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How the Quest 11+ Compares to GL and CEM

Parents often ask whether the new Quest exam will be very different from previous formats. While each provider has its own style, the core academic skills assessed remain broadly similar.

For families preparing for grammar and independent school entrance exams, this reinforces an important point: strong foundations in reading, vocabulary, reasoning and maths remain the most reliable preparation strategy.

At Tutor Rise, this is why our structured 11+ online tuition focuses on developing deep academic understanding so pupils can adapt confidently across exam formats including GL, CEM, Quest and other selective entrance tests.

The most important point is that all three providers assess the same underlying academic abilities.

Children still need strong:

• reading comprehension
• vocabulary
• mathematical reasoning
• logical thinking

When pupils develop these skills thoroughly, adapting to a new exam provider becomes far easier than many parents fear.

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A Reminder: Bexley Has Changed Exam Providers Before

This is not the first time families have experienced a change in the Bexley 11+.

When the borough previously moved from CEM back to GL Assessment, many parents worried that preparation strategies would need to change dramatically.

In practice, pupils who had developed strong reading, reasoning and mathematical skills adapted smoothly.

This experience is one reason tutors at Tutor Rise remain calm when exam boards change. When pupils develop strong foundations in reading, reasoning and mathematics, they are usually able to adapt quickly to new exam formats.

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Preparing for Multiple Exam Formats

Some pupils in the region may encounter more than one exam format.

For example, Kent grammar schools will continue using GL Assessment for the 2026 test.

This means some children may sit exams set by different providers during the same preparation period.

When pupils develop strong underlying skills in reading, vocabulary and reasoning, a clear 11+ preparation strategy helps them adapt confidently to different exam formats.When pupils develop strong underlying skills in reading, vocabulary and reasoning, adapting to different formats becomes far more manageable.

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How Tutor Rise Helps Pupils Adapt to Exam Changes

At Tutor Rise, our teaching focuses on building the core academic skills that underpin all 11+ exams.

Rather than narrowly teaching to a single test format, we prioritise:

• advanced comprehension and inference
• deep vocabulary development
• mathematical reasoning
• flexible problem solving

This approach allows pupils to adapt confidently whenever exam formats evolve.

Over the past 12+ years we have successfully prepared pupils for grammar school and independent school entrance exams across the UK, including tests set by GL Assessment, CEM and other providers.

Through our specialist 11+ online tuition, we support families nationwide with structured preparation designed to build confidence, independence and academic depth.

You may occasionally see our name written online as TutorRise, but our mission remains the same: helping pupils reach selective schools through thoughtful preparation and expert teaching.

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Final Thoughts for Parents

Changes to exam boards can initially feel unsettling, particularly when grammar school entry is so competitive.

However, the purpose of the 11+ exam has not changed.

Grammar school entrance tests continue to assess:

• strong reading ability
• confident mathematical thinking
• vocabulary knowledge
• logical reasoning

Children who develop these skills thoroughly are far better prepared to adapt to new question formats.

At Tutor Rise, we remain committed to supporting families as exam formats evolve, helping pupils prepare for the 11+ with clarity, confidence and expert guidance.

If you would like guidance on preparing for the new Bexley Quest 11+ test, Tutor Rise provides structured 11+ online tuition designed to help pupils succeed across the range of assessments used by grammar and independent schools, including GL, Quest Assessment, and other selective entrance tests.

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Related 11+ Guides for Parents

• How to Prepare for the 11+ Exam
• Best Books to Improve 11+ Reading Skills
• Understanding the Bexley Grammar School Application Process