How papers are marked
This content is for the September 2023 test (September 2024 Year 7 admission).
Information about the September 2024 test (September 2025 Year 7 admission) will be published here by 15 May 2024.
In the meantime, see our secondary admissions scheme for information about the 2024 test.
Each paper is marked to provide ‘raw’ scores.
Mathematics & non-verbal reasoning and verbal skills are marked on the number of correct answers. The writing test is marked against specific criteria.
The raw scores are then standardised to reflect the child’s age at the time they sit the test. This is to make sure no child is disadvantaged because they're born later in the school year.
Scores for each paper are weighted and added together to get a total weighted score. The weightings are
Writing test standardised score x2
plus
Mathematics and non-verbal reasoning test x2
plus
Verbal skills test x1
equals
Total weighted score
Every year a minimum total weighted score is set to determine the grammar pass mark.
This score is set at 23% of the children in the year group in Medway state primary and junior schools. This changes each year depending on the size of the year group.
The minimum score for this year will not be known until the test has been sat and the scores have been calculated.
The minimum score for the last few years were:
- 2024 admissions: 492
- 2023 admissions: 488
- 2022 admissions: 487
All children who attend Medway maintained schools, non-Medway schools or Medway independent schools whose score is above the minimum total weighted score will be assessed as grammar.
All children who have taken the tests and achieved scores that are below the minimum score will be deemed non-grammar at this stage.