11+ Mock Test FAQs: Should my child do the Bexley mock, the Kent mock or both?

What’s the difference between the Kent and Bexley mock exams?

The biggest difference between the real-life Bexley and Kent exams is in the English and verbal reasoning sections. Officially, both exams have a verbal reasoning section, however, these differ greatly in content.

The Bexley verbal reasoning section contains a comprehension passage, a range of questions on synonyms and antonyms and a cloze test (a set of questions in which children need to fill the appropriate missing word into a sentence).

Whilst the Kent exam also contains a comprehension section, it also features what we call “true” verbal reasoning. These are the code questions you’ll be used to seeing in the Bond Assessment Papers, e.g. “if the code for ABATE is ZAZSD, what is the code for BRICK?” or “find the four-letter word hidden in the sentence.”

The English section of the Kent exam also includes spelling, punctuation and grammar questions that are not included in the Bexley exam.

So which mock exam should my child do?

Your first consideration here will need to be which schools you prefer. If you aren’t seriously considering the schools in a particular area, then sit the mock for your first choice schools. This will mean that your child will get practice in the right range of subjects, and will also mean that your child’s predicted score is more useful.

If you are equally keen for your child to go to a Bexley or a Kent school, look next at your motivation for having your child sit a mock test. If you’re booking a mock test to give your child practice in sitting an exam, you should probably go for the Kent mock test as this mock tests a wider range of subjects and will give your child the opportunity to practise their verbal reasoning and SPAG skills in an exam environment.

If your main motivation for sitting a mock test is to get your child’s predicted score, it is probably better to do the Bexley mock as this requires a slightly higher standard in order to pass.

Mock test booking details for Bromley and Sidcup can be found here.

Our summer schools will give your child the chance to work on the weaknesses highlighted in their mock exam with the help of our expert teachers. Details of our summer schools can be viewed here.

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