Rainham Mark Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School.
How to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School
Rainham Mark Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Medway, Kent. To get into Rainham Mark Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Rainham Mark Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). The school offers 235 places annually [1].
Rainham Mark Grammar School is the only co-educational selective grammar school in the Medway area with over 1400 pupils aged 11–16 [1]. Admission is by tests administered by Medway Council [1].
The school does not have a catchment area [1]. Children must achieve a selective standard on the Medway Test to be eligible for consideration.
Application Process
Families must register for the Medway Test between 19th May and 13th June 2025 (see key dates). Registration opens 19 May and closes at 5pm on Friday 13 June 2025.
A test registration is not a school application - families must apply for schools separately during the September to October application window. The Common Application Form must be submitted to the home local authority by 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
- Register for the Medway Test via Medway Council's Parent Portal by 13th June 2025
- Complete the Common Application Form naming preferred schools by 31st October 2025
- Submit a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) if eligible for free school meals via email to Admissions@rmgs.org.uk [1]
- Arrange special exam arrangements through the child's current school by 23rd June 2025 if needed
Exam Information
The Medway tests comprise a Mathematics test, a Verbal Reasoning test and an Extended Writing exercise [1]. Children attending Medway primary schools sit the test on Tuesday 16th or Wednesday 17th September 2025 (see key dates).
Children from non-Medway schools take the test at designated centres on Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st September 2025 (see key dates). Test results are sent on Wednesday 15 October 2025.
- Mathematics: Tests mathematical skills and logical reasoning abilities
- Verbal Reasoning: Assesses ability to process written information and vocabulary
- Extended Writing: Changed from 2024 to include comprehension, vocabulary, spelling and grammar
- Total possible score:700 points with recent pass marks between 480-490 points
Oversubscription Criteria
If the number of preferences received from children achieving selective standard exceeds places available, places are allocated in priority order [1]. The oversubscription criteria prioritise specific groups of children.
- Children in Public Care, as defined in the Medway Coordinated Admissions Scheme to include children who are adopted and were previously looked after [1]
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium or Free School Meals
- Children with siblings currently attending the school
- Children with medical or health needs supported by evidence
- Children of staff members employed for three or more years
- Distance from school - measured by shortest route to home address
Preparation Guidance
Families should begin preparation during Year 4 or at least Year 5 as reasoning skills require extended practice time. Regular study sessions of 20-30 minutes are recommended for children aged 10-11 years.
The school encourages a "little and often" approach to learning. Building strong foundations in core subjects helps children develop confidence for the examination format and content.
- Start preparation in Year 4 or Year 5 for best results
- Practice mathematical reasoning and problem-solving regularly
- Develop vocabulary and reading comprehension skills
- Familiarise children with verbal and non-verbal reasoning question types
- Use practice papers to build exam confidence - see practice materials
- Consider professional support via tutoring services if needed
Key Dates and Timeline
The admissions process follows a structured timeline beginning in May 2025 and concluding with school offers in March 2026 (see key dates). Families must meet each deadline to ensure their child's application progresses successfully.
- 19th May 2025:Medway Test registration opens
- 13th June 2025: Registration deadline (see key dates)
- 23rd June 2025: Special arrangements requests deadline
- 16th-17th September 2025: Test dates for Medway primary pupils
- 20th-21st September 2025: Test dates for non-Medway pupils
- 15th October 2025: Results released (see key dates)
- 31st October 2025: School application deadline (see key dates)
Practical Advice
On exam day, children should arrive well-rested and have eaten a good breakfast. The school environment will be calm and supervised to ensure all candidates can perform to their best ability.
For September 2025, the school received 1042 applications for 235 places with the furthest successful applicant living 4,442.53 metres away. This demonstrates the competitive nature of admissions.
- Ensure children are well-rested and have eaten breakfast on test day
- Arrive at the test venue 10 minutes early to settle nerves
- Bring required identification documents and writing materials if specified
- Consider backup schools in the Medway area including other grammar schools
- Prepare for potential appeals process if unsuccessful
- Contact the school information section for specific queries about admissions
Appeal Process
If families are not offered a place after offer day in early March, the law entitles them to appeal against that decision to an Independent Appeal Panel which is completely independent of the school and Local Authority [1].
All appeals are heard online which has the advantage that appeals can be heard from home or place of work [1]. Families must state clear grounds for their appeal when submitting the appeal form.
- Appeals must include clear grounds for the challenge
- Supporting documentation should be uploaded with the appeal form
- Additional evidence must be submitted 5 working days before the hearing
- Academic letters from professionals carry more weight than examples of schoolwork
- Contact details for appeals assistance available in school information section
Medway 11+ Information
In order to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School, children need to pass the Medway 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Medway 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Medway 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Maths
- Reasoning
Aspiring students who wish to attend Rainham Mark Grammar School are required to take an entrance examination known as the Medway Test. This assessment, provided by GL Assessment, evaluates the candidates' abilities across three core subjects.
The Medway Test comprises three separate papers, each focusing on a specific area of academic competency. These papers are designed to assess the students' proficiency in English, Maths, and Reasoning skills. The English paper likely evaluates the candidates' reading comprehension, grammar, and writing abilities, while the Maths paper tests their numerical understanding and problem-solving skills. The Reasoning paper aims to gauge the students' logical thinking and ability to draw conclusions from given information.
By assessing these key areas, the Medway Test helps Rainham Mark Grammar School identify students with the necessary academic foundation to thrive in their rigorous educational environment. Success in this examination is a crucial step for children seeking to secure a place at this prestigious grammar school.
Other Schools using Medway 11+
As well as Rainham Mark Grammar School, several other schools also use Medway 11+. These are:
- Chatham Grammar
- Fort Pitt Grammar School
- Holcombe Grammar School
- Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
- The Rochester Grammar School
Medway 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Rainham Mark Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.
Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
Medway 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Medway 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).
Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Rainham Mark Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Rainham Mark Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 19/05/2025 | 11+ Registration Opens | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 13/06/2025 | 11+ Registration Closes | |
| Mid October | 11+ Results Released | |
| Late October | Secondary School Application Deadline | |
| 02/03/2026 | Secondary School National Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Rainham Mark Grammar School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Rainham Mark Grammar School
As the Medway 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Rainham Mark Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Rainham Mark Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School
Unfortunately, Rainham Mark Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Medway 11+ Ensure you double-check with Rainham Mark Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Medway 11+ to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Rainham Mark Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Medway 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Rainham Mark Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Rainham Mark Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Rainham Mark Grammar School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Rainham Mark Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Rainham Mark Grammar School, Pump Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent ME8 7AJ |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.rainhammark.com/ |
| Telephone | 01634364151 |
| Email Address | admissions@rmgs.org.uk |
| Gender | Mixed (both girls and boys) |
| Total Year 7 Places | 235 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1567 (728 Girls / 839 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mrs Agnes Hart |
Rainham Mark Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 1,567 pupils attend Rainham Mark Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Agnes Hart.
Rainham Mark Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Rainham Mark Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 24/05/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 12/07/2022, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 24/05/2022 | 1 | 12/07/2022 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
Rainham Mark Grammar School was inspected by Ofsted on 24 May 2022 and received an overall outcome of Good. The school demonstrated a good quality of education, with pupils benefiting from effective teaching and a well-planned curriculum.
The behaviour and attitudes of students were also rated as good, with pupils showing respect for one another and displaying positive attitudes towards learning. The school's provision for personal development was deemed good, with a range of opportunities available for pupils to develop their skills and interests beyond the classroom.
The leadership and management of the school were rated as good, with leaders demonstrating a clear vision for the school and a commitment to ongoing improvement. The sixth form provision was also rated as good, with students receiving effective support and guidance to help them progress to their chosen destinations after school.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Rainham Mark Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Rainham Mark Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design | 34 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Biology | 154 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 28 | 49 | 40 | 19 | 12 |
| Business Studies:Single | 108 | - | - | 3 | 10 | 21 | 29 | 20 | 16 | 6 | 3 |
| Chemistry | 154 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 33 | 51 | 35 | 19 | 13 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 54 | - | - | 2 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Design & Technology | 23 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Economics | 32 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 5 | - |
| English Language | 239 | - | - | - | 5 | 16 | 43 | 79 | 52 | 28 | 16 |
| English Literature | 238 | - | - | 1 | 8 | 26 | 44 | 77 | 43 | 29 | 10 |
| D&T Food Technology | 21 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| French | 56 | 1 | - | 1 | 5 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Geography | 109 | - | - | - | 2 | 12 | 19 | 27 | 27 | 10 | 12 |
| German | 70 | - | - | 1 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| History | 141 | - | 1 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 22 | 32 | 27 | 20 | 14 |
| Mathematics | 239 | - | - | - | 2 | 21 | 34 | 72 | 58 | 36 | 16 |
| Music | 8 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 4 |
| Physics | 154 | 1 | - | - | - | 4 | 43 | 42 | 33 | 18 | 13 |
| Religious Studies | 73 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 4 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 18 |
| Spanish | 114 | 1 | - | 5 | 16 | 23 | 25 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 2 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 16 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | - | - |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 32 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Science: Double Award | 84 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 11 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | - | |||
| Biology | 69 | - | 8 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 5 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 47 | - | - | 4 | 9 | 19 | 11 | 4 | |||
| Chemistry | 47 | - | 6 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 5 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 16 | - | - | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 7 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | - | |||
| Drama and Theatre Studies | 9 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Economics | 29 | - | - | - | 8 | 12 | 7 | 2 | |||
| English Literature | 26 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 4 | |||
| Film Studies | 19 | - | - | - | 2 | 10 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Geography | 13 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Government and Politics | 22 | - | 1 | - | 6 | 9 | 6 | - | |||
| History | 16 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | |||
| Mathematics | 66 | - | 4 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 11 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 24 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 1 | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 16 | - | - | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Physics | 22 | - | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Psychology | 50 | - | - | 4 | 12 | 18 | 11 | 5 | |||
| Religious Studies | 11 | - | - | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Sociology | 43 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 19 | 11 | 7 | |||
| Spanish | 10 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||
FAQ
Is Rainham Mark Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Rainham Mark Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Rainham Mark Grammar School a private school?
No, Rainham Mark Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Rainham Mark Grammar School free?
Yes, Rainham Mark Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Rainham Mark Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Rainham Mark Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Rainham Mark Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
