Medway is a separate test from Kent but the two areas overlap administratively for many families on the Kent/Medway boundary.
The year in shape
The Medway Test (GL Assessment-based) sits a fortnight after the Kent test, allowing many families to attempt both. The Medway test includes a moderated writing element absent from Kent.
Realistic cross-test families live within travelling distance of both Medway grammars (SJWMS, Rainham Mark, Chatham, Holcombe) and Kent grammars (Skinners', Judd, Highworth etc.).
Term-by-term plan
Autumn term. Through autumn of Year 5, identify whether your realistic catchment includes both areas. Many families consider both but only one is genuinely viable given travel and address criteria.
Spring term. In spring, register for both tests if you intend to sit both. Deadlines are within a fortnight of each other and missing either is final.
Summer term & holiday. Through summer, prepare for both tests. The format overlap is high (both are GL-based) but the writing component in Medway requires its own practice.
Topics to prioritise
Highest-leverage cross-Kent topics: GL Maths fractions and ratio; GL English inference; the Medway-specific extended writing component.
Common mistakes parents make this year
The most common parent mistake is sitting both tests "as a backup" without realistic intention to attend either area's schools. The administrative cost and child-fatigue are real.
Signs to look for
Signs the strategy is going well: child has clear GL preparation, has practised Medway-style writing alongside Kent-style multiple-choice English, and a realistic preference list across both areas. If these signs are present, the year is going well; if they are absent, the issue is rarely intelligence — it is usually pacing, format unfamiliarity or the wrong tutoring relationship. Identify which and adjust deliberately.
Where to go next
Read the Kent and Medway county guides for both calendars; read the GL format guide; budget for at least one mock in each format to confirm pacing. Read across the related guides on this site — the guides index groups them by category for easy navigation.