GCSE rank #127 In-site school
Barton Court Grammar School
Canterbury, Kent
Ofsted: Good Mixed
Consortium guide
Kent Test 11 Plus
Understand how the Kent Test works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
32 schools GL Assessment / CEM / Individual 7 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
32 grammar schools across Kent (Kent Grammar Schools Consortium)
Assessment Format
GL Assessment – English, maths, reasoning and a creative writing task
Eligibility
No formal criteria to sit the test
Places Available
5,000+ grammar school places each year
Applications
16,000+ children take the test annually
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Kent Test is the 11 Plus exam used by all grammar schools in the Kent County Council area. It is set by GL Assessment and is designed to identify children working within the top 25% of their year group.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Kent Test 11 Plus is a shared route used by 32 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Kent Test route itself is clear, the shortlist usually improves when you compare travel, admissions rules, and school fit instead of treating every school on the route as interchangeable.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Kent Test route.
GCSE rank #149 In-site school
Borden Grammar School
Sittingbourne, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #142 In-site school
Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
Ramsgate, Kent
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #130 In-site school
Cranbrook School
Cranbrook, Kent
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #136 In-site school
Dane Court Grammar School
Broadstairs, Kent
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #20 In-site school
Dartford Grammar School
Dartford, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
GCSE rank #56 In-site school
Dartford Grammar School for Girls
Dartford, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #134 In-site school
Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #156 In-site school
Dover Grammar School for Girls
Dover, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #161 In-site school
The Folkestone School for Girls
Folkestone, Kent
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #133 In-site school
Gravesend Grammar School
Gravesend, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
GCSE rank #151 In-site school
The Harvey Grammar School
Folkestone, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
GCSE rank #154 In-site school
Highsted Grammar School
Sittingbourne, Kent
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #95 In-site school
Highworth Grammar School
Ashford, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #96 In-site school
Invicta Grammar School
Maidstone, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #32 In-site school
The Judd School
Tonbridge, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
GCSE rank #110 In-site school
Maidstone Grammar School
Maidstone, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #121 In-site school
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
Maidstone, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #140 In-site school
Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #120 In-site school
The Norton Knatchbull School
Ashford, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #112 In-site school
Oakwood Park Grammar School
Maidstone, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #137 In-site school
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Faversham, Kent
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #124 In-site school
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
Canterbury, Kent
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #128 In-site school
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Canterbury, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
GCSE rank #143 In-site school
Sir Roger Manwood's School
Sandwich, Kent
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #105 In-site school
The Skinners' School
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #36 In-site school
Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #76 In-site school
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #141 In-site school
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #102 In-site school
Weald of Kent Grammar School
Tonbridge, Kent
Ofsted: Requires improvement Girls only
GCSE rank #139 In-site school
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
Dartford, Kent
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #125 In-site school
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
Dartford, Kent
Ofsted: Good Girls only
What to compare next
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Kent Selection Test includes two one-hour multiple choice papers and a separate creative writing task. These are designed to assess academic performance and problem-solving ability.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Paper 1: English & Maths (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Creative Writing Task (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
English
5-minute practice, followed by 25-minute test Covers reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary and literacy
5-minute practice, followed by 25-minute test
Covers reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary and literacy
Maths
5-minute practice, followed by 25-minute test Based on Year 5 and early Year 6 curriculum, including problem-solving questions
Based on Year 5 and early Year 6 curriculum, including problem-solving questions
Verbal Reasoning
10-minute practice + 20-minute test Includes codes, sequences, logic and word patterns
10-minute practice + 20-minute test
Includes codes, sequences, logic and word patterns
Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning
Includes guided practice and short timed sections (4–5 minutes each) Focuses on shapes, sequences, spatial awareness and patterns
Includes guided practice and short timed sections (4–5 minutes each)
Focuses on shapes, sequences, spatial awareness and patterns
Duration
40 minutes (10 minutes for planning, 30 minutes for writing)
This task is not marked as part of the final score but may be reviewed in borderline cases. It assesses grammar, imagination and written expression.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
The Kent 11 Plus Test is standardised to allow fair comparison between pupils of different ages. Each child receives:
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
A standardised English score
A standardised maths score
A standardised reasoning score
An overall total (aggregate) score
Aggregate score to pass
Around 332
Maximum score
423
Minimum required per paper
106
While the pass mark can vary each year, a typical threshold may look like this:
To be deemed selective, children must meet both the overall pass mark and minimum score in each subject. Scoring well in just one area is not enough.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child, complete an online application through Kent County Council:
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration opens
Monday 2nd June 2025
Registration closes
Tuesday 1st July 2025
Test date for Kent primary pupils
Thursday 11th September 2025
Test date for out-of-county pupils
Weekend of 13th-14th September 2025
Results day
Thursday 16th October 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National offer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Register online
Visit the KCC website during the registration period and fill out the form with your child’s details and primary school.
Test centre allocation (for non-Kent residents)
If your child is not at a Kent primary school, they will be assigned a test centre to sit the exam.
Keep confirmation
You’ll receive a confirmation email once registered – keep this in case of any issues.
07 / Shortlisting
Admissions points to compare school by school
Once the route itself is clear, treat the linked schools as separate choices. This is usually where travel, oversubscription rules, and school fit start to matter most.
In this section
- Travel and realism
- Oversubscription rules
- School-by-school fit
The shared route keeps the testing process simpler, but the final shortlist usually depends on how each linked school applies its admissions rules and how practical each option still looks once travel is taken seriously.
Check these before you rank schools
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Effective preparation can boost your child’s confidence and performance. Here are some useful strategies:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start early
Ideally begin in Year 4 or early Year 5 to allow steady progress.
Use practice materials
Work through past papers and timed practice tests to build familiarity and exam technique.
Target weak areas
Identify and focus on subjects or question types your child finds difficult.
Read regularly
Daily reading strengthens vocabulary and comprehension – essential skills for the test.
Use online tools
Digital learning platforms can provide personalised practice and useful feedback.
Staying consistent, supportive and positive during preparation will help your child approach the test feeling ready and reassured.
09 / FAQs
Questions families often ask
Use these answers as a planning guide, then confirm the live admissions details for your application year.
In this section
- Common questions
- Decision checks
- Application-year details
Does one Kent Test result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Kent Test route lets one test result support several school applications. The important caveat is that final admissions rules can still differ between the schools using that route.
Does a qualifying score guarantee a place? +
No. A strong or qualifying result may keep a school in play, but final offers still depend on the admissions policy, oversubscription rules, and how competitive that year is.
What should parents compare once the route itself is clear? +
Parents usually make better decisions when they compare travel corridors, school type, whether any super-selective assumptions are creeping in, and the difference between being assessed suitable and actually gaining a place. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Kent Test? +
The live process usually sits with Kent County Council and the participating grammar schools. This page helps you understand the route, but the final registration and admissions instructions should always be checked on the live official pages for the relevant year.