Holcombe Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2024
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Founded in 1913, Holcombe Grammar School is a grammar school based in Chatham, Kent. It was previously known as Chatham Grammar School for Boys and currently caters for over 1,000 pupils, dividing them across five houses which compete against each other throughout the school year. [1]
Holcombe Grammar is characterised by a broad curricular offering aimed at boosting pupils’ qualifications in the areas of technology, mathematics, science, humanities and other relevant disciplines. Students also take astronomy lessons, which are mainly designed to enhance their logical deduction skills through the analysis of observational data.
Holcombe Grammar is an accredited Thinking School, receiving this accreditation from Exeter University. Focused on moulding students into life-long learners, the school facilitates their inquisitiveness and can-do attitude, teaching them to think reflectively, developing a deep comprehension of complex situations and concepts. [2]
Whether it be creative arts, sports or drama, pupils’ non-academic interests at Holcombe Grammar are fully met. This helps foster a vigorous, friendly ethos that supports the ambitious community and underpins the school’s profoundly holistic approach towards education.
Consequently, students mature into self-assured individuals, diving into their academic pursuits and personal growth with unwavering commitment. Their tenacity is evident not just in their approach to learning but also in their recent GCSE and A-Level results, which serve as a testament to their dedication to hard work.
Holcombe Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2024
Address: Holcombe, Letchworth Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6JB
County: Kent (Medway)
School type: Boys’ grammar
Admissions info: office@holcombegrammar.org.uk, +44 333 360 2130
Number of places in Year 7: 150
Open Day date: October
Exam date: September
Pass mark: Aim for 80%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Exam type / Board: GL Assessment
Holcombe Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Year 7 places at Holcombe Grammar School are allocated on the basis of pupil performance in the 11+ exam. Prior to applying for entry, you and your child are strongly encouraged to attend their Open Morning to get more information about the admissions process and get a taste of the school’s learning environment.
Along with the other grammar schools in Medway, Holcombe uses the Medway Test for Year 7 admissions. Children who attend a primary school in the area will take the 11+ exam at their current school, while those attending a school outside the area will take the exam in a Medway Council test venue.
In the event of oversubscription, Holcombe Grammar School applies the following criteria, giving priority to:
- Looked After or previously Looked After Children
- Children who have a sibling attending the school at the time of admission
- Children who attend primary schools operated by the Thinking Schools Academy Trust Medway
- Children of Holcombe Grammar’s staff
- Children with specific health reasons for attending Holcombe Grammar School
- Children who live closest to the school
More details about Holcombe Grammar’s admissions process are available on their website. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Holcombe Grammar School
To secure a Year 7 place at Holcombe Grammar School for your son, you should register him using an online form (available on this page) before the June deadline. Additionally, you’ll need to complete a preference (CAF) form where you must rank your son’s school choices. CAF forms are available on this page.
Is Holcombe Grammar School part of a Consortium?
Holcombe Grammar School is part of the Medway 11+ Consortium, a group of schools that use the same entrance exam format and share a very similar admissions process.
Does Holcombe Grammar School have a catchment area?
Holcombe Grammar School doesn’t have a formally defined catchment area. However, as part of its oversubscription criteria, it will prioritise children who live closer to the school.
Holcombe Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Medway Test Format
The Holcombe Grammar School 11 Plus exam consists of three papers:
⇒ Paper 1: English
The English paper assesses a number of skills, including comprehension and vocabulary.
⇒ Paper 2: Mathematics
Mathematics questions assess students’ mathematical skills, problem-solving abilities and logical reasoning.
⇒ Paper 3: Reasoning
In this section, Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR), Spatial Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning could be assessed. NVR questions test students’ ability to solve problems using visual and abstract reasoning. Spatial Reasoning tests spatial awareness, mental rotation, visualisation and problem-solving skills. The Verbal Reasoning sections will evaluate your child’s ability to discern rules and relationships between words and letters, as well as their ability to think critically and analyse information.
All papers are produced by GL Assessment and are designed to assess and select the top 23% of the cohort each year.
How to Prepare for the Holcombe Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam?
Our up-to-date 11+ practice tests serve as an excellent tool to prepare your son for the Holcombe Grammar School 11+ entrance exam. By practising under timed conditions using our tests, he will significantly improve the relevant and core skills needed to do well.
Our 11+ exam papers aim to reduce any potential stress or nerves associated with the preparation process. As such, they will guide you in creating a well-organised revision plan that focuses on regular, bite-sized study sessions, ultimately transforming exam preparation into a more manageable and pleasant experience.
This organised approach will also help develop the habit of answering questions quickly and effectively under time pressure.
Each year, our 11+ mock tests help thousands of students preparing for competitive 11+ exams. Practical and convenient, they are available for immediate download and use after purchase.
Holcombe Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
The recent standardised pass mark for pupils sitting the Medway 11+ Selection Test was 488. Historical data suggests that this standardised score correlates to a score of roughly 80%+ in our Medway practice tests.
Whilst there are no guarantees, consistently scoring 80%+ in our practice tests is a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Holcombe Grammar School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.
Holcombe Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers
For the Holcombe Grammar School 11+ exam, we would recommend the following resources:
Medway – Full Practice Tests
➢ The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the 11 Plus Medway Test. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended full practice tests for the Medway 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Medway tests 1-5 Bundle - Save 15%
English
For the English paper in the Medway 11+ exam, we highly recommend the following resources:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English Comprehension & Vocabulary section of the Medway 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
Mathematics
The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Medway 11+ Exam, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Masterclasses
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Mathematics section of the Medway 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
Reasoning
The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal (NVR) and Spatial Reasoning (SR) abilities ahead of the Medway 11+ Exam:
NVR Full Practice Tests
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4
Skill Specific Practice
NVR Masterclasses
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
SR Full Practice Tests
11+ Spatial Reasoning – Pack 1
SR Skill Specific Practice
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning section of the Medway 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
Verbal Reasoning
To help your child master skills in the lead-up to the Medway Verbal Reasoning 11 Exam, we highly recommend the following resources
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section of the Medway 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Medway Verbal Reasoning Bundle
If you don’t buy a Bundle, don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Holcombe Grammar School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Holcombe Grammar School was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
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