Holcombe Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

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+) 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:

1. Looked After or previously Looked After Children
2. Children who have a sibling attending the school at the time of admission
3. Children who attend primary schools operated by the Thinking Schools Academy Trust Medway 
4. Children of Holcombe Grammar’s staff  
5. Children with specific health reasons for attending Holcombe Grammar School
6. 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.

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

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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:

Practice Papers

11+ Medway Practice Test 1

11+ Medway Practice Test 2

11+ Medway Practice Test 3

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11+ Medway Practice Test 5

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English

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For the English paper in the Medway 11+ exam, we highly recommend the following resources:

Practice Papers

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English Masterclasses

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11+ GL English Comprehension: Parts of Speech & Phrases Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Inference Questions Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Figurative Language Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Analysing Poetry Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Voice, Tone, and Purpose Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL English Comprehension: Supported Practice Paper Mini Masterclass

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Mathematics

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The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Medway 11+ Exam, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day:

Practice Papers

11+ Mathematics (Grammar Schools) Pack 1

11+ Mathematics (Grammar Schools) Pack 2

11+ Mathematics (Grammar Schools) Pack 3

11+ Mathematics (Grammar Schools) Pack 4

11+ Mathematics: Algebra (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Angles & Degrees (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: BODMAS (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Estimation & Place Value (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Factors & Multiples (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Fractions, Decimals & Percentages (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Measurements (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Money (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Operations (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Perimeter, Area & Volume (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Position & Direction (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Probability (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Problem Solving (Grammar Schools) Pack 1

11+ Mathematics: Problem Solving (Grammar Schools) Pack 2

11+ Mathematics: Properties of Shapes (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Ratio & Proportion (Grammar Schools)

11+ Mathematics: Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry (Grammar Schools)

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11+ Mathematics: Speed, Distance & Time (Grammar Schools)

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11+ Maths XL Masterclass

10 Minutes Test

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Mathematics Masterclasses

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Video Masterclasses

11+ GL Mathematics: Algebra Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Angles & Degrees Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: BODMAS Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Estimation, Rounding & Place Value Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Factors & Multiples Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Fractions, Decimals & Percentages Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Measurements Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Money Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Operations Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Perimeter, Area & Volume Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Position & Direction Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Probability & Combinations Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Problem Solving Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Properties of Shape Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Ratio & Proportion Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Mathematics: Special Numbers Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Speed, Distance & Time Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Statistics Mini Masterclass

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Non-Verbal Reasoning

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Practice Papers

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 1

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 2

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 3

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11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Analogies

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Classes Like

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11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Extended Series

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Figure Classification

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Figure Matrices

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Horizontal Codes

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Operations

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Series

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Star Matrices

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Triangle Matrices

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11+ Spatial Reasoning: Fold & Punch

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11+ Spatial Reasoning: Hidden Shapes

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Shape Completion

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Spinning Shapes

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11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning XL Masterclass

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Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclasses

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Video Masterclasses

11+ GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: Analogies Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: Classes Like Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: Figure Matrices Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: Horizontal Codes Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: Series Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: Star Matrices Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Non-Verbal Reasoning: Triangle Matrices Mini Masterclass

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Verbal Reasoning

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To help your child master skills in the lead-up to the Medway Verbal Reasoning 11 Exam, we highly recommend the following resources.

Practice Papers

11+ Verbal Reasoning Pack 1

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Verbal Reasoning Masterclasses

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Video Masterclasses

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Anagrams Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Embedded Words Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Form a Word Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Analogies Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Calculations Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Codes Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Grids Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Sequences Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Move a Letter Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Number Analogies Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Number Calculations Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Number Sequences Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Related Words Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Rhyming Synonyms Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Shuffled Sentences Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Word Completion Mini Masterclass

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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Holcombe Grammar School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Holcombe Grammar School is 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 article.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Holcombe Grammar School.