Introduction
The Kent Grammar School Consortium is a group of grammar schools in Kent that collaborate to administer the 11+ entrance examination. The consortium’s main goal is to create a fair and consistent admissions process for all selective grammar schools in Kent. Students can be considered for multiple schools within the consortium based on their performance in the 11+ entrance exam.
The consortium strives to enhance the efficiency and equity of the admissions process for its member schools. By working together, the schools share resources, expertise and administrative tasks, ensuring a unified and well-coordinated selection procedure. This collaborative effort aims to provide students from diverse backgrounds with equal opportunities to access high-quality education across the participating grammar schools.
Complete List of Grammar Schools in Kent
There are currently 32 grammar schools in the Kent Grammar Schools Consortium:
Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
Dartford Grammar School for Girls
Dover Grammar School for Girls
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Faversham
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
The Folkestone School for Girls
Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exam and admissions process!
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Kent Grammar Schools
The Kent 11+ exam serves as a shared standard for admission decisions among the grammar schools in the consortium. Students only need to take one exam. Those who do well have the chance to be considered for admission to multiple schools within the consortium, increasing their chances of securing a place at a grammar school. Here are important details about the Kent 11+ exam:
Registration closing date: July
Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) closing date: October
Exam date: September
Exam board type: GL Assessment
Pass mark: Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: Kent County Council, 03000 412121
Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
To be considered for a Year 7 place at any Kent grammar school, your child must sit the Kent eleven plus test and achieve the required standard.
Before applying for a place, you are kindly advised to attend the relevant school’s open events, during which you and your child will tour facilities and ask questions about the admissions process.
Year 7 admissions to Kent grammar schools are coordinated through Kent County Council and parents must register online ahead of their child’s 11 Plus exam date in September.
How to Register for the Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
In the first instance, you must register your child to sit the Kent Test prior to the July deadline. This can be done online via Kent County Council. Once your child has taken the test in September, you will receive their results in October and must then submit the Secondary School Common Application Form (SCAF), again via the Kent local authority website, indicating your child’s preferred school/schools.
Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Kent Test consists of two multiple choice tests:
- An hour-long exam divided into two sections that cover English and Mathematics. Each section has a 5-minute practice exercise and a 25-minute test.
- An hour-long test that focuses on Reasoning. This paper is divided into three sections:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Spatial Reasoning
Pupils are also required to complete a 40-minute writing task. This does not form part of the final 11 Plus result but exists in case of borderline or appeal cases.
Kent 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Grammar schools in Kent use a demanding 11+ assessment to target pupils that are in the top 25% of the ability range. Hence, the majority of schools admit students purely on the basis of exam scores.
Following the exam, your child will receive three standardised scores, one for English, one for Mathematics, and one total score including Reasoning. Standardised scores are used to compare your child’s performance to the average performance of other students taking the test:
- Single standardised scores range from 69 to 141;
- The highest possible total standardised score is 423.
In order to pass the exam, your child’s single score must be over 109 and their total score must be 332 or more. [1]
Based on historical data, we have found that students who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ Kent practice tests are on track to pass the Kent Test.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Kent 11+ exam.
Passing the test does not guarantee that your child will be offered a place. It simply means they have surpassed the required threshold. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
Practice Papers for the Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
For the Kent Grammar Schools 11+ exam, we would highly recommend the following practice resources:
Pre-11+ Practice Tests
The Kent Pre-11+ Practice Tests are designed for Year 4 and 5 students to introduce the exam format and boost their confidence. These tests are less challenging than the Kent 11+ Exam. They offer an accurate yet more straightforward representation of the actual exam, allowing students to familiarise themselves with exam specifics. This approach provides a solid foundation for students to progress to more challenging 11+ Practice Tests.
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Kent: Full Practice Tests
The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the Kent Test. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:
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Kent: Subject Specific Practice
The following 11+ resources will help your child master a variety of relevant skills, necessary for success in Kent’s demanding 11+ assessment:
English
The following 11+ resources provide full preparation for the English section of the Kent Test, maximising your child’s comprehension and writing skills:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
Writing
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Kent 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Kent English Bundle
Mathematics
The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Kent Test, 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 Maths section of the Kent 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Kent Mathematics Bundle
Verbal Reasoning
In order for your child to master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Kent Test, we 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 Kent 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
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Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning
The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning abilities ahead of the Kent Test:
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
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 Kent 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
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.
Kent Grammar Schools: Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refer to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at Kent grammar schools.
Russell Group universities are highly regarded educational institutions, renowned for their exceptional accomplishments. These universities demonstrate outstanding research output, and host esteemed scholars and pioneering discoveries. Their academic reputation is exemplary, attracting talented individuals from around the world.
Among the distinguished members of the Russell Group are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both celebrated for their prestigious heritage, academic excellence and rigorous educational programmes. With renowned faculty and a dedication to excellence, these universities have upheld their esteemed reputation for centuries.
📊 The charts below show the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Kent:
Source: Gov.uk
As the charts above show, a significant number of students from Kent Grammar School Consortium are offered places at top universities in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About The 11 Plus (11+) Exam in Kent
Does Kent have grammar schools?
Yes, Kent has 32 selective grammar schools, which use the same 11+ exam, known as the Kent Test, to assess Year 7 applicants. Click here to access the articles we have for each of these schools, addressing their history and ethos, as well as all the details about their 11+ entry procedure.
When is the Kent 11+ registration deadline?
The deadline for registering for the Kent Test is in July of the year preceding entry. You must also submit the Secondary School Common Application Form (SCAF) prior to the October deadline, indicating your child’s preferred school/schools.
When is the date of the 11+ Kent Test?
The 11+ Kent Test is held in September.
What is assessed in the Kent Test?
The Kent Test consists of an hour-long exam that’s divided into two sections that cover English and Mathematics, and an hour-long exam that focuses on Reasoning. All questions are multiple-choice format. Pupils are also required to complete a 40-minute writing task, but this is almost never marked or taken into account.
What is the pass mark for the Kent grammar schools?
In order to pass the exam, your child’s single score must be over 109 and their total score must be 332 or more. Based on historical data, students who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ Kent practice tests are on track to pass the Kent Test.
Who is the 11+ exam provider for Kent?
Grammar schools in Kent use the GL Assessment exam provider.
The information provided about the Kent grammar schools was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.
Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kent grammar schools.