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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.
While the Kent Test remains the primary shared standard for admission, the landscape is evolving. Several schools now offer alternative or additional assessment routes alongside the standard Kent Test. This shift allows schools to identify academic potential through different formats, ensuring that a single test day does not become a barrier to high-quality education for capable students.
Complete List of Grammar Schools in Kent
There are 32 grammar schools in the Kent Grammar School Consortium. While all accept the Kent Test, note the specific schools with dual-testing options:
Borden Grammar School (Offers additional Borden Assessment Procedure)
Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
Dartford Grammar School for Girls
Dover Grammar School for Boys (Offers Dover Boys Test option)
Dover Grammar School for Girls (Offers Dover Test option)
Highsted Grammar School (Offers additional Highsted Test)
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
Mayfield Grammar School (Offers additional Mayfield Test option)
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Faversham
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
The Folkestone School for Girls (Offers Shepway Test option)
The Harvey Grammar School (Offers Shepway Test option)
Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Weald of Kent Grammar School (Offers Weald Grammar Assessment option)
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Kent Grammar Schools 2026
For most schools, students only need to take the Kent Test. However, the admissions landscape has become more flexible for specific schools:
- Equal alternatives: For Weald of Kent, Dover (Boys or Girls), Harvey and Folkstone Girls, families have the option of a school-specific assessment as a standalone to the Kent Test. Students do not need to sit both tests, though they may choose to do so. Neither test has precedence over the other and a pass in either test makes the student eligible for consideration for a place.
- For Borden and Highsted, school-specific assessments are available as an additional opportunity for those who sat the Kent Test but did not meet the required standard. These “safety net” exams allow the schools to consider a pupil’s suitability if the primary Kent Test results do not reflect their full potential.
Kent Test registration closing date: July (Register via Kent County Council)
Bespoke assessment registration: June/July (Check via school website
Kent Test exam date: September 2026
Bespoke assessment dates: Typically the Saturday following the Kent Test (Check via school website)
Kent Test exam board: GL Assessment
Bespoke assessment exam board: Quest Admissions or school-created test
Kent Test pass mark: Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests (See the scoring section below for more details)
Results date: October
Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) closing date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: Kent County Council, 03000 412121 or individual school websites
Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
To be considered for a Year 7 place at most Kent grammar schools, your child must sit the Kent Test and achieve the required standard. However, if you are applying to Weald of Kent, Dover (Boys or Girls), Harvey or Folkstone Girls, your child may qualify by passing either the Kent Test or the school’s own bespoke assessment.
For Borden and Highsted, students must sit the Kent Test first, but may use the Borden Assessment Procedure or Highsted Test as a second chance if they do not meet the Kent Test threshold.
Before applying for a place, you are 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.
How to Register for the Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
For the Kent Test, you must register your child prior to the July deadline. This can be done online through Kent County Council.
For alternative or additional school-specific assessments, you must register directly with the school.
Once your child has taken their chosen test(s) in September, you will receive results in October. You must then submit the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) via the Kent local authority website by the October deadline, indicating your child’s preferred school/schools.
Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The standard Kent Test (GL Assessment) 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.
Schools offering additional or alternative bespoke assessments generally adopt a format that balances English, maths and reasoning, though these tests may vary in timing and specific content compared to the standard GL Kent Test.
Kent 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
The Kent Test is designed to identify pupils in the top 25% of the ability range. However, passing the test is only the first step, as many schools are oversubscribed and use additional criteria to allocate places. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.
Don’t be discouraged if your child isn’t hitting high scores in their initial practice papers. With consistent, targeted practice, most students see a “leap” in their scores as they become familiar with question formats and timing.
The Kent Test Scoring
For the main Kent Test, your child will receive three standardised scores: one for English, one for Mathematics and one for 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.
Bespoke Assessment Scoring (Quest and School-Created)
Schools using bespoke assessments administered by Quest Admissions (Weald of Kent, Dover Girls, Borden) or school-created tests (Highsted, Harvey, Folkestone, Dover Boys) diverge from the Kent Test scoring system. These assessments typically measure performance against the National Curriculum and the specific academic standards required by the individual school. This means a “pass” is determined by the school’s internal benchmarks rather than a county-wide average.
Practice Papers for the Kent Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
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.
Practice Papers
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.
Practice Papers
The following 11+ resources provide full preparation for the English section of the Kent Test, maximising your child’s comprehension and writing skills.
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
10 Minutes Test
Video Masterclasses
The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Kent Test, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day.
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
10 Minutes Test
Video Masterclasses
In order for your child to master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Kent Test, we recommend the following resources.
Practice Papers
10 Minutes Test
Video Masterclasses
The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning abilities ahead of the Kent Test.
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
Video Masterclasses
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
With 32 selective grammar schools in Kent, finding the right fit is essential. Each school has its own unique history, ethos and specific 11+ entry procedures. Click here to access our comprehensive guides for every Kent grammar school to help you make the best choice for your child.
The deadline for registering for the main Kent Test is in July of the year preceding entry. If you wish for your child to sit alternative or additional school-specific assessments, you must also register directly with those schools by their specific deadlines (typically in June/July). You must also submit the Secondary School Common Application Form (SCAF) prior to the October deadline, indicating your child’s preferred school/schools.
The Kent Test is held in September. The bespoke school-specific assessments are likely to take place on the Saturday immediately following the Kent Test. However, as these dates are set by different bodies, you must check the admissions page of your target school’s website to conform the exact testing schedule.
The Kent Test consists of an hour-long exam that is 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 usually only used for borderline or appeal cases.
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.
While the main Kent Test uses GL Assessment, the new alternative routes for Weald of Kent, Dover (Girls) and Borden are administered by Quest Admissions.
Additionally, the Dover Boys Test, Highsted Test and Shepway Test (used by Folkestone Girls and Harvey Grammar) are school-created assessments. While these schools may use content from established providers like GL, the tests themselves are bespoke formats designed by the individual schools or local partnerships to specifically assess suitability for their own academic environments.
This depends on your target schools. For Weald of Kent, Dover (Boys and Girls), Folkestone Girls and Harvey Grammar, the school-specific assessments act as equal alternatives to the Kent Test, meaning a pass in either qualifies your child for admission. While you aren’t strictly required to register for the Kent Test if you only want to qualify via these bespoke routes, many parents will choose to do both to give their child two chances at success. In contrast, the Borden and Highsted assessments are “safety nets” specifically for students who sit the Kent Test but do not meet the required standard. Even though these tests are only taken if the Kent Test is failed, you must register for them during the June/July window, as you cannot opt-in after results are released in October. For all other grammar schools in the county, you only need to register for the standard Kent Test.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Kent grammar schools 11+ past papers. The information provided about Kent grammar schools 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 Kent grammar schools.
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning