Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information

Gravesend Grammar School is a selective grammar school for boys aged 11-18. Girls are accepted into the sixth form from 16+. Based in Kent, Gravesend Grammar School was founded in 1893 and in 2011 became an academy. The school gained status as a maths and computing specialist school in 2004 and then, in 2008, also achieved specialist status as a language school.

Gravesend Grammar educates over 1,200 pupils, who experience a traditional academic curriculum and strong pastoral care from staff.

11 Plus Exam Information for Gravesend Grammar School

Address: Gravesend Grammar School, Church Walk, Gravesend DA12 2PR

County: Kent

Admissions Info: cooki@gravesendgrammar.eu, 01474 331893

School Type: Boys’ Grammar

Number of pupils: 1,213 (approx.)

Number of Places in Year 7: 150

Open Day Date: October

Exam Date: September

Exam Board Type: Kent 11 Plus Test (GL)

Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus Admissions

Year 7 admission to Gravesend Grammar School is determined by student performance in the Kent 11 Plus Test. Students currently in Year 5 at primary school are encouraged to attend Gravesend’s information evening in June of the summer term. This allows children to learn more about life at the grammar school and parents can ask questions about the admission process. The school provides a parents’ handbook for further information.

There is a total of 150 Year 7 places at the school. Should the number of boys who reach the required standard exceed the number of places available, the school uses the following criteria to allocate places:

• Boys in Local Authority Care.
• Boys with mental or physical impairments.
• Boys with a sibling at the school.
• Boys with a parent working at the school.

The school will also give priority to boys living within its catchment area.

How to Apply for 11 Plus Entry to Gravesend Grammar School

In the first instance, parents must register their child to sit the Kent Test; this can be done online via Kent County Council. Once the child has sat the test in September, parents will receive the results in October and must then submit their Secondary School Common Application Form (SCAF), again via the Kent Local Authority website.

Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format

Gravesend Grammar School follows the Kent 11 Plus exam format, which is made up of: Reasoning, Maths and English, plus a writing task.

Your child can expect the following exam format:

• Section 1:  This is an hour-long multiple-choice exam that aims to test students’ reasoning abilities. It is broken down into three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
• Section 2: This is an hour-long multiple-choice exam that tests English and Maths.
• Section 3: This is a 40-minute writing task. While not marked as part of the overall 11 Plus score, it can be used as evidence for both borderline cases and in appeals for a grammar school place.

How to Prepare for the Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus Exam?

The county of Kent is both the largest and most competitive grammar school area in the UK, so it’s imperative that your son prepares well for the Kent Test if you are aiming for Gravesend Year 7 entry.

Maximise the time your child has to revise by starting the process early and, in the lead-up to the exam, give them the best resources available. By being organised and sticking to a clear revision strategy, your son will find the Kent Test much easier to tackle.

Consider adding practice exam papers into your child’s revision routine ahead of the 11 Plus, as these can help you to monitor their progress and enable them to feel more comfortable with the whole process.

The following practice resources have been specifically designed for the Kent Test:

• 11 Plus Kent Practice Test 1
• 11 Plus Kent Practice Test 2
• 11 Plus Kent Practice Test 3

If your child needs additional practice in a particular subject area, we would recommend the following practice packs:

11 Plus English Pack 1 (GL)

11 Plus English Pack 2 (GL)

11 Plus English Pack 3 (GL)

11 Plus English Pack 4 (GL)

Technical English skills:

11 Plus Spelling Pack 3

11 Plus Punctuation

11 Plus Sentence Completion

11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Pack 1 (GL)

11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Pack 2 (GL)

11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Pack 3 (GL)

11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Pack 4 (GL)

11 Plus Maths Grammar Schools Pack 1 (GL)

11 Plus Maths Grammar Schools Pack 2 (GL)

11 Plus Maths Grammar Schools Pack 3 (GL)

11 Plus Maths: Problem Solving Grammar Schools (GL)

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Pack 1 (GL)

If you are concerned that you’ve left your son’s 11 Plus revision a little late, don’t worry; we have put together some actionable last minute tips on how to prepare for the exam.

The information provided about Gravesend 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.