Local authority selection test
Kent Test 11+ guide
The schools, administrator, assessment stages and dates for this entrance route, with each school's admissions evidence status shown separately.
September 2027 entry
Evidence reviewed 26 August 2026
At a glance
- Route type
- Local authority selection test
- Administrator
- Kent County Council
- Assessment provider
- GL Assessment
- Delivery
- Paper-based multiple-choice tests with separate answer sheets, followed by an unmarked writing exercise
Subjects and stages
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- Spatial reasoning
- Writing
- 1. English and mathematics paper
Approximately one hour, with separate English and mathematics sections. Each section includes about five minutes of practice followed by about 25 minutes of test questions.
- 2. Reasoning paper
Approximately one hour including practice. It covers verbal reasoning and individually timed non-verbal and spatial-reasoning sections.
- 3. Writing exercise
A 40-minute writing exercise including 10 minutes of planning. It is not marked for the Kent Test score but can be considered by a headteacher assessment panel.
Registration and dates
- Registration opens
- 1 June 2026
- Registration deadline
- 1 July 2026
- Kent-primary-school test date
- 10 September 2026
- Out-of-county test weekend starts
- 12 September 2026
- Out-of-county test weekend ends
- 13 September 2026
- Results
- 15 October 2026
- Kent secondary-school application deadline
- 2 November 2026
- National Offer Day
- 1 March 2027
Scoring and eligibility
English, mathematics and reasoning results are age-standardised. Kent sets an aggregate threshold and minimum component scores for each test year. The September 2027 thresholds are not yet published, a grammar assessment does not guarantee a school place, and each school applies its own admissions criteria when oversubscribed.
Schools using this route
- Barton Court Grammar School
- Borden Grammar School
- Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
- Cranbrook School
- Dane Court Grammar School
- Dartford Grammar School
- Dartford Grammar School for Girls
- Dover Grammar School for Boys
- Dover Grammar School for Girls
- Gravesend Grammar School
- Highsted Grammar School
- Highworth Grammar School
- Invicta Grammar School
- Maidstone Grammar School
- Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
- Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
- Oakwood Park Grammar School
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
- Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
- Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
- Sir Roger Manwood's School
- The Folkestone School for Girls
- The Harvey Grammar School
- The Judd School
- The Norton Knatchbull School
- The Skinners' School
- Tonbridge Grammar School
- Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
- Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
- Weald of Kent Grammar School
- Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
- Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
Areas covered
Relevant skills and exercises
- Build English comprehension skillsDraw one supported conclusion that is not directly stated.
- Try Comprehension X-RayFree interactive practice relevant to English comprehension.
- Build maths and numerical reasoning skillsSelect and perform a short sequence of operations in context.
- Try Step BuilderFree interactive practice relevant to maths and numerical reasoning.
- Build verbal reasoning skillsChoose the option closest in meaning to a target word.
- Try Synonym SpectrumFree interactive practice relevant to verbal reasoning.
- Build non-verbal and spatial reasoning skillsCombine row or column rules to select one missing figure.
- Try Matrix MachineFree interactive practice relevant to non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
Questions families ask
Who administers the Kent Test?
Kent County Council administers the Kent Test for September 2027 entry.
Which schools use the Kent Test?
32 schools use this route in the current catalog: Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, Dover Grammar School for Girls, Maidstone Grammar School, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School, The Judd School, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Dover Grammar School for Boys, Highsted Grammar School, Dartford Grammar School, Highworth Grammar School, Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School, Tonbridge Grammar School, Weald of Kent Grammar School, Sir Roger Manwood's School, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Invicta Grammar School, Dane Court Grammar School, Oakwood Park Grammar School, Gravesend Grammar School, Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, Barton Court Grammar School, Cranbrook School, Borden Grammar School, Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend, The Folkestone School for Girls, The Norton Knatchbull School, The Harvey Grammar School, The Skinners' School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls.
What does the Kent Test assess?
The verified subjects are English, Mathematics, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, Spatial reasoning, and Writing.
Where do families register for the Kent Test?
Use the official registration page linked in this guide. The verified destination is https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/kent-test/register-for-the-kent-test.
How current is the information for Kent Test?
Trace Learn reviewed 5 attached evidence sources by 2026-08-26. Unknown facts stay labelled and should be checked again before applying.
Official sources
- Kent coordinated secondary admissions scheme 2027-2028
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Kent Test familiarisation booklet
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Prepare for the Kent Test
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Register for the Kent Test for September 2027 entry
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Kent Test results guidance
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
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