Kent 11+ exam: the complete guide for 2026

Kent 11+ exam candidates sit the Kent Test — the largest grammar school consortium in England. With 33 selective schools spread from Tonbridge to Folkestone, Maidstone to Chatham, it is the most significant grammar school area in the country and one of the most competitive. If you are considering the Kent Test for your child in 2026, this guide covers how the exam works, which schools are involved, registration dates, qualifying scores, and what happens after results day.

Kent grammar schools at a glance

How the Kent Test works

The Kent Test is the name given to the 11+ entrance examination administered across Kent’s grammar school consortium. It is produced by GL Assessment and uses the same standardised format that GL uses across other regions — but with one important feature that distinguishes it from most other areas: a single registration gives your child access to all 33 grammar schools in the county. Kent uses GL; Birmingham 11+ guide uses CEM — if your child is targeting both, preparation must cover both formats. See GL vs CEM explained for the full comparison.

This consortium system is significant for two reasons. First, it means you register once rather than separately for each school — simplifying the logistical side of the process considerably. Second, it means that a child who passes the Kent Test has formally qualified for any of the 33 schools, subject to the oversubscription criteria each school applies individually when allocating places.

What the Kent Test examines

The Kent Test covers three subjects:

• English — a reading comprehension passage followed by questions testing literal understanding, inference, vocabulary in context, and language analysis. The passage is typically 400–600 words of fiction or high-quality non-fiction.
• Mathematics — arithmetic, number, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, geometry, algebra, and data handling. The maths paper goes beyond the standard Year 6 curriculum in depth and pace — children are expected to complete 50 questions in 50 minutes.
• Verbal reasoning — logical thinking using words. Question types include word codes, letter sequences, analogies, hidden words, and number sequences. Kent uses the full range of GL verbal reasoning question types.

Non-verbal reasoning is not tested in the Kent Test. This distinguishes Kent from Buckinghamshire, which tests all four subjects. If your child’s target schools are spread across both counties, they will need NVR preparation in addition to the Kent syllabus — see the Buckinghamshire 11+ guide for the four-subject Bucks Test format.

Kent Test registration: dates and process for 2026

Registration for the Kent Test is one of the most time-sensitive steps in the entire process. The window is typically short — often no more than four to six weeks — and missing it means your child cannot sit the exam that year.

Understanding Kent Test results: pass, borderline, and not suitable

The Kent Test does not simply produce a pass or fail result. The outcome falls into one of three categories — and understanding what each means is essential before you receive results.

• Suitable for grammar school education — your child has met the qualifying threshold and is eligible to be considered for a place at any of the 33 Kent grammar schools, subject to oversubscription criteria. Passing does not guarantee a place — it opens the door.
• Borderline — your child’s score falls within a defined range just below the main qualifying threshold. Borderline children are not automatically excluded. Their primary school is asked to provide additional information — a detailed academic reference and supporting evidence — which the Kent grammar schools consortium then considers alongside the test result. Some borderline children are reclassified as suitable following this review.
• Not suitable for grammar school education — your child’s score falls below the borderline range. This result closes the grammar school route for the current year through the standard process, though a formal appeal can still be submitted.

The standardised score your child receives alongside their result gives you a more granular picture of their performance. Scores are presented on the standard GL scale — typically ranging from around 70 to 140, with 100 representing the average for that age group.

Kent grammar schools: the complete list by area

Use the filters below to browse schools by area or type. Always confirm admissions policies on each school’s website — oversubscription criteria and last-offered distances change year to year.

How Kent allocates grammar school places

Passing the Kent Test — or being reclassified from borderline to suitable — gives your child eligibility. But eligibility alone does not secure a place. When more children qualify than there are places available, each grammar school applies its own oversubscription criteria.

The oversubscription criteria used by most Kent grammar schools follow this priority order:

1. Looked-after children — children currently in the care of a local authority, or previously in care, are given the highest priority by law across all state schools.
2. Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan — if a grammar school is named in a child’s EHCP, they must be admitted.
3. Siblings — children with a brother or sister currently attending the school are typically given priority in the second tier.
4. Distance from home to school — among all remaining qualifying children, places are offered to those living closest, measured in a straight line from home to the school gate.

The distance tiebreaker is where many out-of-county families are surprised. A child from Surrey or London who achieves an excellent score may not receive an offer at a highly sought school simply because all places were filled by children living within a few miles. Checking the last distance at which a place was offered in previous years — published in each school’s admissions data — tells you how realistic your chances are from your specific address.

Preparing for the Kent Test: what to focus on

Because the Kent Test uses GL Assessment papers and covers English, Maths, and Verbal Reasoning — but not NVR — preparation can be specifically targeted at these three subjects.

English

The Kent Test English paper follows the standard GL comprehension format. Your child should be comfortable with all eight comprehension question types — particularly inference and language analysis. Vocabulary is tested both within comprehension questions and in standalone vocabulary sections. Wide daily reading from Year 4 onwards is the most effective long-term preparation. For a complete breakdown, see the 11+ English guide.

Mathematics

The maths paper covers the full GL syllabus at one question per minute across 50 questions. Times table fluency is essential. Extended topics — ratio, algebra, and percentage change — go beyond the standard Year 6 curriculum. See the 11+ Maths guide for topic-by-topic explanations.

Verbal reasoning

All 21 GL verbal reasoning question types may appear in the Kent VR paper. Systematic preparation through all 21 types produces significant improvement. See the 11+ Verbal Reasoning guide for every type with worked examples.

What Kent does NOT test

Non-verbal reasoning is not part of the Kent Test. If your child is applying exclusively to Kent schools, NVR preparation can be deprioritised. Unlike Buckinghamshire 11+ guide, which tests all four subjects, Kent omits NVR — if your child is also applying to Bucks grammar schools, NVR must be included from the start. Trafford is the only other major grammar school area that also does not test NVR — see the Trafford 11+ — also no NVR guide if you are considering both areas (note: Kent uses GL; Trafford uses CEM).

Out-of-county applications to Kent grammar schools

Kent grammar schools accept applications from children who live outside Kent — including from Surrey, London, East Sussex, and further afield. Out-of-county applicants sit the same Kent Test and are assessed against the same qualifying threshold as Kent residents.

However, out-of-county applicants face a significant practical challenge at the oversubscription stage. Because distance from home to school is the primary tiebreaker among qualifying children, a family living in London applying to a school in Tonbridge is almost certainly further away than local qualifying children who will fill the places first.

This does not mean out-of-county applications are futile — it means they require careful research. Download the admissions data for your specific target schools and check the last-offered distance from the previous two or three years.

The Kent Test vs other 11+ exams: key differences

Appeals: what to do if results are not what you hoped

If your child receives a “not suitable” result and you believe this does not reflect their true ability, you have a right to appeal. Kent grammar school appeals are heard by an independent panel and must be submitted within a defined window after results are released.

Appeals succeed on specific grounds: evidence of a procedural error, evidence that the child was unwell or disadvantaged on exam day in a way that was not accounted for, or substantive evidence from the primary school that their ability significantly exceeds what the test result suggests. A high mock paper score alone is not sufficient grounds.

If you are considering an appeal, request the full details of your child’s score breakdown and the school’s reasoning in writing before submitting.

Next steps and useful links

Once you have confirmed that Kent grammar schools are on your shortlist, the most important next steps are:

• Registering through the Kent County Council admissions portal as soon as registration opens in June.
• Beginning systematic preparation across English, Maths, and Verbal Reasoning — ideally from Year 5 if not already underway.
• Visiting open days at the specific schools you are targeting.
• Downloading and reading the admissions policy for each school — particularly oversubscription criteria and last-offered distance data.

For further preparation guidance, these pages of the guide are most useful for Kent Test candidates:

• 11+ Verbal Reasoning guide — all 21 GL question types explained
• 11+ English guide — comprehension tips and vocabulary strategies
• 11+ Maths guide — every topic with worked examples
• GL vs CEM explained — understanding the GL format
• 11+ preparation strategy — building a study plan
• 11+ timeline and registration — key dates for 2026
• Buckinghamshire 11+ guide — if also applying to Bucks grammar schools (four subjects including NVR)
• Birmingham 11+ guide — if also applying to Birmingham grammar schools (CEM format)
• Warwickshire 11+ guide — five CEM grammar schools; often paired with Birmingham
• Trafford 11+ guide — also no NVR (CEM format; north-west England)
• London grammar schools — Sutton consortium guide — if also applying to Sutton from south London