How to prepare for the Kent 11+ test

The Kent Test decides whether grammar school is a suitable option for your child in Kent. It is sat at the start of Year 6, so most of the real preparation happens in Year 5. Here is what the test looks like and a simple plan that works.

Key dates for September 2027 entry

• Registration: 1 June to 1 July 2026 (now closed)
• Test day: Thursday 10 September 2026 for pupils at Kent primary schools; the weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026 for pupils from outside Kent
• Results: Thursday 15 October 2026
• Secondary school application deadline in Kent: Monday 2 November 2026 (Kent County Council's closing date)

If your child is in Year 5 now, registration for their test will open in early summer next year. Put a reminder in your diary for late May so you do not miss it.

What is in the Kent Test?

There are two papers, both multiple choice and marked by computer:

• Paper 1: English and Maths. About 1 hour. Each section has a 5-minute practice exercise, then a 25-minute test.
• Paper 2: Reasoning. About 1 hour, split into verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

There is also a writing task of 40 minutes, including 10 minutes to plan. It is not marked, but a headteacher panel may read it if your child's scores are close to the pass mark. So writing still matters.

A simple preparation plan

Year 4: build the basics

Times tables to 12 × 12, quick mental arithmetic, and daily reading. Reading widely is the single best thing for vocabulary, comprehension and verbal reasoning.

Year 5, autumn and spring: learn every question type

Work through the topics in maths (fractions, percentages, ratio, area, word problems) and meet every type of verbal and non-verbal reasoning question. Accuracy first, speed later.

Year 5, summer: practise under time

Start timed papers in the multiple-choice format with a separate answer sheet. Children lose marks by rushing, by spending too long on one question, and by filling in the answer sheet wrongly. Practise all three.

Summer holidays: mock exams and writing

Sit full mock exams in test conditions. Practise a 40-minute piece of writing each week, with 10 minutes of planning.

Top tips for test day

• Get a good night's sleep and a proper breakfast.
• If a question is too hard, guess, move on and come back if there is time. A blank answer scores nothing.
• Check the answer number matches the question number on the answer sheet.

Kent County Council publishes a free familiarisation paper so your child can see the real format. Start with that.