Kent Test Practice Papers

What is the Kent Test?

The Kent Test is the selection test run by Kent County Council for the county's grammar schools. Parents register their child in the summer term of Year 5, and children sit the test in early September, at the start of Year 6. The result is used to decide whether a child has been assessed as suitable for grammar school.

Kent County Council points out that many children find the test difficult. Grammar schools in Kent provide for children in about the top 25% of the ability range. It is also only valid for Kent grammar schools: Medway and Bexley run their own, separate tests.

What is in the Kent Test?

The papers are multiple choice. Children mark their answers on a separate answer sheet, and the sheets are marked by computer.

• English and Maths (about 1 hour). Each section begins with a 5 minute practice exercise, followed by a 25 minute test. The English section includes a comprehension exercise and further questions that test literacy skills. The Maths section reflects the Key Stage 2 curriculum.
• Reasoning (about 1 hour). This paper has a verbal reasoning section and a non-verbal reasoning section of roughly equal length. The non-verbal reasoning is split into short sections that are timed individually.
• Writing exercise (40 minutes). Children have 40 minutes, including 10 minutes of planning time. The writing is not marked, but a local headteacher panel may use it when reviewing a child's case.

Kent County Council also publishes an official familiarisation paper on its website, linked under Official information below. It is a good first look at the layout, and many families use it before moving on to practice papers.

How is the Kent Test scored?

Your child receives three standardised scores, one each for English, Maths and reasoning, plus a total (aggregate) score. Standardisation compares each child's performance with the average performance of other children, with a small adjustment for age so that the youngest children are not at a disadvantage.

To be assessed as suitable for a grammar school in 2025, children needed a total score of 332 or more, with no single score below 108. Scores for each test range from 69 to 141, and the highest possible total is 423. The threshold can change from year to year, and Kent County Council publishes the figure for each year in October.

A grammar school assessment does not guarantee a place. It means the schools you name on your application can consider your child. Places are then offered using each school's own admissions criteria.

When is the Kent Test?

For the 2026 test, which is for children starting secondary school in September 2027:

• Registration ran from 1 June to 1 July 2026.
• The Kent Test took place on Thursday 10 September 2026 for children at Kent primary schools, and on the weekend of 12 and 13 September for other children.
• Results are sent on Thursday 15 October 2026.

Dates move each year, so always confirm them on the Kent County Council website, linked under Official information below. If you have missed registration, Kent County Council asks you to email kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk.

How to prepare for the Kent Test with practice papers

Preparation works best when it is steady and unhurried. A simple approach for most families:

1. Start with the basics. In Year 4 and the start of Year 5, short topic papers help children secure the Maths and English skills the test relies on.
2. Build up to full papers. In Year 5, move on to full mixed papers so your child becomes comfortable with the format, the multiple-choice style and the pace.
3. Use timing sensibly. Untimed practice builds understanding. Timed practice builds pacing. Most children need some of each.
4. Look at the answers together. Worked answers show how a result is reached, which matters more than the score itself.
5. Revisit mistakes by topic. Group errors, return to those topics, and then try another paper.

A few weeks of calm, regular practice is more useful than a last-minute rush, and it keeps the experience positive for your child.

Practice papers for the Kent Test at Meritfy

Our practice papers cover Maths and English, both as focused topic papers and as full mixed papers, with answers. We also offer Verbal Reasoning practice papers. Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning are not yet part of our range, so you may wish to use another resource for that part of the test.

If your child is aiming for a particular school, start from that school's guide, where the entry details and the papers sit together. Every Kent grammar school we cover is listed in our Kent 11 plus guide.

Kent grammar schools we cover

Barton Court, Borden, Cranbrook, Dane Court, Dartford Grammar, Dartford Girls', Dover Boys', Dover Girls', Gravesend, Highsted, Highworth, Invicta, Maidstone Grammar, Maidstone Girls', Mayfield, Oakwood Park, Sir Roger Manwood's, The Harvey, The Judd, The Norton Knatchbull, The Skinners', Tonbridge and Weald of Kent.

Official Kent County Council information

For the latest dates, rules and the official familiarisation paper, see the Kent County Council pages:

• Kent Test overview
• Prepare for the Kent Test
• Register for the Kent Test
• Kent Test results

Kent Test practice papers FAQs

What does the Kent Test cover? English, Maths and reasoning (verbal and non-verbal), plus a 40 minute writing exercise.

Are there official Kent Test practice papers? Kent County Council provides a familiarisation paper on its Prepare for the Kent Test page. Practice papers from other publishers, including ours, help children get used to the format.

How many practice papers should my child do? There is no magic number. A smaller number of papers that are marked and reviewed carefully is worth more than many rushed ones.

Is the Kent Test the same as the Kent 11 plus? Yes. The Kent Test is the 11 plus for Kent grammar schools. Read more in our Kent 11 plus guide.

Does passing the Kent Test guarantee a place? No. It means your child can be considered for the Kent grammar schools you name. Places depend on each school's admissions criteria.