About Kent Grammar Schools
Kent has 32 grammar schools, all using the single Kent Test (a GL Assessment 11+). Your child sits the test once in September of Year 6 and uses that one result to apply to any or all Kent grammar schools.
Registration is through Kent County Council (opens early June, closes 1 July 2026 for September 2027 entry). The test is sat in September, results arrive in mid-October, and you then list your preferred schools on the Secondary Common Application Form by 31 October; offers are issued on National Offer Day (1 March).
A few schools (for example Weald of Kent, Dover Boys and Girls, Harvey and Folkestone Girls) also accept a school’s own assessment as an alternative route, and Borden and Highsted offer a second-chance test.
Kent Grammar Schools
Kent’s grammar schools span the whole county, from Dartford and Gravesend to Canterbury, Maidstone, Tonbridge and the coast — all using the single Kent Test. Click any school for its detailed admission guide, catchment and key dates:
All 32 Kent grammar schools use the same Kent Test result. A few also offer their own bespoke or second-chance assessment (for example Weald of Kent, Dover, Harvey, Folkestone Girls, Borden and Highsted).
About the Kent Test
The Kent Test is the 11+ used by all 32 grammar schools in the Kent County Council area. Produced by GL Assessment, it assesses English, Mathematics and Reasoning (verbal and non-verbal), with a separate writing task.
Format: a one-hour multiple-choice paper split between English and Mathematics, a one-hour Reasoning paper, and a 40-minute writing task. Scores are standardised for age; a child is judged suitable for grammar school on the standardised total (commonly cited as 332+ with no section below 106 — confirm current thresholds with KCC).
Your child sits the test once. Kent state-primary pupils usually sit it at their own school in early September; children from outside Kent or at independent schools sit it at a Kent grammar over a September weekend. Results are released in mid-October, before the 31 October application deadline.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Kent Grammar Schools
Kent runs a county-wide test: register your child for the Kent Test with Kent County Council before the 1 July deadline (Kent state-primary pupils are registered by their school). Your child sits the test once in September; results arrive in mid-October. You then list your preferred Kent grammar schools on your home authority’s Secondary Common Application Form by 31 October, and offers are issued on National Offer Day (1 March). Because you apply with a single result you can name several grammars — but check each school’s own oversubscription criteria, which vary.
What the Kent Test Covers
The Kent Test assesses English, Mathematics and Reasoning (verbal and non-verbal) through two one-hour multiple-choice papers, plus a separate 40-minute writing task. Practising realistic GL-style papers across these areas is the most effective preparation.
Kent Test Practice Papers for Kent Grammar Schools
Kent Grammar Schools uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Kent Test
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Kent Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
How many grammar schools are in Kent?
There are 32 grammar schools in the Kent County Council area, all using the single Kent Test.
What is the Kent Test?
A GL Assessment 11+ taken in September of Year 6: a one-hour English & Maths paper, a one-hour Reasoning paper, and a 40-minute writing task.
Do I sit a separate test for each school?
No. You sit the Kent Test once and use the single result to apply to any or all Kent grammar schools. A few schools also offer their own bespoke or second-chance assessment.
How do I register for the Kent Test?
Register on the Kent County Council website during the window (opens early June, closes 1 July). Kent state-primary pupils are registered by their school; children from outside Kent or at independent schools must register themselves.
What is the pass mark?
Children are assessed on a standardised score; the commonly cited threshold is a total of 332 with no section below 106 — confirm current figures with Kent County Council.
How do I apply for a place?
List your chosen Kent grammar schools on your local authority’s Secondary Common Application Form by 31 October; offers are made on National Offer Day (1 March).
What are the key dates?
Registration closes 1 July; the test is in September; results in mid-October; Common Application Form by 31 October; offers on 1 March.
Do all Kent grammars use catchment?
Oversubscription criteria vary by school — some prioritise catchment and distance, others rank by score — so check each school’s policy.