Kent test info

The date the test is held has varied over recent years but is currently scheduled for the September your child enters year 6.

Testing is held over a two day period (mornings only) during the normal school day and in your child’s primary school. It is invigilated by a Headteacher from another school.

In order to sit the test you must apply to the Kent Admissions team in the June of the year of testing. No school selection will be required at this stage as this will be done after the test results are known.

The tests your child will sit are:

Maths

Verbal reasoning

Non verbal reasoning

Creative writing

All tests excluding the creative writing are in multiple choice formats where your child indicates their answer from a selection given to them, these are then computer marked. The creative writing is a story and is only marked by hand if you appeal against the test result. Each test lasts around 50 minutes.

The marked tests are allocated a ‘raw’ score. This raw score is the mark actually achieved by your child.
This score is then standardised, which means that allowances are made for age, so that all children can be compared equally and the youngest are not at a disadvantage.

The pass mark for each exam varies slightly from year to year but is normally around 120 for two subjects and 115 for the third. In addition in 2008 a second cumulative pass mark of 360 in all three subjects was set.
This means that the child must achieve a pass in all three subjects and achieve a pass in the overall mark to be deemed selective for grammar school.

Once results are known the secondary schools hold Open Sessions where you are able to visit to help you decide what schools to submit applications for; please take the time to read the entry criteria of all the schools you are interested in from the admissions booklet.

If your child has been deemed non-selective and you still wish them to be considered for a grammar school place it is important to include the grammar school on your school admission form and reflect its true order of preference, as you will be able to appeal to the school at a later date.

The allocation of a school place is in March the following year, and this is when you can start an appeal to the grammar school of your choice.

Where a child has a disability or learning need and this will affect how they perform in a test environment your child’s school can apply to a panel of specialist advisors who will determine what, if any, special arrangements should be made. All applications must come via schools. They will be asked to submit details of children who fall into this category with supporting evidence in late September. Decisions are made in mid-October and parents and schools informed. This is not a statutory part of the process and there is no appeal process against decisions made by the panel.

If a Medway resident wishes their child to sit the Kent 11+ test they must tick the relevant box on the test request form. Details will then be passed over to the Kent Admissions team who will contact you to give details of the test date and place. This normally is taken on a Saturday at a designated Kent Grammar school.

Are you a Kent or Medway resident?
This is determined by where you pay your council tax.
If you pay to Medway Council then you are a Medway resident.
If you pay to one of the 12 Kent district councils (for example Swale, Tonbridge and Malling or Gravesham) you are a Kent resident.