Kent Test Practice: What to Expect and How to Prepare

The Kent Test (also known as the Kent 11+) is sat by Year 6 pupils in September to determine grammar school eligibility across Kent and Medway. It follows GL Assessment conventions, covering English, Maths, and reasoning.

Unlike some regional 11+ tests, the Kent Test places a strong emphasis on both verbal and non-verbal reasoning alongside core English and Maths - so a preparation plan that only covers the two core subjects is missing a meaningful chunk of the exam.

A realistic timeline starts in Year 5: light, low-pressure exposure to all four question types over the spring and summer terms, building up to focused, timed practice papers in the months immediately before the September sitting. Cramming reasoning question types in the final few weeks rarely works as well as steady exposure over a school year.

Whatever platform or tutor you use, timed mock papers in the last few months are essential - not to predict a score, but so the format itself (the timing pressure, the answer sheet, the question variety) is familiar and no longer a source of surprise on the day.