The Kent Test Explained: Format, Dates & Registration
8 min read
How the Kent Test actually works: registration window, the two papers sat on one day, the creative writing task, results date, and why you only sit it once for every Kent grammar school.
If you’re in Kent, the 11+ has a specific local name and a specific local process — the Kent Test. Here’s exactly how it works, sourced from Kent County Council’s own published process rather than general 11+ advice.
What the Kent Test is
The Kent Test is administered by GL Assessment on behalf of Kent County Council (KCC), and is used by every state grammar school in the Kent County Council area. It’s designed to identify children working within roughly the top quarter of their year group academically. Crucially, it’s a single test — your child sits it once, and the result can be used to apply to any Kent grammar school you choose to name, not a separate test per school.
Format — what’s actually in it
| Component | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Two multiple-choice papers | Sat on the same day, roughly one hour each, covering English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning |
| A separate creative writing task | Not scored the same way as the multiple-choice papers — may be reviewed specifically in borderline or appeal cases |
| Answer sheets | Marked separately from the question booklets, machine-scored like most GL-style papers |
This is genuinely different from some other counties’ systems (see our GL vs CEM vs ISEB guide for how Kent’s approach compares) — Kent uses its own bespoke process built around GL Assessment materials, rather than a generic off-the-shelf paper.
The 2026 timeline
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Registration window opens | 1 June 2026 |
| Registration window closes | 1 July 2026 — Kent County Council does not accept late online registrations |
| Test sat | Early September 2026, in Year 6 |
| Results released | 15 October 2026 |
Always confirm these dates directly with Kent County Council’s admissions pages— they’re set fresh for each admissions year and this guide can go stale between cycles. Children at Kent primary schools typically sit the test at their own school; children from out-of-county or independent schools attend a designated test centre.
Why you only sit it once
Unlike areas where a family might need to sit a different test for each school they’re interested in, Kent’s single-test model means the preparation work — building comprehension, arithmetic fluency, and familiarity with verbal and non-verbal reasoning formats — pays off for every Kent grammar school you might name, not just one. See our subject guides for Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning for exactly what those two papers cover.
Which specific schools to consider is a separate question from the test itself — see our individual Kent grammar school guides for real admissions details per school.
Common questions
Do we need to register separately for each Kent grammar school?
No — you register once for the Kent Test itself, then separately name your preferred grammar school(s) on the Kent Secondary Common Application Form. The test result is shared with whichever schools you name.
What happens if we live outside Kent?
Out-of-county children can still sit the Kent Test at a designated test centre if they want to apply for a Kent grammar school — check Kent County Council's current out-of-county process, as the exact arrangements can change between admissions cycles.
Is there an appeal if my child narrowly misses the required standard?
There is a headteacher's assessment / appeal route in some circumstances, and the separate creative writing task can be reviewed as part of a borderline case — but this is genuinely a process you should confirm directly with Kent County Council, not assume from a general guide.
Does every Kent grammar school use the same pass mark?
No — the Kent Test identifies children working at a selective standard generally, but individual schools set their own oversubscription criteria and some effectively require a higher score than others simply because they're more oversubscribed. See our individual school pages for what's known about each one.