What is the 11-plus?

What is the 11-plus?

The Kent Test (known across the UK as the 11-plus) is the entrance exam used by grammar schools in Kent to select students for Year 7 entry. It is administered by the exam board GL Assessment. Students must pass the Kent Test if they wish to attend a Kent grammar school.

The test takes place on Thursday September 9th 2026 for students attending Kent primary schools. Other students take the test on the weekend of September 11th-12th 2026. The test assesses students' abilities in five key areas: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.

Test Format

The Kent Test consists of:

• Paper 1 - 60 minutes total. Assesses English (25 minutes) and Maths (25 minutes). Multiple choice questions. Time will be given at the start of each section for practice. 

  • English - Reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary.

  • Mathematics - Numerical operations, mathematical techniques, problem solving.

• Paper 2 - 60 minutes total. Assesses Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning. Multiple choice questions. Time will be given at the start of each section for practice.

  • Verbal Reasoning - Analysing written information, deducing relationships between words, applying logic.

  • Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning - Identifying patterns, analogies, and sequences in visual information.

• Writing Exercise - 40 minutes total, including 10 minutes of planning. Assesses creative writing skills.

  • The writing exercise allows students to demonstrate creativity. While not formally scored, it may be used in borderline cases.