Kent 11+ Exam Dates 2026 — Registration & Preparation Timeline
Kent 11+ exam dates for 2026: Kent Test registration deadlines, September exam timing, results day, and a parent-friendly preparation timeline for grammar school entrance.
If your child is targeting a Kent grammar school, the Kent Test is the shared 11+ sitting for all 32 selective schools in the county. This guide covers the 2026 registration and exam timeline, what the GL Assessment papers involve, and how to plan preparation from Year 5 to results day — with links to CampusOxide practice resources.
Deep-dive hub (practice + local FAQs): Kent 11+ hub. Full school list and admissions context: Kent grammar schools guide.
Kent 11+ metrics at a glance
| Metric | Typical detail (verify each year) |
|---|---|
| Test name | Kent Test (11+) |
| Provider | GL Assessment |
| Grammar schools | 32 selective schools (one shared test) |
| Who sits | Year 6 pupils registered for Kent grammar entry |
| Exam window | Early September (Year 6) |
| Registration | Kent County Council (KCC) online portal |
| Registration closes | Early July (strict — missed deadline = no test) |
| Paper style | Multiple choice (GL layout) |
| Subjects assessed | English, Maths, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning |
| Results | Mid-October (before secondary school applications close) |
| Out-of-county | Often possible if places remain — check each school's policy |
| Familiarisation | Limited official GL materials (not a large past-paper bank) |
| Recommended weekly prep (peak) | 30–45 min weekdays + 1 timed session at weekends |
Always confirm registration deadlines, familiarisation packs and admissions criteria on Kent County Council and each target school's website for your entry year.
Key Kent 11+ dates for 2026
Exact dates are confirmed on the Kent County Council website each spring. Use this as a planning template and verify on official pages before acting:
| Milestone | Usual timing |
|---|---|
| Open evenings / school research | Year 5 autumn–spring |
| Registration opens | Early June (Year 5 → 6) |
| Registration closes | Early July (strict deadline) |
| Kent Test familiarisation materials released | Summer before test |
| Kent Test (11+) | Early September (Year 6) |
| Results / score communication | Mid-October |
| School preferences (CAF) | National deadline 31 October |
| National Offer Day | 1 March |
Important: The July registration deadline is non-negotiable. If you miss it, your child cannot sit the Kent Test that year — there is no late registration. Set a calendar reminder for June when KCC opens applications.
How to register for the Kent Test
Registration is handled entirely through Kent County Council, not individual schools:
- Create or log in to your KCC admissions account at the Kent Test registration portal (linked from the KCC Kent Test page).
- Register your child for the Kent Test before the July deadline — you will need their date of birth, current primary school, and your contact details.
- Confirm grammar school preferences on your secondary school application (CAF) by 31 October — sitting the test does not automatically place your child at a grammar school.
- Receive results in mid-October and use your child's standardised score when ranking school preferences.
Children attending primary schools outside Kent can still register for the Kent Test if they are applying for Kent grammar places — register through the same KCC portal.
What is the Kent Test?
The Kent Test is a single county-wide selective exam. All 32 Kent grammar schools use the same GL Assessment papers sat on the same day in September. Your child sits once; the score is used for every grammar school application.
Scores are standardised — there is no fixed published pass mark that guarantees a place at every school. Oversubscribed grammars rank candidates using their admissions policy (score rank, distance, siblings, looked-after children, etc.). A qualifying score opens the door; your school preference order and each school's criteria determine the offer.
Unlike Buckinghamshire (fully selective), Kent is partially selective — grammar schools coexist with high schools and secondary moderns. Many families apply to both grammar and non-selective options.
GL Assessment format in Kent
Kent uses GL Assessment papers covering four areas:
| Paper | Typical content | Time pressure |
|---|---|---|
| English | Comprehension, vocabulary in context, grammar and punctuation | ~50 minutes |
| Mathematics | KS2 curriculum plus multi-step problems beyond Year 5 | ~50 minutes |
| Verbal reasoning | Word codes, analogies, sequences, logic using language | ~50 minutes |
| Non-verbal reasoning | Matrices, odd-one-out, spatial patterns, reflections | ~50 minutes |
GL papers use familiar multiple-choice formats. GL publishes familiarisation materials — use these first, then supplement with timed practice. VR and NVR are rarely taught in primary school, so early exposure in Year 5 makes a significant difference.
For subject-specific drills: Kent 11+ Maths preparation and Kent 11+ English preparation.
Preparation timeline for parents
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Year 4 | Times tables fluency, daily reading habit, introduce VR/NVR as games |
| Year 5 (Autumn) | GL-style topic practice in Maths and English; identify weak areas |
| Year 5 (Spring) | Start timed sections; build vocabulary systematically |
| Year 5 (Summer) | Short timed papers; attend target school open evenings |
| Year 6 (Easter onwards) | Full Kent Test mock papers weekly under exam conditions |
| Year 6 (August) | Light practice only — protect sleep before September |
| September Year 6 | Kent Test — no heavy cramming in the final week |
Mock exams are essential for GL format familiarity. Schedule full-length mocks from Easter of Year 6, reviewing every error with your child. See our Kent 11+ mock exam guides for a structured approach.
What happens after results?
Kent Test results arrive in mid-October, before the 31 October secondary school application deadline. You will receive:
- Your child's standardised scores for each paper
- Whether they met the selective standard (qualifying threshold for grammar consideration)
- Guidance on using scores when completing your CAF
A qualifying score does not guarantee your first-choice grammar if the school is oversubscribed. Rank schools carefully on your CAF — grammar first if that is your priority, with realistic backups.
If your child does not qualify, you can still apply to high schools and secondary moderns through the normal admissions process. See our 11+ results day guide for next steps.
When official papers run out
GL publishes limited familiarisation materials. Once those are exhausted, CampusOxide generates unlimited 11+ practice papers in GL-style Maths, English, and reasoning — see our Kent 11+ local hub for region-specific practice.