Kent 11 Plus Dates: Registration, Test Day and Results — The Complete Timeline

Knowing the key months in the Kent Test calendar is one of the most practically important things any family can do when planning for grammar school entry. Missing the registration deadline means missing the test entirely that year. This guide sets out the typical annual cycle in the order it happens.

Important: Always Verify Dates Officially

Exact weekdays change each year. Confirm the current calendar on kent.gov.uk before you register or apply. See kent.gov.uk.

January to March (Year 5): Awareness and Early Planning

Parents of children currently in Year 5 who are considering grammar school entry should begin researching the Kent Test process from the beginning of the spring term at the latest. January to March is the time to understand what the test involves, begin or significantly accelerate preparation, visit grammar school open evenings, and make a realistic assessment of their child's current level and the preparation needed.

June to July (Year 5): The Registration Window

Registration typically opens early June of Year 5 and closes early July of Year 5. The deadline is firm. Parents must register through KCC; do not assume the school has done it automatically.

Children at independent schools anywhere, children living outside Kent, and home-educated children must register directly through Kent County Council's online registration portal. Set a calendar reminder for the registration opening month and complete registration promptly rather than waiting until near the deadline.

September (Year 6): Test Day

Kent primary pupils typically sit on a weekday in September; many out-of-county, independent-school and home-educated candidates sit at a weekend centre. Confirm the date assigned when you register. Children arrive at their test centre at the specified time (typically 20-30 minutes before the test start time), register with the invigilator, and are shown to their seats. Both multiple-choice booklets are sat on the same day with a supervised break between them; there is also a writing exercise. Parents wait outside — not in the test room. Total time at the test centre is typically 2.5 to 3 hours from arrival to exit.

October (Year 6): Results

Results are typically released mid-October of Year 6. Parents receive the child's English, maths and reasoning standardised scores plus an aggregate, and whether the child meets that year's grammar assessment threshold. Having prepared mentally for both outcomes before results day makes the period significantly less overwhelming. Having a list of preferred non-selective schools ready before results day is also strongly advisable.

31 October (Year 6): Secondary School Application Deadline

Submit the Common Application Form to your home local authority by 31 October. Check with that authority how many preferences you may list. Out-of-county families list Kent schools on their home LA form; Kent Test registration is separate and is done through Kent County Council. Late applications receive lower priority in the allocation process. Every child should list several preferences to ensure a school place is secured.

March (Year 6): National Offer Day

Secondary school offers are typically made on 1 March (National Offer Day, still Year 6). Families receive confirmation of their child's allocated school. A grammar assessment makes a child eligible to be considered — it is not an offer of a place. How each school allocates places is in that school’s published admissions policy. Confirm the current policy with the school. Do not rely on this site for cut-offs, score ranking, or whether a named school will offer a place. If a qualifying child is not offered a named grammar place, they can join the waiting list and consider the appeal process.

Key Takeaways