Kent 11 Plus Test Format 2026: Papers, Subjects, Timing and What to Expect

Last reviewed: July 2026. This guide covers the Kent Test format for the 2026 sitting (children entering Year 7 in September 2027). The structure below matches Kent County Council’s published familiarisation materials and the GL Assessment papers Kent has used for several years. Always confirm the current year’s booklet, dates and scoring threshold on kent.gov.uk — official details can change.

Understanding the format — two multiple-choice booklets, a writing exercise, separate answer sheets and section timings — is core preparation. Children who only practise untimed worksheets are at a disadvantage compared with those who have practised under timed exam conditions.

What the Kent Test includes

The Kent Test is produced by GL Assessment and coordinated by Kent County Council. It is sat on one day in September of Year 6. It comprises:

• English & Maths booklet — Multiple-choice English (including comprehension) and maths, each with a short practice section before the timed questions.
• Reasoning booklet — Multiple-choice verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning, with practice before timed sections.
• Writing exercise — A separate timed writing task. It is not usually part of the automatic standardised scores, but may be used in headteacher assessment or borderline review.

Answers for the multiple-choice papers are marked on a separate machine-scanned answer sheet. Children must match question numbers carefully and mark cleanly.

How the day is organised

Both multiple-choice booklets are sat on the same day with a supervised break between them. Each booklet runs for around an hour of sectioned work (including short practice), not a single unbroken 45-minute paper. Kent primary pupils typically sit on a weekday in September; children at schools outside Kent often sit on a nearby weekend — confirm the date assigned when you register. Arrive early for registration; parents do not go into the test room.

Exact section timings are set out in that year’s familiarisation booklet — treat published practice timings as indicative and follow the invigilator’s instructions on the day.

English & Maths booklet

This booklet is split into timed English and maths sections (each preceded by a short practice). Familiarisation materials describe roughly 25 minutes of timed English plus practice time. Familiarisation materials describe roughly 25 minutes of timed maths plus practice time. Always check the current booklet.

English centres on comprehension of unseen text, with further multiple-choice items that may cover vocabulary, grammar or language use. Passages are typically pitched at a strong Year 6 reading level.

Maths covers Key Stage 2 content up to the start of Year 6, with some harder problem-solving that uses known skills in new ways. No calculator is allowed. Mental arithmetic and written rough working in the question booklet both matter under time pressure.

Reasoning booklet

The reasoning booklet tests skills that are largely outside the primary curriculum:

• Verbal Reasoning — word relationships, codes, analogies and language-based logic
• Non-Verbal Reasoning — patterns, sequences and relationships between shapes and figures
• Spatial Reasoning — mental manipulation of 2D/3D shapes (for example nets, rotations and views of structures)

Sections are timed in short blocks after practice items. Fluency with GL-style question types and pacing across the booklet is as important as raw ability.

Writing exercise

A separate timed writing task. It is not usually part of the automatic standardised scores, but may be used in headteacher assessment or borderline review. Still prepare children for a timed writing task so the day is not a surprise.

How results are reported

Parents receive three age-standardised scores — English, maths and reasoning — plus an aggregate total. Individual subject scores typically range from about 69 to 141; the maximum aggregate is 423.

For the 2024 Kent Test, KCC published a grammar assessment threshold of an aggregate of 332 or more with no single score below 106. Always verify the figure for your child’s year on kent.gov.uk.

Practice accuracy % on this platform is a preparation indicator only. It is not an official Kent Test score and does not predict a pass outcome.

Key Takeaways