kent test creative writing

11+ creative writing guide with 50 example topics and prompts

by Hayley | Nov 17, 2022 | Exams , Writing | 0 comments

The 11+ exam is a school entrance exam taken in the academic year that a child in the UK turns eleven.

These exams are highly competitive, with multiple students battling for each school place awarded.

The 11 plus exam isn’t ‘one thing’, it varies in its structure and composition across the country. A creative writing task is included in nearly all of the 11 plus exams, and parents are often confused about what’s being tested.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the plot of your child’s writing task is important. It is not.

The real aim of the 11+ creative writing task is to showcase your child’s writing skills and techniques.

And that’s why preparation is so important.

This guide begins by answering all the FAQs that parents have about the 11+ creative writing task.

At the end of the article I give my best tips & strategies for preparing your child for the 11+ creative writing task , along with 50 fiction and non-fiction creative writing prompts from past papers you can use to help your child prepare. You’ll also want to check out my 11+ reading list , because great readers turn into great writers.

Do all 11+ exams include a writing task?

Not every 11+ exam includes a short story component, but many do. Usually 3 to 5 different prompts are given for the child to choose between and they are not always ‘creative’ (fiction) pieces. One or more non-fiction options might be given for children who prefer writing non-fiction to fiction.

Timings and marking vary from test to test. For example, the Kent 11+ Test gives students 10 minutes for planning followed by 30 minutes for writing. The Medway 11+ Test gives 60 minutes for writing with ‘space allowed’ on the answer booklet for planning.

Tasks vary too. In the Kent Test a handful of stimuli are given, whereas 11+ students in Essex are asked to produce two individually set paragraphs. The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CCSE) includes 2 creative writing paragraphs inside a 60-minute English exam.

Throughout the UK each 11+ exam has a different set of timings and papers based around the same themes. Before launching into any exam preparation it is essential to know the content and timing of your child’s particular writing task.

However varied and different these writing tasks might seem, there is one key element that binds them.

The mark scheme.

Although we can lean on previous examples to assess how likely a short story or a non-fiction tasks will be set, it would be naïve to rely completely on the content of past papers. Contemporary 11+ exams are designed to be ‘tutor-proof’ – meaning that the exam boards like to be unpredictable.

In my online writing club for kids , we teach a different task each week (following a spiral learning structure based on 10 set tasks). One task per week is perfected as the student moves through the programme of content, and one-to-one expert feedback ensures progression. This equips our writing club members to ‘write effectively for a range of purposes’ as stated in the English schools’ teacher assessment framework.

This approach ensures that students approaching a highly competitive entrance exam will be confident of the mark scheme (and able to meet its demands) for any task set.

Will my child have a choice of prompts to write from or do they have to respond to a single prompt, without a choice?

This varies. In the Kent Test there are usually 5 options given. The purpose is to gather a writing sample from each child in case of a headteacher appeal. A range of options should allow every child to showcase what they can do.

In Essex, two prescriptive paragraphs are set as part of an hour-long English paper that includes comprehension and vocabulary work. In Essex, there is no option to choose the subject matter.

The Medway Test just offers a single prompt for a whole hour of writing. Sometimes it is a creative piece. Recently it was a marketing leaflet.

The framework for teaching writing in English schools demands that in order to ‘exceed expectations’ or better, achieve ‘greater depth’, students need to be confident writing for a multitude of different purposes.

In what circumstances is a child’s creative writing task assessed?

In Essex (east of the UK) the two prescriptive writing tasks are found inside the English exam paper. They are integral to the exam and are assessed as part of this.

In Medway (east Kent in the South East) the writing task is marked and given a raw score. This is then adjusted for age and double counted. Thus, the paper is crucial to a pass.

In the west of the county of Kent there is a different system. The Kent Test has a writing task that is only marked in appeal cases. If a child dips below the passmark their school is allowed to put together a ‘headteacher’s appeal’. At this point – before the score is communicated to the parent (and probably under cover of darkness) the writing sample is pulled out of a drawer and assessed.

I’ve been running 11+ tutor clubs for years. Usually about 1% of my students passed at headteacher’s appeal.

Since starting the writing club, however, the number of students passing at appeal has gone up considerably. In recent years it’s been more like 5% of students passing on the strength of their writing sample.

What are the examiners looking for when they’re marking a student’s creative writing?

In England, the government has set out a framework for marking creative writing. There are specific ‘pupil can’ statements to assess whether a student is ‘working towards the expected standard,’ ‘working at the expected standard’ or ‘working at greater depth’.

Members of the headteacher panel assessing the writing task are given a considerable number of samples to assess at one time. These expert teachers have a clear understanding of the framework for marking, but will not be considering or discussing every detail of the writing sample as you might expect.

Schools are provided with a report after the samples have been assessed. This is very brief indeed. Often it will simply say ‘lack of precise vocabulary’ or ‘confused paragraphing.’

So there is no mark scheme as such. They won’t be totting up your child’s score to see if they have reached a given target. They are on the panel because of their experience, and they have a short time to make an instant judgement.

Does handwriting matter?

Handwriting is assessed in primary schools. Thus it is an element of the assessment framework the panel uses as a basis for their decision.

If the exam is very soon, then don’t worry if your child is not producing immaculate, cursive handwriting. The focus should simply be on making it well-formed and legible. Every element of the assessment framework does not need to be met and legible writing will allow the panel to read the content with ease.

Improve presentation quickly by offering a smooth rollerball pen instead of a pencil. Focus on fixing individual letters and praising your child for any hint of effort. The two samples below are from the same boy a few months apart. Small changes have transformed the look and feel:

Sample 1: First piece of work when joining the writing club

Sample 2: This is the same boy’s improved presentation and content

How long should the short story be.

First, it is not a short story as such—it is a writing sample. Your child needs to showcase their skills but there are no extra marks for finishing (or marks deducted for a half-finished piece).

For a half hour task, you should prepare your child to produce up to 4 paragraphs of beautifully crafted work. Correct spelling and proper English grammar is just the beginning. Each paragraph should have a different purpose to showcase the breadth and depth of their ability. A longer – 60 minute – task might have 5 paragraphs but rushing is to be discouraged. Considered and interesting paragraphs are so valuable, a shorter piece would be scored more highly than a rushed and dull longer piece.

I speak from experience. A while ago now I was a marker for Key Stage 2 English SATs Papers (taken in Year 6 at 11 years old). Hundreds of scripts were deposited on my doorstep each morning by DHL. There was so much work for me to get through that I came to dread long, rambling creative pieces. Some children can write pages and pages of repetitive nothingness. Ever since then, I have looked for crafted quality and am wary of children judging their own success by the number of lines competed.

Take a look at the piece of writing below. It’s an excellent example of a well-crafted piece.

Each paragraph is short, but the writer is skilful.

He used rich and precisely chosen vocabulary, he’s broken the text into natural paragraphs, and in the second paragraph he is beginning to vary his sentence openings. There is a sense of control to the sentences – the sentence structure varies with shorter and longer examples to manage tension. It is exciting to read, with a clear awareness of his audience. Punctuation is accurate and appropriate.

11+ creative writing example story

How important is it to revise for a creative writing task.

It is important.

Every student should go into their 11+ writing task with a clear paragraph plan secured. As each paragraph has a separate purpose – to showcase a specific skill – the plan should reflect this. Built into the plan is a means of flexing it, to alter the order of the paragraphs if the task demands it. There’s no point having a Beginning – Middle – End approach, as there’s nothing useful there to guide the student to the mark scheme.

Beyond this, my own students have created 3 – 5 stories that fit the same tight plan. However, the setting, mood and action are all completely different. This way a bank of rich vocabulary has already been explored and a technique or two of their own that fits the piece beautifully. These can be drawn upon on the day to boost confidence and give a greater sense of depth and consideration to their timed sample.

Preparation, rather than revision in its classic form, is the best approach. Over time, even weeks or months before the exam itself, contrasting stories are written, improved upon, typed up and then tweaked further as better ideas come to mind. Each of these meets the demands of the mark scheme (paragraphing, varied sentence openings, rich vocabulary choices, considered imagery, punctuation to enhance meaning, development of mood etc).

To ensure your child can write confidently at and above the level expected of them, drop them into my weekly weekly online writing club for the 11+ age group . The club marking will transform their writing, and quickly.

What is the relationship between the English paper and the creative writing task?

Writing is usually marked separately from any comprehension or grammar exercises in your child’s particular 11+ exam. Each exam board (by area/school) adapts the arrangement to suit their needs. Some have a separate writing test, others build it in as an element of their English paper (usually alongside a comprehension, punctuation and spelling exercise).

Although there is no creative writing task in the ISEB Common Pre-test, those who are not offered an immediate place at their chosen English public school are often invited back to complete a writing task at a later date. Our ISEB Common Pre-test students join the writing club in the months before the exam, first to tidy up the detail and second to extend the content.

What if my child has a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, ASD)?

Most exam boards pride themselves on their inclusivity. They will expect you to have a formal report from a qualified professional at the point of registration for the test. This needs to be in place and the recommendations will be considered by a panel. If your child needs extra arrangements on the day they may be offered (it isn’t always the case). More importantly, if they drop below a pass on one or more papers you will have a strong case for appeal.

Children with a specific learning difficulty often struggle with low confidence in their work and low self-esteem. The preparations set out above, and a kids writing club membership will allow them to go into the exam feeling positive and empowered. If they don’t achieve a pass at first, the writing sample will add weight to their appeal.

Tips and strategies for writing a high-scoring creative writing paper

• Read widely for pleasure. Read aloud to your child if they are reluctant.
• Create a strong paragraph plan where each paragraph has a distinct purpose.
• Using the list of example questions below, discuss how each could be written in the form of your paragraph plan.
• Write 3-5 stories with contrasting settings and action – each one must follow your paragraph plan. Try to include examples of literary devices and figurative language (metaphor, simile) but avoid clichés.
• Tidy up your presentation. Write with a good rollerball pen on A4 lined paper with a printed margin. Cross out with a single horizontal line and banish doodling or scribbles.
• Join the writing club for a 20-minute Zoom task per week with no finishing off or homework. An expert English teacher will mark the work personally on video every Friday and your child’s writing will be quickly transformed.

Pressed for time? Here’s a paragraph plan to follow.

At Griffin Teaching we have an online writing club for students preparing for the 11 plus creative writing task . We’ve seen first-hand what a difference just one or two months of weekly practice can make.

That said, we know that a lot of people reading this page are up against a hard deadline with an 11+ exam date fast approaching.

If that’s you (or your child), what you need is a paragraph plan.

Here’s one tried-and-true paragraph plan that we teach in our clubs. Use this as you work your way through some of the example prompts below.

11+ creative writing paragraph plan

Paragraph 1—description.

Imagine standing in the location and describe what is above the main character, what is below their feet, what is to their left and right, and what is in the distance. Try to integrate frontend adverbials into this paragraph (frontend adverbials are words or phrases used at the beginning of a sentence to describe what follows—e.g. When the fog lifted, he saw… )

Paragraph 2—Conversation

Create two characters who have different roles (e.g. site manager and student, dog walker and lost man) and write a short dialogue between them. Use what we call the “sandwich layout,” where the first person says something and you describe what they are doing while they are saying it. Add in further descriptions (perhaps of the person’s clothing or expression) before starting a new line where the second character gives a simple answer and you provide details about what the second character is doing as they speak.

Paragraph 3—Change the mood

Write three to four sentences that change the mood of the writing sample from light to gloomy or foreboding. You could write about a change in the weather or a change in the lighting of the scene. Another approach is to mention how a character reacts to the change in mood, for example by pulling their coat collar up to their ears.

Paragraph 4—Shock your reader

A classic approach is to have your character die unexpectedly in the final sentence. Or maybe the ceiling falls?

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—fictional prompts

• The day the storm came
• The day the weather changed
• The snowstorm
• The rainy day
• A sunny day out
• A foggy (or misty) day
• A day trip to remember
• The first day
• The day everything changed
• The mountain
• The hillside
• The old house
• The balloon
• The old man
• The accident
• The unfamiliar sound
• A weekend away
• Moving house
• A family celebration
• An event you remember from when you were young
• An animal attack
• The school playground at night
• The lift pinged and the door opened. I could not believe what was inside…
• “Run!” he shouted as he thundered across the sand…
• It was getting late as I dug in my pocket for the key to the door. “Hurry up!” she shouted from inside.
• I know our back garden very well, but I was surprised how different it looked at midnight…
• The red button on the wall has a sign on it saying, ‘DO NOT TOUCH.’ My little sister leant forward and hit it hard with her hand. What happened next?
• Digging down into the soft earth, the spade hit something metal…
• Write a story which features the stopping of time.
• Write a story which features an unusual method of transport.
• The cry in the woods
• Write a story which features an escape

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—non-fiction prompts

• Write a thank you letter for a present you didn’t want.
• You are about to interview someone for a job. Write a list of questions you would like to ask the applicant.
• Write a letter to complain about the uniform at your school.
• Write a leaflet to advertise your home town.
• Write a thank you letter for a holiday you didn’t enjoy.
• Write a letter of complaint to the vet after an unfortunate incident in the waiting room.
• Write a set of instructions explaining how to make toast.
• Describe the room you are in.
• Describe a person who is important to you.
• Describe your pet or an animal you know well.

• Free Interview Course

11 PLUS EXTENDED WRITING

Get your child’s Eleven Plus Creative Writing essay marked by the UK’s leading Kent Test and Medway Test experts.

What is extended writing?

The third test that you will need to sit as part of the Kent & Medway 11+ exam, is an extended writing exercise. The extended writing exercise will require the candidate to produce a piece of factual or fiction-based writing, which demonstrates skills such as:

• Sentence fluency. • Grammar, spelling, and punctuation. • Creativity. • The ability to follow a structure when writing.

The final point on the above list is arguably the most important of all. While different examination boards will place varying importance on different things, all of them will expect a piece of writing which has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Likewise, the format will vary between years. In some years you’ll be given 20 minutes to write, in other years you will be given 50 minutes to write. That being said – don’t sacrifice quality for quantity. A shorter piece, with a beginning, middle, and end, will score higher than a longer piece that follows no structure at all.

11 PLus extended writing topics

The format of the writing element can differ between years. Sometimes, you might be asked to write a fictional story. At another time, you might be asked to write a story about an experience you’ve had. Below are two different titles, to illustrate what we mean:

Write a story about sailing the seas as a pirate.

If you received the above title, then you know that you’ll need to think creatively and use your imagination. Alternatively, you might get a title that looks like this:

Write a story about the last time you went abroad.

Naturally, writing this extract might require you to use your memory, rather than your imagination. However, the examiners will still want to see you be creative. Being creative doesn’t mean that you have to make things up – it’s about using language to describe things and make them sound poetic.

pLANNING YOUR STORY

In the vast majority of examination years, you will be given at least 5 minutes planning time before you start writing. Planning your story will make a huge difference – it will mean that you can use your notes as a reminders of plot points, characters, and for ideas.

Using a separate piece of paper, think about the following:

Characters. Of course, this is a major part in any story or extract. You need to get your characters in place, because they are the ones who will drive the story forward.

The Plot. Plotting is a complex and difficult process, and for actual writers it can sometimes take years to get a plot fully realised! However, you don’t need to be scared, because you aren’t publishing a full-length novel! In this case, you just need to plan out a basic story, with a beginning, middle, and end.

Narrative Point of View. When writing a creative extract, you should ideally aim to write in either first person, or third person. There are different quirks and advantages to the different narrative points of view, and neither third person nor first person are considered ‘better’ than the other. In some cases, it might come down to the title of the essay.

11 Plus CREATIVE Writing Tips

Preparing for the 11+ creative writing exercise doesn’t have to be stressful. Ultimately, writing should be an enjoyable experience, and it’s a great way to express yourself. The key to getting good marks, of course, is in expressing yourself ‘the right way’. Here are some tips on things to keep in mind, and things to avoid.

Use adjectives sensibly. Often, one of the first things that you are taught as a young writer is to be creative and use as many adjectives as possible. This is great for getting your brain thinking imaginatively and assigning qualities to objects, but doesn’t necessarily translate so well to a good, final piece of writing.

Real people, real behaviour. One of the things which often causes writers to lose marks on exercises such as this, is that the characters’ behaviour doesn’t exactly match either what they would do in real life, or the rest of their characterisation. Random acts that aren’t consistent with characterisation can break the immersion of a piece, and make it hard to read. The intrigue of writing, even writing fantasy, is placing realistic people with human characteristics and traits, in circumstances or situations where they need to react – and seeing how they react.

Structure. As we’ve mentioned, having a beginning, middle, and an end is really important. It makes it easier for the reader to understand where they are in the story, and makes it easier for the reader to follow the work.

HERE’S WHAT OUR ELEVEN PLUS EXTENDED WRITING FEEDBACK INCLUDES:

• Your child’s writing assessed and critiqued by a Masters Degree qualified writer!
• In-depth tips on narrative, description, and more!
• Ideas and advice on how to improve your child’s written dialogue!
• Essential ideas on characterisation, plot consistency, and more!
• Grammar, punctuation and spelling tips, as well as advice, to ensure that your child maxes their scores – learning in the process!
• A guaranteed 48-hour turnaround, ensuring fast, accurate, feedback!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Your child’s exercise will be personally reviewed by How2Become’s Masters qualified Creative Writing Expert. For every submission, we guarantee personalised feedback, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the content. Our aim isn’t just to point out where things are good or bad – we’ll help your child learn and develop into a stronger, better writer.

Your evaluation will be sent to you in an editable Microsoft Word document within 48 hours (Monday-Friday during office hours).

As soon as your payment is made you will immediately receive an email from How2Become, requesting the Extended Writing topic and your child’s answer. We will then get to work on providing feedback on the piece of creative writing and send an evaluation within 48 hours (Monday-Friday during office hours).

DEAR PARENT,

Thank you very much for your interest in our Extended Writing feedback service. We want to provide you with reassurance that the feedback we’ll share with you will be top class! Our Creative Writing expert has marked and reviewed many hundreds of creative writing pieces over the course of his career, and has also led and participated in various writing workshops. Here at How2Become, we know exactly what the assessors are looking for, and promise that your child’s extended writing skills will receive a great boost from our guidance.

If you have any questions about the service please feel free to contact us directly at [email protected] . 

Medway 11+ Revision Guide

If you haven’t purchased a copy of our fantastic Medway 11+ Revision Guide , then you’re missing out! This book is jam packed with tips on extended writing, maths, and verbal reasoning. It’s the ultimate practice and revision resource for any child taking the Medway Eleven Plus. So, don’t hang around. Pick up your copy today! 

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The Kent Test (11+) guide

By Atom | Feb 15, 2024, 4:28 PM

Grammar schools

Are you considering a grammar school in Kent for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about admissions in 2024–2025. Keep reading to:

Find out more about grammar schools in Kent

Learn about the Kent Test – the local 11 plus exam

Discover which subjects your child will be tested on

Plus, get exclusive resources to help your child prepare!

In the video below, Hannah from Atom Learning gives a walkthrough of the Kent Test.

Which grammar schools use the Kent Test?

Barton Court Grammar School

Borden Grammar School

Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School

Cranbrook School

Dane Court Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Dover Grammar School for Boys

Dover Grammar School for Girls

Gravesend Grammar School

Highsted Grammar School

Highworth Grammar School

Invicta Grammar School

Maidstone Grammar School

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls

Mayfield Grammar School

Oakwood Park Grammar School

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School

Sir Roger Manwood’s School

The Folkestone School for Girls

The Harvey Grammar School

The Judd School

The Langton Grammar School for Boys

The Norton Knatchbull School

The Skinner’s School

Tonbridge Grammar School

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys

Weald of Kent Grammar School

Wilmington Grammar School for Boys

Wilmington Grammar School for Girls

Dates for your diary

Monday 3rd June 2024: Kent Test registration opens

Monday 1st July 2024: Kent Test registration closes

Monday 2nd September 2024: Kent County Council opens secondary school applications

Thursday 12th September 2024: Kent Test date for children in Kent primary schools

Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th September 2024: Kent Test date for children not in Kent primary schools

Thursday 17th October 2024: Kent Test results sent to parents

Thursday 31st October 2024: secondary school common application deadline

Monday 3rd March 2025: national school offers day

Dates can vary, so always check with your target schools!

What is the Kent Test?

The Kent Test is an 11 plus exam used by grammar schools in Kent. All of the grammar schools within the Kent County Council area use the Kent Test. This means that your child will only need to take the test once , regardless of how many grammar schools in Kent they're applying to.

The test papers are provided by GL Assessment . The test is designed to be challenging; grammar schools use it to select children working in the top 25% of their year group. In 2023, more than 17,000 children sat the Kent Test for 5,801 available places.

The Kent Test takes place in September in Year 6 . If your child goes to a Kent primary school, they will likely take the test at their own school on a school day. If your child goes to a primary school outside of Kent, they might be invited to take the test at a Kent grammar school at the weekend.

Note that if your child is applying for a grammar school in Medway or the London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley, they will take a separate exam. Find out more information about these exams:

Bexley Selection Test

Bromley 11 plus exams

Medway Test

What's on the Kent Test?

The Kent Test consists of two multiple-choice papers , each with a one-hour time limit. Children mark their answers on separate answer sheets, which are marked electronically.

Your child will also have a short writing task.

Paper 1: English and maths

Paper 1 is split into a 30-minute English section and a 30-minute maths section . Each section starts with a 5-minute practice exercise. This isn't marked, but is used to help your child get familiar with the types of questions. The practice exercise is then followed by a 25-minute test.

The English section consists of a reading comprehension exercise. There are also some questions which assess skills such as grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. Question types vary, but might include things like:

choosing the best words to complete a sentence

finding synonyms and antonyms

spotting mistakes in sentences

In the maths section, your child will be tested on the topics they have learnt in school up to the start of Year 6. Your child should be comfortable with their times tables, and have an age-appropriate knowledge of:

the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

fractions and decimals

percentages and ratio

geometry, including area, perimeter and measurements

The questions might be more difficult than your child is used to. This is so that they can demonstrate the skills they have already learned to solve different kinds of problems.

Paper 2: Reasoning

Paper 2 tests verbal reasoning , non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning . These subjects are not taught at primary school. Many 11+ exams include these types of questions to assess a child's potential, rather than learned knowledge.

Verbal reasoning is a test of how well you can think and solve problems using written information. This includes letters, words, symbols and numbers. For example, your child might need to look at the relationship between numbers to predict the next number in a sequence.

Non-verbal reasoning tests how well you can think and solve problems using visual information, such as shapes, diagrams and pictures. Your child will need to look at the similarities and differences of shapes, and identify changes between shapes in a sequence.

Spatial reasoning is similar to non-verbal reasoning. However, this measures how well you can manipulate shapes and space in your head.

The verbal reasoning section lasts 30 minutes. This includes a 10-minute unmarked practice exercise and a 20-minute test.

The non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning section lasts 30 minutes. However, this is divided into shorter individually-timed tests. Each one starts with an untimed practice session, which your child will go through with the invigilator. Each of the smaller sections then takes 4–5 minutes to complete.

Writing exercise

All children who take the Kent Test will also have a creative writing exercise. This is only marked if a headteacher panel needs to use it for a borderline case or an appeal.

The creative writing exercise lasts 40 minutes. This includes 10 minutes of planning time.

Kent Test master course

Help your child prepare for the Kent Test with a free 3-week course!

Get three Kent Test practice papers , marking guidance, and video lessons emailed straight to your inbox.

11+ subject guides

English comprehension, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, what is the kent test pass mark.

The results of the Kent Test are released to parents and guardians in mid-October in Year 6, usually just before half-term.

If you registered online, your child's result will be emailed to you. If you registered on paper, your child's result will be sent by first-class post. Your child's primary school will also receive your child's result, so you can check with them if you do not receive the letter.

On results day, you'll get 3 standardised scores : one for English, one for maths, and one for reasoning. You'll also get a total (aggregate) score.

To pass the exam, your child will need a total score of 332 or more and no single score lower than 107. The test scores range from 69 to 141. The highest possible total score is 423.

Remember – if your child receives a qualifying score in the Kent Test, this does not guarantee them a place at a Kent grammar school. It means that they can be considered for any Kent grammar school you name on the Common Application Form (CAF) .

How to register your child for the Kent Test

If you would like your child to be considered for a place at a Kent grammar school, you will need to register them to take the Kent Test.

The application window for the 2024 exam opens on Monday 3rd June 2024 and closes on Monday 1st July 2024 . More information about registering your child is available on the Kent County Council website .

How can I help my child prepare for the Kent Test?

The Kent Test is designed to be challenging. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the exam in September 2024.

Build foundational knowledge

It can be tempting to jump straight into practice papers to prepare for 11+ exams. However, this is not an effective way to learn and can cause children to feel demotivated.

Your child should have a good understanding of Year 6 content before testing their knowledge with practice papers. Using a ‘little and often’ approach when recapping content is key, as our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. Experts recommend study sessions should last no longer than 30 minutes for children aged 10–11.

Atom Home makes learning a more enjoyable process for your child. They'll explore exciting worlds full of interactive questions, earning coins to spend in the Atom shop. Atom's adaptive algorithm fits to your child, showing them questions at just the right level of difficulty to keep them motivated.

Read widely

In the English and verbal reasoning sections, your child will need to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading at home is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage your child to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Looking for reading inspiration? Check out our Key Stage 2 reading list .

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident with the topics they’ve learnt in Year 5, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Practice tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and build confidence working under test conditions. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning and highlight knowledge gaps for further improvement.

With Atom Home , you'll unlock online mock tests and printable practice papers. Enjoy automatic marking and progress tracking with the online tests, and help your child get familiar with the real exam experience with printable practice papers.

Celebrate progress

Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.

Make sure to encourage a growth mindset . This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they have the ability to improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.

Watch the video below to see how Dana and her daughter, Ana, used Atom Home to prepare for success in the Kent Test.

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Wilmington Grammar School for Boys | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

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KENT ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS PAPER 1

Answering Booklet

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Wilmington Grammar School for Boys.

New 11+ practice papers are sent out via email every Friday. You can sign up to receive these, every week, using the form above.

English Paper 1

English paper 2, english paper 3, maths paper 1, maths paper 2, maths paper 3, verbal reasoning paper 1, verbal reasoning paper 2, verbal reasoning paper 3, non-verbal reasoning paper 1, non-verbal reasoning paper 2, non-verbal reasoning paper 3.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Wilmington Grammar School for Boys.

Address — Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Common Lane, Wilmington, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7DA

Type of school — Boys’ grammar school

Cost — Free

Pupils in school — 1000+

Places available in year 7 — 150+

Average applicants per place — 5 or more

Catchment area —  Wilmington Grammar School for Boys does have a catchment area with priority given to boys living within 1.5 miles of the school or living within the parishes listed below:

Ash Cum Ridley

 Badgers Mount 

Crockenhill 

Darenth 

Dunton Green 

Eynsford 

Fawkham 

Halstead 

Hextable 

Horton Kirby & South Darenth 

Istead Rise (ward)

Kemsing 

Longfield & New Barn 

Otford 

Shoreham 

Stanstead 

Stone 

Sutton at Hone & Hawley

Swanley 

Swanscome & Greenhithe 

West Kingsdown

Wilmington 

Other priority areas:

Children receiving Pupil Premium who live within a 3-mile radius of the school will also be given priority.

Governor places will be awarded to boys who have performed the best in the Kent test (excluding the maths test) who live within a 5-mile radius of the school. (15 places).

The school’s catchment/priority areas.

Oversubscription policy — Before the application of oversubscription criteria, students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school and who have passed the assessment will be admitted. As a result of this the published admissions number will be reduced accordingly.

Where qualifying applications for admission exceed the number of places available, places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

Children in Local Authority Care or Previously in Local Authority Care

Children with a sibling who will be attending the school or Wilmington Grammar School for Girls when the applicant joins.

Children of staff at the school.

Governor places - awarded to boys who have shown exceptional performance in the Kent test (excluding the maths test) and residing within a 5-mile radius of the school. (Up to 10% of the PAN - 15 places).

Boys who live within 1.5 mile proximity of the school and boys living within the parishes listed in the catchment area.

Children receiving Pupil Premium who live within a 3-mile radius of the school.

All other eligible boys – those living closest to the school first.

Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (WGBS) was established in 1954 and is an all-boys grammar school in Dartford, Kent. The school was previously known as Dartford Technical High School, but it became a grammar school in 1982. WGBS then became an academy in 2011.

The school specialises in engineering and encourages their students to develop entrepreneurial skills. Wilmington Grammar School for Boys works to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, and mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

Find the most recent Ofsted reports here .

Compare this school’s performance with other local schools here .

Exam style —GL Assessment/The Kent Test

Exam topic:

Verbal, non-verbal and spatial

English and maths

Creative writing

Exam length — 2 x 1 hour exams + a 40-minute writing exercise.

Pass rate — In recent years, 15,000+ applicants took the Kent test; only 6,500 passed.

Other exam information :

The reasoning, English and maths tests are multiple-choice with a separate answer sheet.

The first test will be an English and Maths paper. Each section will include a 5 minute practice exercise followed by a 25 minute test. The English section will involve a comprehension exercise as well as some additional questions drawn from a set designed to test literacy skills.

The second test will be the reasoning paper. It will take about 1 hour, including the practice sections and questions. It will contain a verbal reasoning section and a non-verbal reasoning section of roughly the same length. The non-verbal reasoning will be split into short sections, administered and timed individually.

Finally, there will also be a writing exercise which will not be marked but may be used by a local headteacher panel as part of the headteacher assessment stage of the process. 40 minutes will be allowed for the writing task, including 10 minutes planning time.

Your child will get three standardised scores (one for English, one for maths and one for reasoning) and a total (aggregate) score.

Standardisation is a statistical process which compares your child's performance with the average performance of other children in each test. A slight adjustment is made to take account of each child's age so that the youngest are not at a disadvantage.

To qualify, children needed a total score of 332 or more, with no single score lower than 108. Test scores range from 69 to 141. The highest possible total score is 423.

If your child did not reach this threshold score and their primary school referred their case to the local Head Teacher Assessment Panel, the panel will have looked at their achievement in school and examples of their work, including the writing task completed on the day, before a final decision was made.

Please note that a score of over 332 does NOT mean your child is guaranteed a place at your chosen school.

Contact information

Website — https://www.wgsb.org.uk/  

Contact — https://www.wgsb.org.uk/6/contact-us  

Facebook — https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=103121573061436&__tn__=C-R  

Twitter —  https://twitter.com/wilmingtonboys  

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnzoPqGzdnm_ZtisxZcotA?feature=emb_ch_name_ex  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/wilmington-grammar-school-for-boys/

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Cobham Hall | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

11+ Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 plus assessments by Cobham Hall School.

INDEPENDENT ENGLISH PAPER 1

Model Answers

Mark Scheme

INDEPENDENT MATHEMATICS PAPER 1

Exam style — School’s own exam.

Exam types:

Exam length — Unknown.

Pass mark — There is no fixed pass mark for the admissions test.

Other exam and entry information : 

The English paper tests comprehension and writing.

A report from your child’s current school will be requested.

Results from exams will be released in November.

🏫 11 Plus (11+) Independent Schools’ Entrance Exams Explained

The Norton Knatchbull School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by The Norton Knatchbull School.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by The Norton Knatchbull School.

Address — The Norton Knatchbull School, Hythe Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0QJ

Pupils in school — 1200+

Places available in year 7 — 210+

Catchment area —  The Norton Knatchbull School does have a catchment area which is based on distance from the school. 

‘Disadvantaged’ children - This is defined by the school as “pupils who have been in local authority care for one day or more and pupils who have left local authority care because of one of the following: adoption; a special guardianship order; a child arrangements order. It also includes pupils who have been eligible for Free School Meals at any point during the past six years.”

Children with a brother or sister already attending the school when the child starts. 

Children with Medical/Health and Special Access Reasons to apply to the school in accordance with the school’s legal obligations, in particular those under the Equality Act 2010.

Distance from home to school - The distance between the child’s permanent home address and the school (measured in a straight line) with closest given priority. 

The Norton Knatchbull School was established in 1630 and previously known as Ashford Grammar School. The school was founded by Norton Knatchbull and is a selective, all-boys grammar school in Ashford, Kent. Girls are admitted into the school’s sixth form.

The Norton Knatchbull School specialises in science and languages. It became an academy in 2012.

Website — https://www.nks.kent.sch.uk/  

Contact — https://www.nks.kent.sch.uk/contact  

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/nortonknatchbull/  

Twitter —  https://twitter.com/NKSkent  

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/NKSkent/  

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2KLGnlcauOSei_5UFcDZ5A  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/thenortonknatchbullschool

Fort Pitt Grammar School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

GL ENGLISH PAPER 1

Gl mathematics paper 1.

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to GL papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Fort Pitt Grammar School.

MATHS PAPER 1

Maths paper 2, maths paper 3.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Fort Pitt Grammar School.

Address — Fort Pitt Grammar School, Fort Pitt Hill, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6TJ

Type of school — Girls’ grammar school

Pupils in school — 800+

Average applicants per place — 4 or more

Catchment area —  Fort Pitt Grammar School does have a catchment area which is based on distance from the school. 

Girls residing within 2 miles of the school will be prioritised first, followed by girls residing in the following local parishes:

 Cliffe and Cliffe Woods

Frindsbury Extra (includes Wainscott and Upnor)

High Halstow

Hoo St Werburgh (includes Chattenden)

Isle of Grain

St Mary Hoo 

Oversubscription policy — Where qualifying applications for admission exceed the number of places available, places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

Children in Local Authority Care or Previously in Local Authority Care.

Children with a sibling at the school at the time of application or who will be still attending when the applicant is admitted. 

Children attending Fort Pitt Thomas Aveling (FPTA) Junior Academies (namely, Balfour Junior Academy and Phoenix Junior Academy).

Children of staff at the school (where the member of staff has been employed for three years or more at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made and/or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage).

Children residing within 2 miles of the school.

Children residing in one of the named parishes above. 

All other eligible girls seeking a school place.

Fort Pitt Grammar School was established in 1929 and it is an all-girls grammar school in Chatham, Kent. The school gets its name from the Napoleonic fort which was once built on the site as part of the defences overlooking the River Medway. It became an academy in 2010.

The school’s ethos is founded on the four ‘excellences’: academic, community, appearance and environment. The school believes that together these values create a school where achievement and happiness go hand in hand.

Fort Pitt specialises in science and maths. Since 2012, the school has worked with other local schools as part of the Fort Pitt Grammar School Academy Trust. Fort Pitt has Leading Edge status and is a National Support School.

Exam style — GL - The Medway Test.

Extended writing

Mathematics

Verbal reasoning

Exam length — 3x 50 minutes exams.

Pass rate — The Medway Tests are designed to assess and select the top 23% of the children in the year group to go to a grammar school.

Pass mark —The tests are designed to assess and select 23% of the children in the year group to go to a grammar school.

Any child who has taken the Medway Tests and achieved scores that are below the minimum score will be deemed non-eligible.

Please note - Scoring above the minimum score does not guarantee your child a place at your chosen school.

Other exam information:

The verbal reasoning and maths exams are 50 minutes each. Both are multiple choice. 

The English test is one people of writing which lasts 50 minutes, including 10 minutes to plan.

The Medway Test is sat by children in year 6 at their own school if they go to a Medway school (except Kings School in Rochester) or in a Medway Test Centre if they go to schools outside of Medway. 

The following formula is used to calculate the total weighted score for each child:

Extended Writing standardised score x 2 + Mathematics standardised score x 2 + Verbal reasoning standardised score x 1

=  the total weighted score

All scores will be standardised. 

Website — https://fortpitt.medway.sch.uk/new/  

Contact — https://fortpitt.medway.sch.uk/new/contact-us/  

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/fortpittgrammar  

Twitter — https://twitter.com/fortpittgrammar  

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/fort_pitt_grammar_school_/  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/fort-pitt-grammar-school

St Olave’s Grammar School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to GL papers which contain similar content to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by St Olave’s Grammar School.

STAGE 1 ENTRANCE TEST (SET)

Information, Exam Paper and Answers

STAGE 2 ENTRANCE TEST (SET)

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by St Olave’s Grammar School.

Address — St Olave’s Grammar School, Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SH

Type of school — Boys grammar school 

Pupils in school — 1100+

Places available in year 7 — 120+

Average applicants per place — 8 or more

Catchment area —  St Olave’s Grammar School does not have a catchment area but places preference on 11+ test grades. 

Over-subscription policy —  Where qualifying applications for admission exceed the number of places available, places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

Boys who are Children Looked After (registered in public care) or who were Looked After but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements orders or special guardianship order by rank order.

A maximum of 10 places will be available for boys in receipt of Pupil Premium by rank order.

Should there be insufficient applicants eligible for a place as outline above, the remaining places will be allocated purely according to rank order.

Please note that the school offers up to four ‘ choristerships ’ a year for boys to join St. Olave’s as Wakeham Choristers at The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy. Applicants must still pass the entrance exams but will also have a voice test. Successful candidates will commence as Wakeham Choristers one year prior to joining Year 7 at St Olave’s. Find out more here .

St Olave’s Grammar School (previously St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School) is an all-boys, selective grammar school in Bromley, South East London. The school has a large sixth form which accepts both boys and girls.

The school specialises in maths and computing.

Exam style: St. Olave’s Grammar School’s Selective Eligibility Test (SET).

English 

Maths 

Verbal Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Exam length :

Stage one — 1 x 1 hour exam.

Stage two   2 x 1 hour exams.

Pass mark —  Pass mark changes every year.

There are two stages of tests. Only candidates who pass the first stage will be invited back for the second.

The initial Selective Eligibility Test (SET) consists of multiple-choice questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

The second stage consists of two exams:

English — one hour long, covering multiple choice comprehension questions and a creative/persuasive writing exercise or essay.

Mathematics — one hour long, covering a range of maths topics.

Stage 1 and 2 results are standardised to rank the candidates. The top 124 will immediately be offered a place. 

If there is a tie, it will be determined using the results of the mathematics paper, then the creative/persuasive writing, then the English comprehension and finally the SET.

Scores will be standardised.

Website — https://www.saintolaves.net/  

Contact — https://www.saintolaves.net/6/contact  

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Olaves-Grammar-School

Twitter — https://twitter.com/saintolaves  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/st-olave%27s-grammar-school  

Dover Grammar School for Girls | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Dover Grammar School for Girls.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Dover Grammar School for Girls.

Address — Dover Grammar School for Girls, Frith Road, Dover, Kent, CT16 2PZ

Pupils in school — 900+

Average applicants per place — 3 or more

Catchment area —  Dover Grammar School for Girls does have a catchment area which is based on distance from the school. 

Oversubscription policy — Before the application of oversubscription criteria, students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school and who have passed the assessments will be admitted. As a result of this the published admissions number will be reduced accordingly.

Eligible students who are presently or were previously in Local Authority care.

Eligible students with a sibling already at the school.

Eligible students with a Health and Special Access Reason for applying to the school.

Eligible students in receipt of Pupil Premium at the time of entry to the school.

All other eligible students in order of proximity of the child’s permanent home to the School (closest first).

Dover Grammar School for Girls was established in 1910 and is an all-girls’ grammar school in Dover, Kent. The school’s attached sixth form is co-educational and admits both boys and girls. It specialises in humanities. 

The schools ‘vision tri-colon’ was developed by the school community to help describe their vision as a school, in a simple and memorable way. Each part of the tri-colon builds on the next, helping them to prepare students for success in the world beyond school.

There are two different possible 11 plus exams for entry to this school, The Dover Test and the Kent Test. Both tests are different, but children do not need to take both tests.

THE DOVER TEST

Exam style —GL Assessment/The Dover Test 

Non-verbal reasoning

KS2 English 

Pass mark — Changes each year so that approximately only 25% of candidates will pass the exam.

This test usually takes place on the Saturday following the Kent Test.

It covers English and Maths from the KS2 syllabus.

The Dover Test’s verbal and non-verbal reasoning test are similar to those of the Kent Test.

The marks from all four papers are combined to give an overall mark. This overall mark is used to determined which candidates are eligible. 

THE KENT TEST

Exam style —GL Assessment/The Kent Test 

Website — http://www.dggs.kent.sch.uk/

Contact — http://www.dggs.kent.sch.uk/6/contact-details

Facebook — https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=108148132539740

Twitter — https://twitter.com/dggs_info?lang=en

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-4H2eQIhDH9Fy93fFObvhQ

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/school/dover-grammar-school-for-girls

Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School.

Address — Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School, Southfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9UJ

Places available in year 7 — 145+

Catchment area —  Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School does have a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school.

 The catchment area consists of the parishes below or anyone living within a 4-mile proximity of the school:

Badger’s Mount, Bidborough, Brasted, Brenchley, Capel, Chevening, Chiddingstone, Cowden, Dunton Green, East Peckham, Edenbridge, Hadlow, Halsted, Hever, Hildenborough, Horsmonden, Ightham, Kemsing, Knockholt, Lamberhurst, Leigh, Otford, Paddock Wood, Pembury, Penshurst, Plaxtol, Riverhead, Rusthall, Seal, Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Weald, Shipbourne, Shoreham, Southborough, Speldhurst, Sundridge with Ide Hill, Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Westerham. 

Catchment Area.

Children living within the catchment area who are designated as receiving ‘Pupil Premium’.

Children living within the catchment area who have a sibling who will still be attending the school when the applicant joins.

Children with Health and Special Access Reasons for applying to the school.

Eligible girls who live within the catchment area.

Distance from home to school (outside the catchment area). With the closest given priority.

Governors’ Places (14 places) will be offered to girls living in the catchment area who would not otherwise be offered a place, who scored highest in the 11+ PESE Kent test, places determined by combined rank order.

Tunbridge Wells Girl’s Grammar School (TWGGS) was established in 1905 and is an all-girls’ grammar school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The school specialises in English and music.

TWGGS works with Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys and The Skinners’ School to broaden their sixth form’s curriculum. The school also holds the Sportsmark and Healthy Schools awards.

Website — https://www.twggs.kent.sch.uk/  

Contact — https://www.twggs.kent.sch.uk/6/contact-us  

Facebook — https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=116422651701204  

Twitter —  https://twitter.com/TWGGS   

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/389592707/united-kingdom/royal-tunbridge-wells/tunbridge-wells-girls-grammar-school/  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/school/tunbridgewellsgirls'grammarschool/

St Edmund's School Canterbury | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 plus assessments by St Edmund’s School Canterbury.

ISEB COMMON PRE-TEST VERBAL REASONING PAPER 1

Exam style — School’s own exams.

Pass mark — There is no fixed pass mark for the exam.

A reference and report from the child’s current school is requested as part of the admissions process.

There is a non-refundable registration fee of £150 required by the school.

Candidates are encouraged to tour the school before applying.

Sutton Valence School | Free 11 Plus (11+) ISEB Pre-Test Practice Papers and Answers

Other Practice Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared below contain similar content to the ISEB pre-test papers typically delivered as 11 Plus pre-test assessments by Sutton Valence School.

ISEB COMMON PRE-TEST ENGLISH PAPER 1

Iseb common pre-test mathematics paper 1, iseb pre-test familiarisation test.

Online Practice Test

Exam style — ISEB Common Pre-Test.

English (reading comprehension, sentence completion, spelling and punctuation).

Maths (in line with the National Curriculum up to Year 5).

Verbal reasoning (common words, antonyms, word combinations, letter transfer, number codes, etc.).

Non-verbal reasoning (shape analogies, classes like, horizontal codes, etc.).

Exam length — 4 exams totalling 2.5 hours.

Pass mark —  There is not a fixed pass mark for the admissions test. On completion of the test, all candidates receive an age-adjusted and standardised score. The average score is 100. Schools will also be able to see each child’s score and the time taken for each section of the test.

If a child does well in their 11+ pre-test, they will usually be offered a place, contingent on them then passing the common entrance exam at 13+.

Other exam information : 

The tests cover English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning separately.

All tests are completed online.

All questions are in multiple-choice format.

The English test takes 25 minutes, mathematics 50 minutes, non-verbal reasoning 32 minutes and verbal reasoning 36 minutes.

The four tests can either be taken together or at separate times. They can be taken in the candidate's own school, at the senior school for which he or she is entered or at an independent testing centre.

All candidates are registered by the senior school(s) for which they are entered.

Test results are available to all senior schools which register the same candidate and therefore a candidate need only sit the tests once for a range of senior schools.

An assessment fee of £24 applies and is non-refundable.

The Skinners’ School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by The Skinners’ School.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by The Skinners’ School.

Address — The Skinners’ School, St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9PG

Places available in year 7 — 160+

Catchment area —  The Skinners’ School does have a catchment area which is made up of an inner and outer area. Up to 140 places will be offered to children in the ‘West Kent Area’, which covers the area within

The inner area consists of the area three miles of the school measured by straight line distance, plus the following named parishes:

Badgers Mount Bidborough Brasted

Brenchley Capel Chevening

Chiddingstone Cowden Dunton Green

Edenbridge Goudhurst Hadlow

Halstead Hever Hildenborough

Horsmonden Ightham Kemsing

Knockholt Lamberhurst Leigh

Otford Paddock Wood Pembury

Penshurst Plaxtol Riverhead

Rusthall Seal Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks Weald Shipbourne Shoreham

Southborough Speldhurst Sundridge with Ide Hill

Tonbridge Tunbridge Wells Westerham

The outer area is defined as being outside the West Kent Area described above, but within the mainland of the United Kingdom.

140 places are allocated to students resident in the inner area.

20 places are allocated to students resident in the outer area.

Where qualifying applications for admission exceed the number of inner Area places available, places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

Up to 8 places for pupils, from the defined West Kent Area, registered in that academic year for the Pupil Premium.

Up to 132 places to other pupils from the defined West Kent Area, prioritised as follows. Those living in the West Kent Area with a PESE (11+) score of 360 or more, ranked in order of 

Siblings attending the school at the time of application; 

Sons of members of staff with at least two years’ service at the time application for admission is made, or if the member of staff has been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. 

Those living the shortest distance from the school.

Where qualifying applications for admission exceed the number of outer area places available, places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

Up to 2 places for pupils, from outside  the defined West Kent Area, registered in that academic year for the Pupil Premium.

Up to 18 places to other pupils from outside the defined West Kent Area, prioritised as follows. Those living in the West Kent Area with a PESE (11+) score of 360 or more, ranked in order of 

Please note - The furthest outer area place offered in recent years was around 7.8 miles straight line distance from the school (not including siblings or those on Free School Meals).

The Skinners’ School was established in 1887 and is an all-boys grammar school in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Skinners’ (as it is commonly known) was previously known as the Skinners’ Company’s Middle School for Boys as it was founded by the Worshipful Company of Skinners (a livery company from London). The school specialises in maths and science.

The school has a large attached sixth form and became an academy in 2014.

Website — https://www.skinners-school.co.uk/  

Contact — https://www.skinners-school.co.uk/contact-us/staff-contact-list/  

Twitter —  https://twitter.com/LeopardTweets  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/school/the-skinners'-school/  

Bexley Grammar School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

Other GL Sample Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to GL test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Bexley Grammar School.

ENGLISH PAPER 1

English paper 2, english paper 3, verbal reasoning paper 1, verbal reasoning paper 2, verbal reasoning paper 3, non-verbal reasoning paper 1, non-verbal reasoning paper 2, non-verbal reasoning paper 3.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Bexley Grammar School.

Address — Bexley Grammar School, Danson Lane, Welling, Kent, DA16 2BL

Type of school — Mixed grammar school 

Pupils in school — 1400+

Places available in year 7 —  190+

Average applicants per place — 8 or more.

Please note, this school is heavily oversubscribed. Yearly, at least 5600 children sit the Bexley selection test and 1500+ are deemed selective.

Catchment area —  Bexley Grammar School does have a catchment area but places preference on 11+ test grades. Priority is given based on location and distance from the school, closest first.

Applicants who are or have been Looked After Children.

Those children identified by the Local Authority as achieving one of the highest 180 scores in the selection tests.

For applicants with a sibling currently attending Bexley Grammar School at the time of enrolment. A sibling includes full, half, adopted and step brother or sister living at the same address.

Applicants with a parent or registered carer employed by Bexley Grammar School on a permanent contract at the time of application.

Applicants will be admitted on the basis of proximity to the school measured in a straight line from the home address. The distance will be measured by the Local Authority’s computerised measuring system from the gate of the home address to the middle gate entrance approved by the Governors as the official entrance to the school.

Bexley Grammar School was established in 1955. It was founded by Sir Edward Heath, a Member of Parliament at the time. Bexley is a mixed grammar school in Bexley, South East London. The school specialises in languages, science and mathematics. Bexley became an academy in 2011. 

From 2017, the school began offering the International Baccalaureate instead of traditional A-Levels in their Sixth Form. 

The school has won many awards including:

High Performing Specialist School

Leading Edge status

The International Award

 Healthy Schools status

Investors in People Award 

Sportsmark 

Artsmark Gold

In recent years, 60% of GCSE grades were 9-7.

Exam style: GL Assessment — Bexley Selection Tests  

Exam length — 2 x 1 hour exams.

Pass mark — The pass mark is changes each year.

There are two papers, each containing a mixture of the subjects listed above.

All questions are multiple choice.

Website — https://www.bexleygs.co.uk/  

Contact — https://www.bexleygs.co.uk/page/?title=Contact+Us&pid=108  

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/groups/BexleyGSAlumni/  

Facebook (parents page) — https://www.facebook.com/BGS-PA-1520204194910828/?ref=bookmarks  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/bexley-grammar-school/

Tonbridge Grammar School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Tonbridge School.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Tonbridge School.

Address — Tonbridge Grammar School, Deakin Leas, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2JR

Places available in year 7 — 180+

Catchment area —  Tonbridge School does have a catchment area which is made up of an inner and outer area. 

The inner area consists of the following three local council areas (for Council Tax purposes):

Tonbridge & Malling Borough 

Tunbridge Wells Borough 

Sevenoaks District

The outer area is defined as being outside the inner area (described above).

Oversubscription policy — Before the application of oversubscription criteria, students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school and who have passed the assessment will be admitted. As a result of this, the published admissions number will be reduced accordingly.

Children who meet the required score in the 11 Plus (135 Area places / 35 Governor places)

Students who are eligible for Pupil Premium (10 places)

Area places - (up to 135 places)

Girls with a selective assessment through the Kent PESE 11+ Test who are also resident in the inner area will be admitted based on their 11+ test score (highest first). 

In the result of a tie, the child who home address is closer to the school will be admitted first.

Governor places -  (35 places)

Girls with a selective assessment through the Kent PESE 11+ Test who are NOT resident in the inner area will be admitted based on their 11+ test score (highest first). 

Tonbridge School was established in 1905 with only 19 students. Today it is an all-girls’ grammar school teaching over 1200 girls in Tonbridge, Kent. Boys are also admitted into the school’s sixth-form. The school became an academy in 2011

Located in a 14-acre campus, the school specialises in maths and computing. It is part of the Leading Edge Partnership Programme and an International Baccalaureate World School.

Website — https://www.tgs.kent.sch.uk/  

Contact — https://www.tgs.kent.sch.uk/contact-us  

Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=105709369464071  

Twitter —  https://twitter.com/TGStweets  

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/11089933/tonbridge-grammar-school/?hl=en  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/school/tonbridge-grammar-school/  

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys.

Address — Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9XB

Pupils in school — 1300+

Places available in year 7 — 300+

Catchment area —  Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys does have a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school.

The catchment area consists of children who live within a 3-mile radius of the school, following by children living in the named parishes below:

Badgers Mount, Bidborough, Brasted, Capel, Chevening, Chiddingstone, Cowden, Dunton Green, Edenbridge, Hadlow, Halstead, Hever, Hildenborough, Ightham, Kemsing, Knockholt, Leigh, Otford, Pembury, Penshurst, Plaxtol, Riverhead, Rusthall, Seal, Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Weald, Shipbourne, Shoreham, Southborough, Speldhurst, Sundridge with Ide hill, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Westerham.

Children with a sibling who will still be attending the school when the applicant joins.

Children who live within a 3-mile radius of the school 

Children who live in the named parishes of the catchment area (please see above).

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB) was established in 1956. It is an all-boys grammar school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The school’s sixth form is co-educational and admits both boys and girls. 

The school's Latin motto is Faber est quisque suæ fortunæ meaning "Every man is the maker of his own fortune". The school operates over its Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks sites. The school specialises in humanities.

Website — https://www.twgsb.org.uk/  

Contact — https://www.twgsb.org.uk/337/contact-us  

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/TWGSB  

Twitter —  https://twitter.com/twgsb  

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/twgsb6/?hl=en  

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClKaj-Bm2ubuVtxfPUKZ7Lg  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/school/tunbridge-wells-grammar-school-for-boys/

Beechwood School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 plus assessments by Beechwood School.

ISEB COMMON ENTRANCE ENGLISH PRACTICE PAPER 1

Exam Paper (Part 1)

Exam Paper (Part 2)

ISEB COMMON ENTRANCE MATHS PRACTICE PAPER 1

Pass mark — There is no fixed pass mark for the admissions tests.

Candidates are invited to an interview and trial day at the school as part of the admissions process.

A reference from the candidate’s current school is requested.

A deposit and registration fee of £100 are required to confirm acceptance of a place at Beechwood after an offer is received.

Chatham Grammar School for Girls | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to GL papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Chatham Grammar.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Chatham Grammar.

Address — Chatham Grammar, Rainham Road, Chatham, Kent, ME5 7EH

Catchment area —  Chatham Grammar does have a catchment area which is based on distance from the school. 

Children with a sibling at any UKAT academy at the time of application or who will be still attending when the applicant is admitted. 

Children, assessed as selective, of staff at any UKAT academy (where the member of staff has been employed for one year or more at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made and/or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage).

 Distance from the student’s home as determined using Medway Local Authority measure.

Chatham Grammar was established in 1907 and is an all-girls grammar school in Chatham, Kent. The school has an attached sixth form which admits both boys and girls. It became an academy in 2011. 

The school is a member of the University of Kent Academies Trust. It won the Spanish School of the Year award from the Spanish Embassy in 2008. The school has a reputation for producing consistently great GCSE and A Level results.

Website — https://www.chathamgrammar.org.uk/  

Contact — https://www.chathamgrammar.org.uk/contact  

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/chathamgrammar/  

Twitter — https://twitter.com/chathamgrammar  

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chathamgrammar/  

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatham-grammar-school-for-girls/about/

Ashford School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 plus assessments by Ashford School.

Ashford School’s Online Familiarisation Paper

Online Test

CEM SELECT ONLINE FAMILIARISATION TEST

Exam style — Online test by Atom learning (similar to CEM Select).

The assessment is taken online and consists of multiple choice questions. It is created by Atom Learning.

A reference from the candidate’s current school is required as part of the admissions process.

Assessments are designed to determine if the school can support the pupil’s learning.

King's School Rochester | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 plus assessments by King’s School Rochester.

Candidates will all be invited to attend a taster day at the school.

A reference from the child’s current school will be requested as part of the admissions process.

Assessments take place between the November and March of year 6.

For information on King's School Rochester’s use of the ISEB Common Pre-Test for Year 9 entry, click here .

Barton Court Grammar School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to the Kent Test papers and those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Barton Court Grammar School.

The 11 Plus test papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 Plus assessments by Barton Court Grammar School.

Address — Barton Court Grammar School, Longport, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PH

Type of school — Mixed grammar school

Catchment area —  Barton Court Grammar School does have a catchment area, which is based on distance from the school.

Children in Local Authority Care or who were previously in Local Authority Care.

Children who are designated as receiving ‘Pupil Premium’.

Children with a brother or sister already at the school.

Health and Special Access Reasons –. Priority will be given to those children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend this particular school.

Nearness of children's homes to school - we use the distance between the child’s permanent home address and the school, measured in a straight line.

Barton Court Grammar School was established before World War II and is a mixed grammar school in Canterbury, Kent. It became an academy in 2011.

The school specialises in languages and since 2007 the school has offered the International Baccalaureate (IB) in the sixth form instead of A-Levels/BTECs. In recent years, around 38% of GCSE students achieved 9–7 grades (A**/A*/A grades), with 20% of students achieving 8 or more 9–7 grades (A**/A*/A) and 40% of students achieving 5 or more 9 – 7 grades (A**/A*/A).

Website — https://www.bartoncourt.org/  

Contact — https://www.bartoncourt.org/6/contact-details  

Facebook — https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=103777276327938  

Twitter — https://twitter.com/BartonCourtGS  

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Vj8sgnz6fzXRagWsbJVIg  

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/barton-court-grammar-school/

Gad's Hill School | Free 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared above are in a similar style to those typically delivered as 11 plus assessments by Gad’s Hill School.

Pass mark — There is no fixed pass mark for the admissions test but on average only 22% of pupils are offered a place.

There is a £40 non-refundable registration fee.

Applicants are offered a Taster Day at the school.

Benenden School | Free 11 Plus (11+) ISEB Pre-Test Practice Papers and Answers

The papers we’ve shared below contain similar content to the ISEB pretest papers typically delivered as 11 Plus pre-test assessments by Benenden School.

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The 11 plus guide - free advice and help for the 11 plus exams.

The 11 Plus Guide – FREE advice and help for the 11 Plus exams.

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• Numerical Reasoning
• What do Maths tests include?
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• CEM Numerical reasoning
• GL 11 Plus Maths
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• Maths- KS2 Syllabus topic guide
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• How to prepare for Engish
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• Early years English preparation
• Year five English preparation
• GL 11 Plus English
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• Key topics from the KS2 English Syllabus
• How to prepare for VR
• GL style tests
• CEM style tests
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• Most common VR mistakes
• Pressure and VR
• VR preparation in years three and four
• VR specific year four work
• VR preparation in year five
• How to prepare for Non-Verbal Reasoning
• GL Non-Verbal Reasoning
• CEM Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Independent School NVR
• Preparation mistakes NVR
• Exam mistakes NVR
• Pressure and Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Year three NVR preparation
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• Year five NVR preparation
• Classic Books Vocabulary
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• 11 Plus Creative Writing – Example Topics and Tasks

11 Plus Creative Writing – Essay writing guidance

Helping children with creative writing.

Most tuition centres are not set up to help children effectively because they don’t have the time to mark a whole classroom of scripts and sometimes don’t employ staff who can mark work. Equally its very difficult for parents to know where to start as to a large degree the books that are available don’t deliver a step by step process.

For more information about the creative writing aspect of 11 Plus exams please continue reading. For more general information on 11 Plus exams, including the types of exam and their structures,  please follow this link . If you want more information about the English aspect of the 11 Plus please follow this link .

There are some core guidelines that will help children to improve

Practice and revision of work is very important. Whenever children write a piece they must then, a couple of days later, revisit it critically and think about how they could improve it. This process of self-criticism and correction allows children to naturally develop their skills. Their stories naturally become better first time out.

Creative writing books and resources for 11 Plus preparation

It is really difficult to find the right resources to help children at home. Our guidance below will help you to understand what you could focus but even then it is a difficult task. There are also very few books out there which attempt to do the job and even fewer that we would recommend.

Descriptosaurus- supporting creative writing ages 8-14

What areas of creative writing should children focus on?

The common areas where most children could improve are as follows:

1/ Spelling and punctuation – Getting the basics right is very important. Children should read through their work critically and correct errors. The better an impression they can make (few mistakes) the greater their scores will be. It is also the case that demonstrating their knowledge of punctuation also helps (e.g. Correct use of direct speech).

2/ Simplicity of plot –   Children often have a limited amount of time to write. Examiners do not expect them to come up with a complicated plot with numerous characters and lots of action- children who attempt this always fail. Simplicity is essential, children need to get used to the idea that a very simple plot with a limited amount of action and very few characters is the right way forward. They will then find they have something they can deliver properly in the time that they have.

3/ Descriptions, descriptions, descriptions – Having grasped the idea that simple plots with limited action work best children will then find that most marks can be gained by describing characters and action well. Children who think through a number of descriptions as a sort of descriptions bank often do very well in these test. They automatically have some good vocabulary or turns of phrase to describe people or situations or emotions or the environment and they can use these naturally as they tell their story.

4/ Using accurate language – Naturally as part of developing their descriptions children will think about interesting vocabulary and turns of phrase and also about using literary devices ( such as similes). Additionally though they should steer clear of obvious such as like or said or good- they will find more accurate vocabulary exists should they give it some thought.

5/ A sensible ending – Children sometimes fall foul of this by using endings such as ‘and then I woke up’ . Examiners will be marking lots of scripts and so this sort of ending will naturally attract poor marks. Children will find that if they develop a simple story and describe it well then they will have the time to naturally bring a story to its conclusion without needing to revert to odd endings.

A  final word – handwriting – With increasing screen time sometimes children lack well developed handwriting skills. Children either write illegibly or cannot write quickly enough to get a story out in the time available. There’s no easy way to resolve this other than practice. If children are writing practice stories and revising them then they will find this allows them to naturally develop their handwriting.

11 Plus Creative writing example topics and tasks

Tasks vary by area. In Essex for instance currently they ask for circa ten sentences on two topics. One tends to be more factual, the other more descriptive. Other areas like Kent or schools like St Olaves or Henrietta Barnet ask for more extensive writing- while tasks can change year to year this could be a creative writing task lasting 40 minutes.

Whatever the task or length children will benefit from focussing on the six areas (above) that we have identified above.

We have developed a list of sample creative writing topics and tasks which you could you to start writing at home.

11 Plus areas asking for creative writing, essays or extended writing

Kent – set a  40 minute creative writing task for all pupils but it is only marked where they need to decide on the last few students to take.

Kent Medway  – As Kent, 40 minute creative writing task but only marked in a few cases.

Essex (all schools apart from Chelmsford county high school for girls)  – 2 Extended writing tasks. One factual – how to make toast as an example and one more creative  such as describe your pet or your favourite animal. They ask for a few sentences on each.

Devon –  The following schools ask for creative writing as part of their 11 Plus test- Colyton, Torquay Boys, Torquay Girls, Churston Ferrers, Devonport Girls

Surrey –  Tiffin Boys and Girls schools, Wilsons and Sutton Grammar school, Nonsuch and Wallington schools

St Olaves School

Henrietta Barnet School

Trafford  – Altrincham Grammar School for boys

Wirral – St Anselm’s College

Yorkshire – Crossley Heath and North Halifax School

To review the books that we suggest you use during your preparation, then try some of these links:

• CEM 11+ Verbal Reasoning Resources and Preparation
• CEM 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Resources and Preparation
• CEM 11+ Numerical Reasoning Resources and Preparation
• 11+ English Resources and Preparation
• 11+ Maths Resources and Preparation
• 11+ Verbal Reasoning Resources and Preparation
• 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Resources and Preparation

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