How does the Kent test work?

How long is the Kent Test?

Including breaks, the Kent Test generally takes the whole morning to complete, starting at 0900 and finishing around 1230. The timing is tightly controlled by the exam invigilators, who have scripts to read out and carefully monitor the children to check they are completing the correct sections. The individual papers are as follows: Maths and English (1 hour), Reasoning (1 hour), Writing (40 minutes). These papers are split into different sections. A combination of exam technique, subject knowledge and time management are essential for children to perform well across all sections.

What subjects are assessed in the Kent Test?

The Kent Test assesses children in three areas: English, Mathematics and Reasoning. All questions are multiple choice except the writing paper. The English paper comprises a comprehension passage (fiction or non-fiction) followed by questions, then a SPaG (spelling, grammar and punctuation) section. The Mathematics paper contains both arithmetic and problem-solving questions. The Reasoning paper tests a range of verbal, non-verbal and spatial skills. The writing paper offers a choice of titles, usually either narrative or descriptive.

Who writes the Kent Test?

The Kent Test is both written and administered by GL (Granada Learning) Assessment. Whilst GL write and mark the test, it is invigilated and run on a practical level by teachers, usually from the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the school. One invigilator will be from another school to ensure fairness. GL Assessment administer many of the grammar school tests throughout England and Northern Ireland. They provide free familiarisation materials to children and their parents.

How many questions are in the Kent Test?

Different sections of the Kent Test contain different numbers of questions, and the results produce a standardised score which does not reflect the one mark per question guide. As a rough guide, the English and Mathematics sections contain around 25 questions each. Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning sections usually have 5 or 6 questions each, and there are around 5 sections in total.

How can I appeal Kent Test results?

If you believe the Kent Test results do not accurately reflect your child's abilities or there were extenuating circumstances affecting performance, you can appeal the results. This has to be agreed by the school. The first step is to submit a Headteacher's Appeal for a review to the grammar school(s) in question, providing any supporting evidence or information. Should this review not yield a satisfactory outcome, a formal appeal can be lodged with the relevant independent Appeal Panel, which will consider all aspects of the case before making a final decision. Success in appeals depends heavily on the strength of the evidence and arguments presented.