What Does the Kent 11 Plus Actually Test? (And How to Practise Each Section)

What Does the Kent 11 Plus Actually Test?

What Does the Kent 11 Plus Actually Test?

If you're preparing your child for the Kent Test, one of the most useful things you can do early on is understand exactly what's in it. Not in a vague "it tests maths and English" way, but properly - what the papers look like, what question types come up, and where children tend to lose marks.

The Kent Test is set by GL Assessment and is taken by over 16,000 children each year, competing for around 5,000 grammar school places across 32 schools in the county. It consists of two one-hour papers and a writing task. Here's what each section involves and, crucially, how to prepare for it. So what Does the Kent 11 Plus Actually Test?

Paper 1 — English and Mathematics (60 minutes)

The first paper is split into two equal sections: 30 minutes of English and 30 minutes of Maths. All questions are multiple choice, with five answer options each.

English

The English section tests a range of skills that map closely to the KS2 curriculum. Your child will encounter:

• Reading comprehension - passages of text followed by questions that test literal understanding, inference and deduction. Children need to read carefully and find evidence in the text rather than rely on general knowledge.

• Vocabulary - synonyms, antonyms, and words used in context. A broad reading habit from an early age helps enormously here.

• Spelling, grammar and punctuation - capital letters, commas, apostrophes, sentence structure, and common spelling errors.

The comprehension element is often where marks are won or lost. Children who read confidently tend to do well; those who struggle with pace or inference can find the time pressure difficult. Regular reading - fiction and non-fiction - is the single best preparation alongside targeted practice questions.

Mathematics

The Maths section covers the KS2 curriculum with an emphasis on problem-solving and reasoning rather than straightforward arithmetic. Expect questions on:

• Number and place value

• Fractions, decimals and percentages

• Algebra and sequences

• Area, perimeter and volume

• Data handling and averages

• Multi-step word problems

Times tables need to be completely secure - fluent recall up to 12x12 is essential, not optional. Many children lose time working out multiplication facts that should be instant. Beyond that, the focus should be on applying knowledge to unfamiliar problems rather than drilling procedures in isolation.

Paper 2 — Reasoning (60 minutes)

The second paper is dedicated entirely to reasoning and is split into three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Spatial Reasoning. This is the paper that surprises many families, because neither Verbal Reasoning nor Non-Verbal Reasoning is taught in primary school. Children need to learn these skills specifically for the exam.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning tests the ability to think logically using language. GL Assessment uses a bank of recognised question types - things like:

• Finding words with similar or opposite meanings

• Completing word patterns and analogies (e.g. "cat is to kitten as dog is to ___")

• Letter and number codes

• Hidden words and letter sequences

• Odd one out

These might sound unfamiliar but they are very learnable. Once a child has seen each question type and understands the method behind it, they can improve quickly with practice. The key is exposure - children who have never seen a Verbal Reasoning question before the exam are at a significant disadvantage compared to those who have worked through the question types systematically.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning is purely visual. No reading, no numbers - just patterns, shapes and spatial logic. Question types include:

• Identifying the odd shape out of a group

• Completing a pattern series

• Finding a shape that completes an analogy

• Rotations, reflections and symmetry

NVR is the section parents find hardest to help with at home, because there's no subject knowledge to teach - it's about learning to see and process visual patterns quickly. Some children take to it naturally; others need a lot of guided practice before it clicks. Either way, it cannot be left until the last minute.

Spatial Reasoning

Spatial Reasoning appears alongside the other reasoning sections and tests the ability to mentally manipulate 2D and 3D shapes - things like nets of cubes, views of objects from different angles, and how shapes fit together. Like NVR, it is a skill that can be developed with practice, but it needs to be introduced well before the exam.

The Writing Task (40 minutes)

After the two main papers, children complete a 40-minute creative writing task. This is not included in the final standardised score and does not affect whether a child passes or fails. It is only reviewed in borderline or appeal cases, where a school panel needs additional evidence to make a decision.

That said, it is worth preparing for. Children who have never written under timed conditions can find it stressful, and a strong piece of writing could make a difference if your child's score falls close to a borderline. Practising timed writing tasks - with a clear plan, a beginning, middle and end, and attention to vocabulary - is good preparation.

How the scoring works

Each child receives three standardised scores: one for English, one for Maths and one for Reasoning. These are combined into a total aggregate score. To be deemed selective, a child needs a total of 332 or more and must not score below 106 in any single subject. Passing in two subjects but significantly underperforming in one is not enough - the score needs to be broadly consistent across all three areas.

This matters for preparation. It means you can't afford to ignore any section. A child who is strong in Maths but weak in Reasoning needs just as much work on the Reasoning paper as a child who struggles across the board.

How to practise effectively

Because the Kent Test uses GL Assessment, the question types are well-established and consistent from year to year. Kent does not release past papers, but GL Assessment publishes its own practice papers that are very close to what your child will face in September. Working through these is essential.

For each section, the approach should be the same: learn the question types first, then practise under timed conditions. Doing practice papers before a child understands the question types tends to be demoralising and inefficient.

For English and Maths, the KS2 curriculum is the foundation. For Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning, children need dedicated practice - these skills are not covered in school.

If you're looking for somewhere to practise all four subjects in one place, YoungLearners is a GL Assessment-aligned platform built specifically for the 11 plus. It covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning through 20,000+ questions, timed mock exams, and a gamified format that keeps children engaged through longer revision sessions. There's a free plan available with no card required - useful if you want to try it before committing.

A final note on timing

The exam takes place in early September of Year 6, which means preparation typically needs to be underway by the end of Year 4 at the latest if you want to build skills gradually rather than cram. Most families find that consistent short sessions - 20 to 30 minutes a day - are far more effective than intensive weekend sessions. The goal is familiarity and confidence, not last-minute panic.

Understanding what the test actually involves is the first step. Everything else follows from there.