The Kent Test is Kent County Council's test to assess whether a Kent grammar school is a suitable option for your child. This guide sets out the dates, who can register and how results work, using Kent County Council's own pages (checked on 29 September 2026). Dates change every year, so always confirm on the Kent County Council Kent Test page before acting.
Key dates for children starting secondary school in September 2027
| What happens | Date |
|---|---|
| Kent Test registration opened | Monday 1 June 2026 |
| Kent Test registration closed | Wednesday 1 July 2026 |
| Kent Test for pupils at a Kent primary school | Thursday 10 September 2026 |
| Kent Test for pupils who do not attend a Kent primary school | Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026 |
| Results day | Thursday 15 October 2026 |
| Secondary school places offered | 1 March 2027 |
Source: Kent County Council, Register for the Kent Test and Kent Test results.
Who can take the Kent Test
For the 2026 test, Kent County Council says children currently in Year 5 who were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 can take the Kent Test. Registration is open to parents of children resident in England (not including the Crown Dependencies such as Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), and to children of UK service personnel with a confirmed posting to the UK and Crown Servants returning from overseas.
If your child is outside the age range but expected to transfer to secondary school in September 2027, Kent County Council asks you to email kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk.
Registration has closed for the 2026 test
Registration closed on 1 July 2026. If you would still like your child to take the Kent Test for September 2027 entry, Kent County Council asks you to email kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk with your child's name, date of birth, full address and current school, and it will tell you the next steps.
Things to know before you register
- The test is only valid for Kent grammar schools. Medway has its own Medway Test and the London Borough of Bexley has its own selection test.
- Being assessed as suitable for grammar school does not guarantee a place at a Kent grammar school.
- Kent County Council says many children find the test difficult, and that Kent grammar schools provide for children in about the top 25% of the ability range. It suggests talking to your child's primary school about their achievement before you decide to register.
- If you live outside Kent, register only if you intend to apply for a Kent grammar school place.
- If your child has special educational needs or a disability that affects access to testing, talk to the school's SENCO before registering, because the school has to apply for any access arrangements.
How results and scores work
Your child gets three standardised scores, one each for English, maths and reasoning, plus a total score. Standardisation compares your child's performance with the average performance of other children in each test, with a slight adjustment for age so that the youngest are not at a disadvantage.
If you gave an email address when you registered, the result is emailed on results day (Thursday 15 October 2026). Without an email address, it is posted first class on results day.
The grammar school threshold
In 2025, to be given a grammar school assessment children needed a total score of 332 or more, with no single score lower than 108. Test scores range from 69 to 141, and the highest possible total is 423. Kent County Council says the 2026 threshold will be published in October 2026.
If your child was not assessed as suitable
You can still apply for a Kent grammar school, but the application will be refused when places are offered on 1 March 2027. You then have the right to appeal to explain why you think the school is suitable. Kent County Council explains this on its appeal page.
Preparing for the Kent Test
Kent County Council publishes information on what the tests cover and links to practice resources on its Prepare for the Kent Test page. For general advice on when to start and how much to practise, see our complete guide to 11+ preparation.
This guide is general information for parents and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in partnership with Kent County Council or any grammar-school admissions body. Dates and thresholds come from Kent County Council's website as checked on 29 September 2026. Always confirm current details with Kent County Council.