Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Competition
Selective
Prism’s suggested target
78% in practice (our estimate, not a school figure)
About the Kent Test
Taken in September of Year 6 for Kent grammar schools. Papers cover English, maths and reasoning (verbal and non-verbal), plus an unmarked writing task used in appeals.
Stage
Paper
Questions
Time
Kent Test
English & Maths
50
60 minutes
Kent Test
Reasoning
56
60 minutes
Paper formats are indicative and change from year to year. Always check the current arrangements with the school or local authority.
How to prepare
The Kent Test covers maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
Verbal reasoning is a set of learnable question types, such as letter codes, hidden words and word analogies. Learning each type, then practising it against the clock, lifts scores quickly.
Non-verbal reasoning is about spotting patterns in shapes: rotations, reflections, sequences and matrices. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.
This test includes a piece of writing, so practise planning and writing a short story or description in a set time.
Practice questions in the style of the test
Written by Prism in the style of the test, not taken from any school’s papers.
Question 1Aim for about 60 seconds
If 14 December is a Thursday, what day of the week is 14 February?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, Wednesday
How to work it out
Count the days: 17 more in December, 31 in January and 14 in February, so 62 days.
62 = 8 weeks and 6 days.
Whole weeks bring you back to Thursday; 6 more days gives Wednesday.
Why the other options are wrong
A (Tuesday): This counts one day too few. Count the days after the start date, up to and including the end date.
B (Friday): Check the number of days left in December again.
C (Monday): This treats December or January as having 30 days; both have 31.
E (Thursday): This counts one day too many: the start day itself is not counted.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
In this sentence, what word class is “hill”?
Maya and her brother climbed the steep hill.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, noun
How to work it out
“hill” is a noun.
Nouns name a person, place, thing or idea.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Complete the analogy.
author is to book as composer is to ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, music
How to work it out
Say the link between “author” and “book” as a sentence.
The same sentence links “composer” and “music”.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which of the shapes below could join this group?
The group
Show the worked answer
Answer: E
How to work it out
Every shape in the group has the same number of dots as it has sides.
Shading and rotation change freely, so they are distractors.
What entrance test does Maidstone Grammar School use?
Maidstone Grammar School uses the Kent Test, which tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning and includes a piece of writing. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Maidstone Grammar School?
Schools do not publish pass marks. As a guide, Prism suggests a child aims to score around 78% consistently in practice for a selective school. This is Prism’s own estimate, not a figure from the school, and no score guarantees a place.
When should my child start preparing for Maidstone Grammar School?
Most families start in Year 4 or early Year 5, then practise timed papers during the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
Preparing for Maidstone Grammar School?
Prism starts with a free assessment across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then builds a weekly plan for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.