Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Dover Grammar School for Boys uses selective entrance testing through the Kent Test or Dover Test route. Learning Street’s current information describes the Kent Test as covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning, while the Dover Test focuses on Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This guide explains the Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus exam formats, what they mean for preparation, and how Learning Street’s courses and Kent 11 Plus mock exams can support your child’s preparation.
Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Dover Grammar School for Boys |
| Area | Kent |
| School type | Selective boys’ grammar school |
| Entrance routes | Kent Test or Dover Test |
| Kent Test areas | English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning |
| Dover Test areas | Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning |
| Learning Street mocks | Kent Mock Exam Packs 1–4 |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Dover Grammar School for Boys mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Dover Grammar School for Boys entrance test.
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus Exam Format
Learning Street’s current Dover Grammar School for Boys information identifies two possible selective-testing routes: the Kent Test or the Dover Test.
The Kent Test is set by GL Assessment and covers English, Maths and Reasoning across two scored multiple-choice papers.
The Reasoning paper covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. The second paper covers English and Maths.
The Kent Test also includes a separate written task. Learning Street’s current Kent mock information describes this as a 40-minute writing task including planning time. It is not included within Learning Street’s Kent Mock Packs.
The Dover Test is described on Learning Street’s current Dover Grammar School for Boys page as focusing on Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
This means preparation may differ depending on which route a child is using. A child preparing through the Kent Test needs broader preparation across English, Maths and Reasoning, whereas the Dover Test route places much greater emphasis on reasoning skills.
What Does the Dover Grammar School for Boys Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The most important starting point is to make sure preparation reflects the correct test route.
For the Kent Test, children need strong foundations across English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. Preparation should develop each area before moving towards substantial timed practice.
For the Dover Test, Learning Street’s current information places the focus on Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Vocabulary and language knowledge remain particularly important for Verbal Reasoning, while Non-Verbal Reasoning requires children to become systematic when analysing visual information.
Learning Street currently links its Kent 11 Plus mocks from the Dover Grammar School for Boys page. These are designed around the Kent Test and should therefore be used as Kent Test practice rather than treated as an exact replica of the separate Dover Test.
Whichever route is being prepared for, secure skills and accuracy should come first. Timed work is most useful once children have developed reliable methods and enough underlying knowledge to benefit from practising under test conditions.
Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
Learning Street researches the known Kent Test format, paper length and timings when producing its Kent mocks. We also provide realistic answer sheets, invigilation instructions and guidance on when time should be called so parents can reproduce the practical demands of the test at home as closely as possible.
Pack 1 | Pack 2 | Pack 3 | Pack 4
Save 20% – Buy all four for £48.
Kent 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
Learning Street’s current Dover Grammar School for Boys information does not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus pass mark.
This is particularly important because children may be preparing for different entrance-test routes. A score achieved on a Kent mock paper should not be treated as directly equivalent to performance in the separate Dover Test.
Learning Street mock results are better used to identify where marks are being lost. Depending on the test route, this might include weaknesses in English, Maths, vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, accuracy or timing.
Parents should therefore look for consistent progress in the areas relevant to their child’s test rather than trying to convert a commercial practice-paper percentage into a guaranteed entrance-test result.
How to Prepare for the Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus
Effective Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus preparation should begin with the skills required for the test route your child will sit and only move towards extensive timed practice once those underlying skills are secure.
Learning Street’s GL courses provide structured preparation across English, Maths, Vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, making them particularly broad preparation for children following the Kent Test route.
English Preparation
English is directly relevant to the Kent Test route. Preparation should develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Children should become comfortable reading unfamiliar material accurately and efficiently. Regular reading should be combined with structured comprehension work rather than relied upon on its own.
Vocabulary development also supports Verbal Reasoning, making it useful even where a child is preparing through the Dover Test route.
Maths Preparation
Maths is an important part of the Kent Test route. Preparation should begin with secure KS2 knowledge, including reliable times tables, mental Maths and the four operations.
Children should then progress towards mixed problems where they need to decide independently which mathematical method to use. This helps develop flexible problem solving rather than dependence on questions being grouped by topic.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning is relevant to both the Kent Test and Dover Test routes, so it is an especially important area for Dover Grammar School for Boys preparation.
Children should learn reliable approaches to word, letter, code and logical reasoning questions rather than simply memorising answers to previously seen examples.
Vocabulary is central to this work. A child may understand the reasoning method but still struggle if unfamiliar words make the question difficult to interpret.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal Reasoning is also relevant across the routes described by Learning Street, while the Kent Test additionally includes Spatial Reasoning.
Children should learn to analyse visual information systematically by checking features such as shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading.
The goal is to develop a method that can be applied to unfamiliar visual problems rather than relying on whether a child recognises a previously practised question.
Writing Preparation for the Kent Test
Children using the Kent Test route should also have experience planning and completing a piece of writing within a fixed period.
Learning Street’s Kent mock packs do not include the separate written task, so families who want additional structured writing preparation can use Learning Street’s Creative Writing Course alongside their main programme.
Once the relevant core skills are secure, children preparing through the Kent Test route can use Learning Street’s Kent mocks to develop timing, concentration and familiarity with formal test conditions.
View the Kent 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers Complete, Enhance and Boost GL preparation routes for children preparing for Dover Grammar School for Boys. These programmes cover Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning through structured learning, practice, revision and timed testing.
The full GL route is particularly broad preparation for children following the Kent Test. Families focusing on the Dover Test can place greater emphasis on the Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning elements identified in Learning Street’s Dover Test information.
The most suitable main programme depends largely on how much preparation time remains.
| Preparation time | Learning Street course | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30–40+ weeks | Complete GL | Our most comprehensive preparation |
| 15–30 weeks | Enhance GL | A shorter structured programme |
| 6–15 weeks | Boost GL | Focused preparation when less time remains |
Complete GL — 30–40+ Weeks
Learning Street’s Complete GL 11 Plus Programme is our most comprehensive option. It contains 40 structured parts covering Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning, alongside more than 60 timed papers and tests.
It is most suitable where there is enough time to build core skills carefully before moving towards revision and increasingly timed work.
The Complete GL 11 Plus Programme
Focused Complete options are also available:
Complete – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Complete – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Enhance GL — 15–30 Weeks
Learning Street’s Enhance GL programme provides a shorter 20-part preparation route while retaining work across Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The programme includes more than 35 timed papers and tests alongside the core learning, making it suitable for families with less preparation time who still want a structured programme.
Focused Enhance options are also available:
Enhance – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Enhance – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Boost GL — 6–15 Weeks
Learning Street’s Boost GL programme is our shortest full preparation route. It contains 10 intensive parts and more than 25 timed papers and tests.
It is most suitable for families beginning focused Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus preparation later and needing to concentrate the main learning and timed practice into a shorter period.
Focused Boost options are also available:
Boost – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Boost – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
For children preparing through the Kent Test route who need additional writing preparation:
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still developing the literacy and numeracy foundations needed before dedicated Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus preparation begins, Learning Street’s primary-school course chooser can help you select the most appropriate starting point.
Primary School – Course Chooser for Younger Children
Already Completed Substantial Preparation?
Learning Street’s 11 Plus Revision Course – GL is suitable for children who have already completed substantial preparation through books, tutoring or another programme but now need a more structured revision period.
It should not normally be completed after one of Learning Street’s Complete, Enhance or Boost programmes because some of the material overlaps.
Also Sitting Independent School Exams?
Children also sitting independent-school entrance tests may need additional preparation in areas or formats beyond the Dover Grammar School for Boys entrance routes described above.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Dover Grammar School for Boys Admissions Information
This Learning Street page is designed as an evergreen Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus preparation guide. It focuses on the Kent Test and Dover Test routes, preparation, Learning Street mock exams and course choices rather than annual dates or other changing admissions information.
For general questions about the 11 Plus, preparation and Learning Street courses:
