Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Fort Pitt Grammar School uses the Kent Medway 11 Plus for selective Year 7 entry. The Medway Test contains separate English, Mathematics and Reasoning papers, with Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning included within the reasoning element. This guide explains the Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus exam format, what it means for preparation, and how Learning Street’s GL courses and Kent Medway mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Fort Pitt Grammar School |
| Area | Kent Medway |
| Entrance test | Medway Test / Kent Medway 11 Plus |
| Exam format | GL-style selective test |
| Paper 1 | English |
| Paper 2 | Mathematics |
| Paper 3 | Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning |
| Additional element | Extended writing task |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Fort Pitt Grammar School mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Fort Pitt Grammar School entrance test.
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus uses the Medway Test, which consists of three core papers covering English, Mathematics and Reasoning, with Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning included within the Reasoning paper.
Paper 1 – English covers literacy skills including reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Paper 2 – Mathematics assesses mathematical knowledge and problem solving. Children need to combine secure core Maths skills with the ability to apply those skills to less familiar questions.
Paper 3 – Reasoning covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. Learning Street’s current Kent Medway mocks reproduce the Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning elements of this paper.
Learning Street’s existing Fort Pitt Grammar School information also identifies an extended writing task as part of the wider assessment. This is not included within Learning Street’s current Kent Medway mock packs, so writing preparation should be completed separately.
What Does the Fort Pitt Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The Medway Test requires broad preparation across English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. Children therefore need a balanced preparation programme rather than relying heavily on one strong subject.
English and Verbal Reasoning are closely linked through vocabulary. A child may understand a reasoning technique but still lose marks if unfamiliar words make the question difficult to interpret. Regular reading and deliberate vocabulary development should therefore continue throughout preparation.
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 knowledge. Times tables, mental Maths and the four operations should become reliable before children move towards more demanding problem solving and substantial timed work.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require children to analyse visual information systematically. Children should learn to look for changes involving shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading rather than relying on guesswork.
The extended writing element requires a different type of preparation. Children need to be able to plan, organise and complete a coherent piece of writing while maintaining accurate spelling, punctuation and sentence control.
Preparation should therefore progress from core skills → accuracy → flexible application → revision → timed practice → mock exams.
Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
Learning Street researches the known Fort Pitt Grammar School format, paper length and timings when producing its Kent Medway 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 Medway 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
Learning Street’s current Fort Pitt Grammar School preparation information does not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus pass mark.
A percentage achieved on a Learning Street mock should therefore be used mainly to measure preparation and progress rather than treated as equivalent to an official Medway Test result.
An overall mock percentage can also hide substantial differences between individual papers. A child may appear to be performing strongly overall while consistently losing marks in comprehension, Maths, vocabulary or one particular type of reasoning.
Mock results are most useful when they help identify whether marks are being lost because of knowledge gaps, weak technique, accuracy, timing or exam technique.
Parents can then target the weakest areas before using another fresh mock to assess whether performance has improved under timed conditions.
How to Prepare for the Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus
Effective Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus preparation should develop secure underlying skills before children rely heavily on complete mock exams.
Learning Street’s approach is to build English, Maths, vocabulary and reasoning skills first, consolidate them through revision and then introduce progressively more timed work as the Medway Test approaches.
English Preparation
English preparation should develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Children should become comfortable reading unfamiliar passages carefully while still working efficiently. Structured comprehension work should be used alongside regular reading so children learn to retrieve information, interpret wording precisely and distinguish between closely related answers.
Vocabulary development is particularly useful because it supports performance in both English and Verbal Reasoning.
Maths Preparation
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 knowledge. Times tables, mental Maths and the four operations should become accurate and reliable enough that straightforward calculations do not use unnecessary time.
Children should then progress towards mixed problems where they must decide independently which mathematical method is required. This develops flexible problem-solving skills rather than dependence on questions being grouped by topic.
Accuracy should come before speed. Timed practice becomes most useful once children can consistently choose and apply the correct methods.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning requires children to combine language knowledge with logical thinking. They should learn reliable techniques for different word, letter, code and relationship questions rather than simply memorising answers to familiar examples.
Vocabulary is central to this preparation. Even where children understand the reasoning technique, unfamiliar words can make otherwise manageable questions considerably harder.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require careful analysis of visual information.
Children should develop a systematic process for checking shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading. This helps them apply their methods to unfamiliar questions rather than depending on whether a problem looks familiar.
Learning Street’s current Kent Medway mocks contain Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning questions. The current Medway Test information also identifies Spatial Reasoning within the wider reasoning paper, so preparation should not ignore spatial skills.
Extended Writing Preparation
Learning Street’s Fort Pitt Grammar School information also identifies an extended writing task within the assessment.
Children should practise planning efficiently, organising ideas clearly and completing a coherent piece of writing within a limited period. Preparation should develop vocabulary, sentence control, spelling and punctuation alongside structure and creativity.
Learning Street’s Kent Medway mock packs do not currently include the writing task, so families can use the separate Creative Writing Course where additional structured preparation is required.
Once the core English, Maths and reasoning skills are secure, Learning Street’s Kent Medway mocks can be introduced to develop concentration, timing, stamina and familiarity with formal answer sheets.
View the Kent Medway 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three main GL preparation routes for children preparing for the Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus: Complete, Enhance and Boost. These programmes cover Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning through structured learning, revision and timed testing.
The main GL programmes provide broad preparation for the scored Medway Test subjects. Learning Street’s Creative Writing Course can be added where preparation is also required for the extended writing task.
The most suitable main programme depends mainly 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 preparation route. It contains 40 structured parts covering Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The longer preparation period allows children to build core skills carefully before progressing 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 continuing to cover Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
It is designed for families with less preparation time who still want substantial structured learning, revision and timed practice before the Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus.
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 the shortest full preparation route. It contains 10 intensive parts and more than 25 timed papers and tests.
Children continue to work across Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with the core learning and testing concentrated into a shorter period.
Focused Boost options are also available:
Boost – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Boost – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
For additional preparation for the extended writing task:
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still developing the literacy and numeracy foundations needed before dedicated Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus preparation begins, Learning Street’s primary-school course chooser can help you select an 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 11 Plus preparation through books, tutoring or another programme but now want a more structured period of revision.
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 subjects or formats beyond the Fort Pitt Grammar School 11 Plus.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Fort Pitt Grammar School Admissions Information
For general questions about the 11 Plus, preparation and Learning Street courses, use the Learning Street guidance below.
