Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Gravesend Grammar School uses the Kent Test for selective Year 7 entry. The Kent 11 Plus assesses English, Maths and Reasoning through two scored multiple-choice papers, alongside a separate writing exercise. This guide explains the Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus exam format, what it means for preparation, and how Learning Street’s GL courses and Kent 11 Plus mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Gravesend Grammar School |
| Area | Kent |
| Entrance test | Kent Test / Kent 11 Plus |
| Exam provider | GL Assessment |
| Exam structure | Two scored multiple-choice papers plus a separate writing exercise |
| Areas tested | English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Gravesend Grammar School mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Gravesend Grammar School entrance test.
Quick Contents
Use the links below to jump straight to the section you need.
Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus uses the Kent Test, which consists of two scored multiple-choice papers covering English, Maths and Reasoning, together with a separate writing exercise.
The English and Maths paper contains separate timed sections for each subject. Learning Street’s current Kent Test information reflects a five-minute practice period followed by 25 minutes of assessed English questions, followed by a five-minute practice period and 25 minutes of assessed Maths questions.
The English element requires children to apply strong reading and literacy skills accurately under time pressure. The Maths section requires secure core knowledge together with the ability to apply it efficiently to a range of problems.
The Reasoning paper lasts approximately one hour including practice and covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
The scored papers use multiple-choice questions with separate answer sheets. Children therefore need to develop accurate answer recording as well as subject knowledge and reasoning technique.
The Kent Test also includes a separate 40-minute writing exercise, including planning time. This is not included within Learning Street’s Kent Mock Packs, so writing preparation should be completed alongside the mock programme where needed.
What Does the Gravesend Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The breadth of the Kent Test means Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus preparation should develop English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning rather than relying on strength in only one or two areas.
English and Verbal Reasoning are closely linked through vocabulary. A child may understand how to approach a reasoning question but still struggle if unfamiliar words make the relationship difficult to identify. Regular reading and structured vocabulary development should therefore continue throughout preparation.
Maths preparation should begin by securing core KS2 skills so routine calculations can be completed accurately without using unnecessary time. Once these foundations are reliable, children can focus more heavily on applying their knowledge to unfamiliar and multi-step questions.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning need a systematic approach. Children should learn to inspect changes involving shape, number, position, rotation, reflection, direction and shading rather than relying on guesswork.
Once the underlying skills are secure, preparation should gradually become more timed so that children also develop concentration, stamina, answer-sheet accuracy and confidence moving between different test sections.
Gravesend Grammar School 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
Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
Learning Street’s current Gravesend Grammar School preparation information does not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus pass mark.
A percentage achieved on a Learning Street mock should therefore be used primarily to measure preparation and progress rather than treated as equivalent to an official Kent Test result.
An overall mock percentage can also hide important differences between subjects. A child may appear to be performing strongly overall while consistently losing marks through weaker comprehension, vocabulary, a particular Maths topic or one type of reasoning.
Mock results are most useful when they help identify whether marks are being lost because of knowledge gaps, weak technique, careless errors, timing or answer-sheet accuracy.
Parents can then target those areas before using another fresh mock to see whether performance has improved under timed conditions.
How to Prepare for the Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus
Effective Gravesend 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 before moving towards complete Kent 11 Plus mocks.
English Preparation
English preparation should develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Children should become comfortable reading unfamiliar material carefully while still working efficiently. Regular reading should be supported by structured comprehension practice so children learn to retrieve information, interpret wording precisely and distinguish between closely related possible answers.
Vocabulary development is particularly important because stronger word knowledge supports 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 before significant time pressure is introduced.
Children should then move towards mixed questions where they need to decide independently which mathematical method is required.
This develops flexible problem solving rather than dependence on questions being grouped into familiar topics. Accuracy should come before speed, with timed practice becoming more valuable once the core methods are secure.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning requires children to combine language knowledge with logical thinking. They should learn reliable methods for different word, letter, code and relationship questions rather than simply memorising answers to familiar examples.
Vocabulary development is central to this preparation. Even where a child understands the reasoning method, unfamiliar words can make otherwise manageable questions considerably more difficult.
Vocabulary should therefore be developed systematically and revisited throughout preparation.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require children to analyse visual information carefully and systematically.
Children should learn to inspect features such as shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading. A consistent method helps them apply their reasoning to unfamiliar questions rather than relying on whether a problem looks familiar.
Writing Preparation
The Kent Test also includes a separate writing exercise. Children should therefore have experience planning and completing a coherent piece of writing within a limited period.
Preparation should develop organisation, vocabulary, sentence control, spelling and punctuation, together with the ability to generate and organise ideas efficiently.
Learning Street’s Kent mock packs focus on the two scored multiple-choice papers, so the separate writing task should be prepared for independently where required.
Once these core skills are secure, Learning Street’s Kent mocks can be introduced to develop concentration, timing, stamina and familiarity with realistic answer sheets.
View the Kent 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three main GL preparation routes for children preparing for the Gravesend Grammar School 11 Plus: Complete, Enhance and Boost. These programmes develop Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning through structured learning, revision and timed testing.
Because the Kent Test also contains a separate writing exercise, families can supplement their main GL programme with Learning Street’s Creative Writing Course where additional writing preparation is needed.
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 programme includes more than 60 timed papers and tests, full answers with detailed explanations and additional work focused on core skills such as vocabulary development and accuracy in English and Maths.
It is most suitable where there is enough time to develop skills progressively before moving towards substantial revision and 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.
The programme includes more than 35 timed papers and tests alongside structured learning and detailed answers.
Enhance is most suitable where there is still enough time for substantial preparation but not enough time to complete the full 40-part Complete programme properly.
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 main learning, revision 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 Kent Test writing exercise:
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still developing the literacy and numeracy foundations needed before dedicated Gravesend 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 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 areas or formats beyond the Kent Test.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Gravesend Grammar School Admissions Information
Admissions arrangements can change from year to year. For general guidance on 11 Plus preparation and Learning Street courses, use the Learning Street FAQs below.
