Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Highworth Grammar School uses the Kent Test for selective Year 7 entry. The GL Assessment test covers English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning across two scored multiple-choice papers, alongside a separate writing exercise. This guide explains the Highworth 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.
Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Highworth Grammar School |
| Area | Kent |
| Entrance test | Kent Test / Kent 11 Plus |
| Exam provider | GL Assessment |
| Paper 1 | Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning |
| Paper 2 | English and Maths |
| Additional element | Separate writing exercise |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Highworth Grammar School mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Highworth Grammar School entrance test.
Learning Street provides structured GL preparation courses alongside Kent-specific mock exams designed around the scored multiple-choice elements of the Kent Test.
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus uses the Kent Test, consisting of two scored multiple-choice papers: Paper 1 covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning, while Paper 2 covers English and Maths. There is also a separate writing exercise.
Paper 1 – Reasoning covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. Children need to work across both language-based and visual reasoning while maintaining accuracy under timed conditions.
Paper 2 – English and Maths contains separate timed sections for the two subjects. Learning Street’s current Kent Test information reflects five minutes of practice followed by 25 minutes of assessed questions for English, followed by five minutes of practice and 25 minutes of assessed Maths questions.
The scored papers use multiple-choice questions with separate answer sheets, so children need to become comfortable recording their answers accurately as well as solving the questions themselves.
The Kent Test also contains a separate 40-minute writing exercise, including 10 minutes of planning time. Learning Street’s Kent mock packs focus on the two scored multiple-choice papers and do not include this writing exercise.
What Does the Highworth Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The breadth of the Kent Test means Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus preparation should develop English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning rather than relying heavily on one strong subject.
Verbal Reasoning and English are closely linked through vocabulary. Children may understand the reasoning technique behind a question but still struggle if unfamiliar words make the relationship difficult to identify. Vocabulary development should therefore continue throughout preparation.
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 foundations so routine calculations can be completed accurately and efficiently. Once these skills are reliable, children can focus more heavily on unfamiliar and multi-step problems.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require children to analyse visual information systematically. They should learn to look for changes involving shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading rather than relying on visual guesswork.
The Kent Test also requires children to switch between different types of thinking and sustain concentration across substantial timed papers. Preparation should therefore progress from core skills → accuracy → flexible application → revision → timed work → complete mock exams.
Highworth 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
Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
Learning Street’s current Highworth Grammar School preparation information does not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus pass mark.
A percentage achieved on a Learning Street Kent mock should therefore be used mainly to measure preparation and progress rather than treated as equivalent to an official Kent Test result.
An overall percentage can also hide important differences between individual areas. 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.
Learning Street’s detailed mock answers are most useful when they help identify whether marks are being lost because of knowledge gaps, accuracy, timing or exam technique.
Parents can then target those weaker areas before using another fresh mock to assess whether performance has improved under timed conditions.
How to Prepare for the Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus
Effective Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus preparation should develop secure underlying skills before children rely heavily on complete mock papers.
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 Kent Test approaches.
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 work so children learn to retrieve information, interpret wording accurately and distinguish between closely related possible answers.
Vocabulary development is particularly useful 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 progress towards mixed problems 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 work becoming more valuable once the underlying methods are secure.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning combines language knowledge with logical thinking. Children should learn reliable methods for different word, letter, code and relationship questions rather than simply memorising solutions to familiar examples.
Vocabulary development is central to this preparation. Even where children understand the reasoning method, unfamiliar words can make otherwise manageable questions significantly more difficult.
Vocabulary should therefore be developed systematically and revisited regularly 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. Developing a consistent approach helps them apply their reasoning to unfamiliar questions rather than depending on recognition of previously practised examples.
Writing Preparation
The Kent Test also contains a separate writing exercise.
Children should have experience planning and completing a coherent written response within a limited period. Preparation should develop organisation, vocabulary, sentence control, spelling and punctuation alongside the ability to generate and structure ideas efficiently.
Learning Street’s Kent mock packs focus on the two scored multiple-choice papers, so the separate writing exercise should be prepared for independently.
Once these underlying skills are secure, Learning Street’s Kent mocks can be used to develop timing, concentration, stamina and familiarity with realistic multiple-choice answer sheets.
View the Kent 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three main GL preparation routes for children preparing for the Highworth 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 includes a separate writing exercise, Learning Street’s Creative Writing Course can be added where further structured writing preparation is required.
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 the 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 working accurately in English and Maths.
It is most suitable where there is enough time to develop skills progressively before moving towards substantial 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.
The programme includes more than 35 timed papers and tests alongside structured learning and detailed answers. The emphasis remains on developing the underlying skills rather than relying only on repeated practice papers.
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 covering Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The programme includes more than 25 timed papers and tests while continuing to focus on core skills such as vocabulary development and working accurately in English and Maths.
Boost is designed for families beginning focused Highworth Grammar School 11 Plus preparation later and needing to concentrate the main learning and testing 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 Highworth 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 subjects or formats beyond the Highworth Grammar School Kent Test.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Highworth 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.
