Gravesend Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Gravesend Grammar School.
How to get into Gravesend Grammar School
Gravesend Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Kent. To get into Gravesend Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Gravesend Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
Background Information
Gravesend Grammar School is a selective grammar school with academy status located in Gravesend, Kent, England [1]. The school is an 11-18 selective boys grammar school, with a mixed sixth form. The school is rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted.
There are a total of 210 Year 7 places at the school. The school accepts boys at age 11 through the 11+ exam accepting a cohort of the top 15% [1]. In Kent, the 11 plus is known as the Kent Test.
Admission Requirements
Children currently in Year 5 who were born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015 can take the Kent Test in 2025. Year 7 admission to Gravesend Grammar School is determined by student performance in the Kent Test.

To be given a grammar school assessment, children need a total score of 332 or more, with no single score lower than 106. Children will get 3 standardised scores, one for English, one for maths and one for reasoning, and a total (aggregate) score.
Being grammar assessed in the Kent Test does not guarantee a child a place in a Kent grammar school. Passing the 11 plus doesn't guarantee that a child will be allocated a place at their preferred school.
Application Process
Registration for the 2025 Kent Test opens on Monday 2nd June 2025 and closes on Tuesday 1st July 2025 (see key dates). Requests for special arrangements will not be accepted after 1 July 2025 (see key dates).

- Register for the Kent Test through the Kent County Council website between June and July 2025
- The exam will take place in September 2025 and families will receive their child's results in mid-October (see key dates)
- Families need to name the school as one of their preferred schools on the secondary school common application form. This will be available on their home council website from early September and must be submitted by Friday 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- National Offers Day in March reveals allocated schools
If a child has a disability or special educational needs which will affect their access to testing, families need to discuss this with their primary school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) before registering them for the test as the school will need to apply for any necessary access arrangements.
Priority Criteria and Catchment Area
Gravesend Grammar School has a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school. The school prioritises children in the following order:
- Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children
- Boys with medical, health, or special access requirements
- Children who have a sibling at Gravesend Grammar School
- Children who have a parent who is a member of staff at the school
- Priority criterion 1: Pupils who live within the Borough of Gravesham
- Priority criterion 2: Pupils who live within the civil parishes of Ash-cum-Ridley, Bean, Fawkham, Hartley, Longfield and New Barn, Southfleet, Swanscombe and Greenhithe, and Stansted
- Priority criterion 3: Pupils who live within the civil parishes of Stone, Darenth, Horton Kirby and South Darenth, Cliffe and Cliffe Woods
The Kent Test Format
Gravesend Grammar School follows the Kent 11 Plus exam format, which is made up of: Reasoning, Maths and English, plus a writing task. The Kent Test is made up of two multiple-choice papers and a short writing task. It's designed to assess a child's skills in English, maths and reasoning.

The first test will be an English and maths paper and will take 1 hour. Each section will involve a 5 minute practice exercise followed by a 25 minute test. This paper is split into one 30-minute section that tests English, and another 30-minute section which assesses maths. Each section includes a short 5-minute practice activity.
Section 1: This is an hour-long multiple-choice exam that aims to test students' Reasoning abilities. The English section is mainly made up of a reading comprehension task. There are also questions that check a child's grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
Important Dates for 2025-2026 Entry
Key dates for families applying for September 2026 entry include:
- Monday 2nd June 2025: Registration for the 2025 Kent Test opens (see key dates)
- Tuesday 1st July 2025: Registration for the 2025 Kent Test closes (see key dates)
- Thursday 11th September 2025: Kent Test date for children in Kent primary schools (see key dates)
- Saturday 13th – Sunday 14th September 2025: Kent Test date for children not in Kent primary schools (see key dates)
- Thursday 16 October 2025: Kent Test results sent to parents (see key dates)
- Friday 31st October 2025: secondary school common application deadline (see key dates)
Preparation Guidance
The most effective 11+ preparation happens in short, consistent bursts. For 10–11-year-olds, educational psychologists recommend daily learning sessions of 20–30 minutes. Children should have a good understanding of Year 6 content before testing their knowledge with practice papers.
Based on historical data, students who are able to score 75%+ consistently in 11+ Kent practice tests are on track to pass the Gravesend Grammar School Test. This has historically been a fairly strong indicator that a child should do well in the exam.
For comprehensive preparation materials, families can access practice 11-plus papers or consider professional support through an 11-plus tutor.
Open Days and School Events
Open mornings for year 7 entry in September 2026 will take place during October 2025. Dates for these mornings are yet to be confirmed. Further information, including how and when to book a place for one of these mornings will be published here in due course [1].
Children currently in Year 5 at primary school are encouraged to attend Gravesend's information evening in June of the summer term to learn more about life at the grammar. Gravesend Grammar School typically hosts Open Evening in the Autumn term, welcoming prospective families on campus for a lively event packed with activities.
Practical Advice
The tests are multiple-choice with a separate answer sheet. They are marked by a computer. Each paper lasts around an hour, and children will mark their answers on a separate answer sheet (this gets marked electronically).
Many children will find the test difficult. Grammar schools in Kent provide for children in about the top 25% of the ability range. Parents may want to discuss their child's academic achievement with their primary school before deciding whether to register them for the Kent Test.
Not getting a place at a grammar school isn't the end of the world. Many non-selective schools in Kent offer top academics and extracurriculars, giving children a great education. Some schools offer Year 8 or Year 9 entry tests. So, there might be future opportunities.
For specific contact information and additional queries, families should refer to the school information section.
Kent 11+ Test Information
In order to get into Gravesend Grammar School, children need to pass the Kent 11+ Test. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Kent 11+ Test Subjects & Structure
The Kent 11+ Test requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Maths
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Spatial Reasoning
The entrance examination for Gravesend Grammar School, known as the Kent Test, is a challenging assessment that evaluates applicants' abilities across several key areas. The test, provided by GL Assessment, consists of two multiple-choice papers, each lasting one hour.
The first paper focuses on English and maths, with questions based on the Key Stage 2 national curriculum. This section assesses the child's grasp of fundamental concepts and skills taught in primary school.
The second paper delves into verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and spatial reasoning. These subjects are not typically covered in the standard school curriculum, which means that applicants may be less familiar with the question formats and problem-solving strategies required. Preparing for these specific reasoning skills can be beneficial for students aiming to excel in the Kent Test and secure a place at Gravesend Grammar School.
Other Schools using Kent 11+ Test
As well as Gravesend Grammar School, several other schools also use Kent 11+ Test. These are:
- Barton Court Grammar School
- Borden Grammar School
- Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
- Cranbrook School
- Dane Court Grammar School
- Dartford Grammar School
- Dartford Grammar School for Girls
- Dover Grammar School for Boys
- Dover Grammar School for Girls
- Highsted Grammar School
- Highworth Grammar School
- Invicta Grammar School
- Maidstone Grammar School
- Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
- Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
- Oakwood Park Grammar School
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
- Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
- Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
- Sir Roger Manwood's School
- The Folkestone School for Girls
- The Harvey Grammar School
- The Judd School
- The Norton Knatchbull School
- The Skinners' School
- Tonbridge Grammar School
- Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
- Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
- Weald of Kent Grammar School
- Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
- Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
Kent 11+ Test Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Gravesend Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
Kent 11+ Test Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Kent 11+ Test changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Gravesend Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Gravesend Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Gravesend Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
Date | Event | Calendar Link |
---|---|---|
02/06/2025 | Kent Test Registration Opens | Add Dates to Calendar |
01/07/2025 | Kent Test Registration Closes | |
11/09/2025 | Kent Test Date For Children In Kent Primary Schools | |
Mid October | Kent Test Results Sent To Parents | |
Late October | Secondary School Common Application Deadline | |
02/03/2026 | National School Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Gravesend Grammar School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Gravesend Grammar School
As the Kent 11+ Test entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.

11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Gravesend Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Gravesend Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Gravesend Grammar School
Here are all available past 11+ papers for Gravesend Grammar School. Please note that this may include 11+ past papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that Gravesend Grammar School currently uses.
The exam board (or test supplier) that Gravesend Grammar School chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.
As well as these past 11+ papers, you may find our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers helpful for your child's preparation.
Exam Board | Subject | 11+ Past Paper |
---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Kent 11+ Test Ensure you double-check with Gravesend Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Kent 11+ Test to get into Gravesend Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | English | ||
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Gravesend Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | English | |||
GL Assessment | Maths | |||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Kent 11+ Test.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Gravesend Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | English | ||
GL Assessment | Writing | ||
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Gravesend Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Maths | |||
GL Assessment | English | |||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Gravesend Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
CEM | Maths | |||
CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Gravesend Grammar School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Gravesend Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

Address | Gravesend Grammar School, Church Walk, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2PR |
---|---|
School Website | https://gravesendgrammar.com/ |
Telephone | 01474331893 |
Email Address | enquiries@gravesendgrammar.com |
Gender | Boys only |
Total Year 7 Places | 210 |
Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1424 (84 Girls / 1340 Boys) |
Headteacher | Mr Malcolm Moaby |
Gravesend Grammar School is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 1,424 pupils attend Gravesend Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Malcolm Moaby.
Gravesend Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Gravesend Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 25/06/2015 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 17/07/2015, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data
Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 25/06/2015 | 1 | 17/07/2015 | Outstanding | Full Report |
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GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Gravesend Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
GCSE Subjects Offered |
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A-Level Subjects Offered |
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GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Gravesend Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
Art & Design | 32 | - | - | - | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 2 | - | - |
Biology | 153 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 23 | 49 | 32 | 31 | 17 |
Business Studies:Single | 79 | - | - | - | 7 | 9 | 19 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
Chemistry | 153 | 1 | - | - | - | 7 | 31 | 36 | 33 | 28 | 17 |
Computer Studies/Computing | 29 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
Economics | 41 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 4 |
Applied Engineering | 24 | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
English Language | 182 | - | - | - | 4 | 12 | 30 | 55 | 43 | 24 | 12 |
English Literature | 179 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 28 | 52 | 50 | 26 | 16 |
French | 178 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 20 | 53 | 31 | 20 | 11 | 10 |
Geography | 118 | - | - | - | 3 | 8 | 20 | 21 | 34 | 21 | 11 |
History | 131 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 30 | 35 | 16 | 7 |
Mathematics | 182 | - | - | - | 2 | 13 | 32 | 28 | 40 | 41 | 24 |
Music | 11 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | - |
Physics | 153 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 23 | 32 | 37 | 32 | 23 |
Drama & Theatre Studies | 21 | - | - | - | 3 | - | 6 | 8 | 4 | - | - |
Physical Education/Sports Studies | 50 | - | - | 1 | - | 3 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 5 | 4 |
Science: Double Award | 28 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
Art and Design | 12 | - | - | - | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | |||
Biology | 34 | - | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 2 | - | |||
Business Studies:Single | 37 | - | 2 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 2 | - | |||
Chemistry | 40 | - | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | - | |||
Computer Studies / Computing | 21 | - | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |||
Economics | 36 | - | - | 1 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 1 | |||
English Literature | 25 | - | - | 1 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 1 | |||
French | 6 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | - | |||
Geography | 33 | - | 1 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 4 | - | |||
Government and Politics | 25 | - | - | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | - | |||
History | 48 | - | 1 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 6 | - | |||
Mathematics | 109 | - | 11 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 15 | 17 | |||
Mathematics (Further) | 13 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
Physical Education / Sports Studies | 16 | - | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | - | |||
Physics | 52 | - | 11 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 4 | |||
Psychology | 53 | - | 4 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 1 |
FAQ
Is Gravesend Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Gravesend Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Gravesend Grammar School a private school?
No, Gravesend Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Gravesend Grammar School free?
Yes, Gravesend Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Gravesend Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Gravesend Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Gravesend Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
Is Gravesend Grammar School a boys-only school?
Yes, Gravesend Grammar School is a boys-only school.