8
The Basics
The Kent 11+ or Kent PESE (Procedure for Entry to Secondary Education) is a grammar entrance exam that covers all 32 selective schools in the Kent catchment.
The papers are GL (Granada Learning) standard. GL papers are based on a question bank of some 15,000 questions, many of which have a similar style of questioning. This is good news for parents and children, as with practice it is possible to familiarise with the kinds of questions that are asked.
The exam format includes two papers, both of which are an hour long and are multiple choice. Paper 1 covers English and Maths, Paper 2 covers Reasoning.
Schools that follow the PESE:
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Barton Court Grammar School
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Borden Grammar School
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Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
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Cranbrook School
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Dane Court Grammar School
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Dartford Grammar School
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Dartford Grammar School for Girls
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Dover Grammar School for Boys
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Dover Grammar School for Girls
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Gravesend Grammar School
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Highsted School
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Highworth Grammar School
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Invicta Grammar School
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Maidstone Grammar School
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Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
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Mayfield Grammar School
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Oakwood Park Grammar School
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Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
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Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
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Sir Roger Manwood’s School
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The Folkestone School for Girls
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The Harvey Grammar School
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The Judd School
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The Norton Knatchbull School
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The Skinners’ School
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Tonbridge Grammar School
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Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
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Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
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Weald of Kent Grammar School
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Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
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Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
DOWNLOAD PAPERS
Paper 1 - English & Maths
Click below to download multiple choice papers for Kent PESE Paper 1. Each paper is a full mock exam, designed to look and feel like a real 11+ paper with a separate answer sheet to mimic the real thing.
All the Kent papers are multiple choice and computer-marked, with answers recorded on a separate answer sheet. Paper 1 lasts 1 hour and is dedicated purely to English & Maths.
The English section includes questions around comprehension, literary devices, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
The Maths questions cover the full KS2 national curriculum including numeracy, fractions, decimals, measurements, word problems and ratios.
Grab a sample paper
Paper 2 - Reasoning
Click below to download complete 60 minute mock papers for the Kent Test Paper 2, covering Verbal, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Open Writing.
For when you need just that little bit extra...
Maths Bitesize: Short, timed papers that focus exclusively on selected mathematical topics
The second paper of the Kent PESE focuses on Reasoning, covering both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. There is an Open Writing paper which does not formally contribute to marks, but can aid tiebreakers and individual school decision making.
As with Paper 1, most questions are multiple choice and answers must be provided on a separate answer sheet which is computer marked. It's very important to familiarise with this format, as only answers recorded on the answer sheet will be accepted.
Verbal Reasoning questions include word creation, related and unrelated words, hidden words, letter sequencing, antonyms, synonyms, code breaking and multiple meanings.
Non-Verbal Reasoning questions include rotation and symmetry, shape sequencing, cube netting, odd one out and patterns.
The writing tasks can be either creative or formal, our papers cover both.
Grab a sample paper
Pen & paper wins every time
There are no online tests for any of these schools.
Don't get distracted with apps and other digital solutions. Focus your time on getting used to printed, exam-style mock papers that help familiarise with the real thing.
The closer you can get to the experience of the day itself, the better prepared your child will be when their moment arrives.
Get used to watching the clock
Timing is crucial, always have a clock in the room.
Although it varies year-by-year, the PESE contains roughly 45-50 questions and lasts about 45-50 minutes. Get your little trooper used the keeping an eye on the clock, you won't be there to help them on test day. 1 minute per question is a good rule of thumb, and by working quickly they can build up reserve time for the trickier questions later in the test.
Be careful where you put your answers
There is a separate answer sheet.
Get used to this early on, answering on a separate sheet may not be intuitive, but the consequences of letting this slip on test day are dire. There are no points for showing working and no points for anything marked on the question paper itself. It's the multiple-choice answer sheet, or nothing, so it's crucial to make this part of your revision structure.
If in doubt, guess!
Never leave a multiple-choice question blank!
There will be questions that either your superstar can't conquer, or it simply isn't worth wasting them time on for that 1 point (10 minutes on 1 question/point at the sacrifice of the time to complete 10 more, is not a good trade!).
There's a 1 in 5 chance every time you guess, so have a go!