top of page
Helping Tutor

Highsted Grammar School

11 Plus (11+) Exam Information

Highsted Grammar School: Welcome

Key Information

Address: Highsted Grammar School, Highsted Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME104PT

County: Kent

School Website: www.highsted.kent.sch.uk

School Type: Girls

Number of Pupils: 895

Number of Places in Year 7: 150

Open Day Date: Contact School

Exam Date: September

Exam Board Type: GL

Highsted Grammar School: About
highsted Grammar School.jpg

About Highsted Grammar School

Highsted Grammar School is a smaller than average selective grammar school in Kent that educates girls from 11-18. The school offers a wide range of subjects and has a strong emphasis on modern foreign languages. 

Highsted Grammar School specialises in all aspects of musical performance and competition. The school also provides an extensive programme of extra-curricular and enrichment activities such as subject clubs, sports fixtures and career conventions. 

Highsted Grammar School was graded Good in their most recent Ofsted inspection (2023).

Highsted Grammar School: About

Application Process

There are two tests that applicants can take in order to obtain a place at Highsted School: Kent 11+ and Highsted Grammar School Test.

Kent 11+

Parents must register their child to sit the Kent Test, which can be done online via Kent County Council. Once students have taken the test in September, parents will receive their results in October and must then submit their Secondary School Common Application Form (SCAF) via the Kent local authority website.

Highsted Grammar School Test

Pupils looking to obtain a place at Highsted Grammar School are also able to take an additional, optional test at the school in September. The school’s test will have equal status for a place in Year 7 as a pass in the Kent 11+ exam. The Highsted test is an optional, additional opportunity to check eligibility. 

Highsted Grammar School: Text

Kent 11+ Exam Format

The tests are multiple-choice with a separate answer sheet. They are marked by an automated marking machine.

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. The English section will involve a comprehension exercise as well as some additional questions drawn from a set designed to test literacy skills.

The second test will be a reasoning paper. It will take about 1 hour, including the practice sections and questions. It will contain a verbal reasoning section and a non-verbal reasoning section of roughly the same length. The non-verbal reasoning will be split into short sections, administered and timed individually.

There will also be a writing exercise which will not be marked but may be used by a local headteacher panel as part of the headteacher assessment stage of the process. 40 minutes will be allowed for the writing task, including 10 minutes planning time.

Highsted Grammar School: Text

Highsted Grammar School Exam Format


The test will comprise of two main elements: a computer-based test and a written exam. The computer-based test will assess Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths. The written exam will assess English (reading and writing).

Highsted Grammar School: Text

Kent 11+ Familiarisation Paper

This document explains the Kent Test papers for children who will take them.

Highsted Grammar School: Text

Prepare for Kent 11+ Exam

What We Provide

School Student

One-to-One Online Tuition

Prepare your child for the 11 plus with help from our expert tutors. Give your child the confidence they need to excel in the exam. Book your one-to-one session today.

On a Laptop

11+ Online Group Courses

Join our small, friendly focussed classes led by experienced tutors. We cover English, Maths, Reasoning and creative writing. Courses are available at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Exam

Kent 11+ Mock Test

Our mock exams have been specifically designed in the style of the Kent 11+ exam to give your child the best possible chance of success.

Highsted Grammar School: Services

Kent 11+ Standardised Scores

Your child will get 3 standardised scores, one for English, one for maths and one for reasoning, and a total (aggregate) score.

Standardisation is a statistical process which compares your child's performance with the average performance of other children in each test. A slight adjustment is made to take account of each child's age so that the youngest are not at a disadvantage.

The grammar school threshold for the test will not be published until the results have been sent out.


In order to calculate a standardised score the company producing and marking the tests will create a reference table – called a “look-up table” – for each test paper that is written, and the table is specific to that test paper, because it takes account of the difficulty of the paper. The minimum standardised score is derived from the look-up table and the actual number will vary depending on the average score of all those taking the test and the number of applicants. 

Below is an example look-up table. The vertical axis is the “raw score”, i.e. the number (percentage) of actual questions that a child gets right on a paper. The horizontal axis represents the age of the child at the time of taking the exam, shown as years + months. 

Highsted Grammar School: Text
Kent 11+ Look Up Table.GIF
Highsted Grammar School: Image

Kent 11+ Pass Mark

In 2021, children needed a total score of 332 or more, with no single score lower than 109 to be allocated a place at a Kent grammar school. Test scores ranged from 69 to 141. The highest possible total score is 423.

Highsted Grammar School: Text
Students Taking Exams
Highsted Grammar School: Image

Kent 11+ Appeals

If your child did not reach the threshold score and their primary school referred their case to the local Head Teacher Assessment Panel, the panel will have looked at their achievement in school and examples of their work, including the writing task completed on the day, before a final decision was made.

If your child does not qualify, the Head does not seek a review or if the review is unsuccessful, you still have the right to have your child’s case heard by an Independent Appeals Panel. You are only able to appeal a decision after school allocations have been sent out to parents in March.

Highsted Grammar School: Text
Tutor

How to Prepare for the Kent 11+ Exam

 Your child will need to develop the following skills:

  • Verbal Reasoning

  • Non-Verbal Reasoning

  • Maths 

  • English

  • Creative Writing

Highsted Grammar School: Text

Kent 11+ Past Papers

Use these papers to practise the question types for the Kent 11+ exam.

Verbal Reasoning Test 1

Verbal Reasoning Test 1 Answer Sheet

Verbal Reasoning Test 2

Verbal Reasoning Test 2 Answer Sheet

Verbal Reasoning Test 3

Verbal Reasoning Test 3 Answer Sheet

Verbal Reasoning Mark Scheme

Maths Test 1

Maths Test 1 Answer Sheet

Maths Test 2

Maths Test 2 Answer Sheet

Maths Mark Scheme

English Test 1

English Test 1 Answer Sheet

English Test 2

English Test 2 Answer Sheet

English Mark Scheme

Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 1

Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 1 Answer Sheet

Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 2

Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 2 Answer Sheet

Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 3

Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 3 Answer Sheet

Non-Verbal Reasoning Mark Scheme

Highsted Grammar School: List

Get in Touch

Thanks for submitting!

Math Homework
Highsted Grammar School: Contact
bottom of page