Register for the Kent Test
Registration for the Kent Test opened on 1 June and closes on 1 July 2026.
If your child will be starting secondary school in September 2026 and has not taken the Kent Test, see our information about moving to a different school.
Important dates to know
If your child will be starting secondary school in September 2027, here are the important dates you need to know:
| What happens | Date |
|---|---|
| Kent Test registration opened | Monday 1 June 2026 |
| Kent Test registration closes | Wednesday 1 July 2026 |
| Kent Test - for pupils who attend a Kent Primary School | Thursday 10 September 2026 |
| Kent Test - for pupils who do not attend a Kent primary school | Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026 |
| Results day | Thursday 15 October 2026 |
Who can take the Kent Test
Children currently in Year 5 who were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 can take the Kent Test in 2026.
If your child is outside the age range but is expected to transfer to secondary school in September 2027, email kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk .
Registration is open to parents of children resident in England (not including Crown Dependencies for example Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man), and the children of UK service personnel with a confirmed posting to the UK and Crown Servants returning from overseas to the UK, who will transfer to secondary school in 2027.
Things to consider before you register
- The test is only valid for Kent grammar schools.
- Medway Council has its own Medway Test and London Borough of Bexley has its own Bexley selection test.
- Being grammar assessed in the Kent Test does not guarantee your child a place in a Kent grammar school.
- Make sure you know where the Kent grammar schools (PDF, 118.9 KB) are, and what the admissions criteria are for the school(s) you are interested in. Or search for Kent grammar schools in our Kent schools search.
- Many children will find the test difficult. Grammar schools in Kent provide for children in about the top 25% of the ability range. You may want to discuss your child’s academic achievement with their primary school before you decide whether to register them for the Kent Test.
If you live outside Kent
Register your child for testing, but only do so if you intend to apply for a place at a Kent grammar school. Every year, time and resources are wasted when children who are registered to take the test do not turn up. Registrations are open to parents of children resident in England.
Some of Kent’s grammar schools - particularly those which are most likely to offer places to children from outside Kent - give priority to those with the highest scores.
If your child has special educational needs (SEN)
If your child has a disability or special educational needs which will affect their access to testing, you need to discuss this with their primary school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) before you register them for the test as the school will need to apply for any necessary access arrangements. Requests will not be accepted after 1 July 2026.
The online registration form asks you to confirm you have discussed a request for access arrangements with your child’s school.
Email kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk if you would like more information about the special arrangements process.
Register your child
Register your child for the Kent Test by 1 July.