When to start preparing for the Kent Test
No study sets an ideal age to start preparing for the Kent Test. What is fixed is the calendar: registration in the summer term of Year 5, the test at the start of Year 6.
Start your child's Kent Test preparation at the right time
Begin with what their class covers now, so the basics are solid. Add the exam track in Year 5, when the papers start to matter.
Counting back from the test
| When | What to focus on |
|---|---|
| Years 1 to 3 | Get the maths and reading taught in class solid. There is nothing exam-specific to do yet. |
| Year 4 | Keep up with class work. Times tables, spelling and reading for meaning matter most for what comes later. |
| Year 5 | Add verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which school does not teach. Get used to multiple choice questions and timed papers. |
| Year 5, summer term | Register. For September 2027 entry registration ran from 1 June 2026 to 1 July 2026. |
| Start of Year 6 | The test. For September 2027 entry it was on Thursday, 10 September 2026. |
Source: Kent County Council. Checked 7 November 2026.
If your child is in Year 5 now
They sit the Kent Test in September 2027, for September 2028 entry. Kent County Council has not published the exact dates yet. Going by this year, registration would open in June 2027.
What the Kent Test tests
- English and maths, about an hour.
- Reasoning, about an hour including practice.
- A writing task of 40 minutes, including 10 minutes to plan.
Source: Kent County Council. Checked 7 November 2026.
Wondering whether it's too early or too late? What the research says about timing.
All dates and papers for the Kent Test
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Start your child's Kent Test preparation at the right time
Begin with what their class covers now, so the basics are solid. Add the exam track in Year 5, when the papers start to matter.