The Kent Test is designed to assess whether a grammar school is a suitable option for children in the county. The assessment is split into two timed booklets: Reasoning (which includes verbal, non-verbal, and spatial skills) and English & Maths.
Because the test is written by GL Assessment, children are not simply being asked to memorise definitions. They need to recognise how words relate to each other, identify hidden vocabulary, and deduce meaning from context under strict time conditions.
Start with 10 free words
Your child can begin with a short vocabulary check and practise at the right level.
Try 10 free words todayWhat does Kent Test vocabulary look like?
For Kent-style 11+ vocabulary preparation, children need to be comfortable manipulating words and understanding precise meanings. Based on official familiarisation materials, these are the kinds of word questions children may need to handle:
1. Multiple Meanings and Word Connections
In the Verbal Reasoning section, children may need to find one word that goes equally well with two different pairs of words. This tests their understanding of words with multiple meanings.
- Finding a word that links (fall, stumble) and (journey, outing). The correct answer is trip, which can mean losing balance or going on holiday.
- Finding a word that links (variety, type) and (arrange, classify). The correct answer is sort.
2. Words in Context
The English test includes reading a passage and answering questions based on the text. Children must find the closest meaning to advanced words exactly as they are used by the author.
- Knowing that the closest meaning to "distinctive" in a given passage is "unusual".
3. Sentence Completion
Other questions in the English paper show a sentence with a missing word, and children must select the best option so that it makes sense and is written in correct English.
- Knowing that "read" makes more grammatical and logical sense than "reed" or "red" in a specific sentence.
- Choosing the correct preposition, such as knowing someone jumped "in" a puddle rather than "under" or "over" it, based on the second half of the sentence.
4. Hidden Words and Letters
The verbal reasoning test also checks if children can spot word patterns, such as finding a missing letter that completes one word and begins another.
- Discovering that the letter 'h' completes "dis" to make "dish" and begins "urt" to make "hurt".
Why general reading is not always enough
While reading widely is excellent preparation, a child might read a book containing a word like distinctive and guess its general meaning from the context without truly learning it. In a multiple-choice GL Assessment question, guessing is rarely enough.
Targeted practice helps children focus on the relationships between words. By seeing difficult words repeatedly over time through spaced repetition, children can build the quicker recall needed to tackle the fast-paced Reasoning and English booklets.