When is the Kendrick School 11-plus test for 2027 entry?

The Kendrick School test for 2027 entry is on Friday 18 September 2026, in a morning or afternoon session. Applications are open from 1 May to 1 July 2026, with no late applications accepted.

What is on the Kendrick 11-plus test?

Two papers of about one hour each, covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and maths. There is no creative writing component. The papers are standardised by GL Assessment.

Does Kendrick have a catchment area?

Yes, and it is decisive. Kendrick introduced its designated area in 2013. Since then it has offered no place to a candidate living outside it, whatever their score. Confirm your address falls inside the designated area before preparing.

What score do you need to pass the Kendrick 11-plus?

There is no fixed pass mark. Entry is by rank on a standardised score, so the score needed changes each year with the strength of the cohort. Any specific cutoff number you see quoted online is an unofficial forum report, not a figure the school publishes.

Kendrick School · Girls' grammar · Reading

Kendrick School 11-plus: format, dates and the honest odds

The Kendrick School 11-plus test for 2027 entry is on Friday 18 September 2026. It is two papers of about one hour each, covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and maths, with no creative writing, standardised by GL Assessment. Applications run from 1 May to 1 July 2026. One fact matters before any of this: Kendrick's designated area rule is close to absolute.

The test format

Kendrick uses two papers taken on the same day. Between them they assess verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and maths. There is no separate creative writing task. That is a genuine difference from some other selective schools, and it changes how a child should prepare. Scores are standardised by GL Assessment, which adjusts for a child's age in months so that younger children are not disadvantaged.

Key dates for 2027 entry

Applications open: 1 May 2026
Applications close: 1 July 2026, midnight, no late entries
Test day: Friday 18 September 2026, morning or afternoon session

These dates are for 2027 entry and are rewritten here each admissions cycle. Always confirm against the school's own admissions page, which we link below.

The catchment reality, stated plainly

Kendrick operates a designated area, introduced in 2013. Since then, the school's own admissions material states, no candidate living outside it has been offered a place, regardless of score. A place is realistically not available if your home address is outside the designated area, and no amount of preparation changes that. We would rather you knew this now.

How we prepare girls for Kendrick

We teach the four areas in the GL format, in small groups and one-to-one. We put the English time into comprehension and the reasoning papers, because there is no creative writing, and marginal gains there decide rank. We teach the underlying thinking. A child can then handle an unfamiliar question on the day, rather than only the questions they have already seen.