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Should my child take The Kent Test?

 

This must be one of my most asked questions. We all want the very best for our children and this includes getting the best education possible but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a grammar school is the right fit.

Most parents want to believe that their child can sit the Kent Test, but realistically this isn’t always the case. Read my handy guide below to see if a grammar school could be a sensible option for your child.

  • Is you child working at ‘exceeding expectations’ or ‘greater depth’? If so, then this is a great place to start. This means that they have mastered key skills and knowledge for their age and can delve deeper into concepts and ideas in more detail.

  • Is your child able to work quickly? Some children don’t work well under pressure. The test itself is a series of timed sections, which requires children to work quickly, and many find this tough! Beyond the test, grammar schools tend to work at a much faster pace than non- selective schools. Your child may have the ability academically, but will they keep up with the pace?

  • Does you child have a positive attitude towards learning? If your child loves a challenge and often goes above and beyond what is asked of them then grammar school could be the perfect setting for them. Children will often be set a greater volume of homework at a selective school; it will often be much more open ended. If homework is regularly met by arguments, then this is definitely something to consider!

  • Is your child a book worm? Can they lose themselves in their favourite author or genre? Or like homework, is it completed as a necessary evil? Reading is a key skill because it helps to develop a wealth of vocabulary- an essential component of the Kent Test. Children who are avid readers tend to fare much better in the verbal reasoning and reading elements of the test.

  • Is your child fluent with their times tables? By that, I don’t mean can they count in 4s or 6s etc until they reach their desired times table but are they able to recall random facts quickly and without too much thought? Do they also know the related division facts. If they know that 4 x 6 is 24, do they instinctively understand that 40 x 6 is 240? By the end of Year 4, children are now required to know their tables up to 12 x 12. If they do, then this will stand them in good stead for the maths element of the test.

  • Does your child enjoy a challenge? Do they relish a problem to solve? The Kent Test is full of questions and problems which they will not have encountered in school. Some children may baulk at this while others love the different question types.

And that’s it! Of course, this isn’t set in stone and one size certainly doesn’t fit all. You know your child best and only you can decide whether the Kent Test and grammar school would be the right fit. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice as to what’s best for your child.

If you think the Kent Test is right for your child and you’d like my help to prepare them then get in touch!

Kindest regards,

Michelle

THE WISE OWL TUTOR HERNE BAY, KENT UK

PRIMARY SCHOOL TUTOR KENT | KENT TUTOR | THE KENT TEST TUTOR | CHILDREN'S TUTOR | ONLINE TUTORING | GROUP TUTORING | FACE TO FACE TUTORING | SUMMER SCHOOL | PRIVATE TUITION FOR CHILDREN 

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The Wise Owl Tutor Herne Bay Kent
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