Dartford Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School uses the standard Kent Test, which is set by GL Assessment and taken in September. The exam consists of three papers — Verbal Reasoning, Maths, and English — each lasting around 50 minutes and made up of multiple-choice questions. This is the same format used across Kent grammar schools, so the exam itself follows a familiar structure with no unusual surprises in question types.

The real challenge at Dartford Grammar isn't the exam format — it's the high pass mark you need to secure a place. The school is one of the more selective in Kent and is heavily oversubscribed, which means only the top performers across the whole cohort will be offered places. You'll need a strong standardised score to be competitive, especially if you're applying from outside the immediate area. The exam itself is pitched at a standard level, but you'll be competing against many other able children.

In terms of what to focus on, vocabulary is worth particular attention in both the Verbal Reasoning and English sections — expect words at the upper end of what GL typically uses. The English comprehension passages are age-appropriate but require careful reading, particularly for inference questions where children need to read between the lines. Maths follows the standard KS2 curriculum with predictable question types, and time pressure across all three papers is moderate — most children manage to attempt all questions if they pace themselves well. Building stamina for the full sitting is important, as it's a long morning of testing.