Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys

Simon Langton uses the standard Kent Test, which is administered across Kent by GL Assessment. Your son will sit three papers: Verbal Reasoning (50 minutes, 80 questions), Mathematics (50 minutes, 50 questions), and English (50 minutes, 50 questions). There is no Non-Verbal Reasoning paper. Registration happens through Kent County Council (not the school directly), with a deadline typically in late June or early July for the September exam. Results are reported as Standardised Age Scores, and the qualifying threshold is not published in advance — it's set after the exam based on how all candidates perform that year.

This is a selective school and one of the more competitive grammar schools in Kent. While the exam format itself is standard, you should expect the competition to be stiffer than average. Vocabulary is a particular strength area to focus on: the Verbal Reasoning section includes less common words beyond standard practice materials, so building your son's vocabulary range will help. The Verbal Reasoning questions also require genuine reasoning rather than just spotting patterns, with multi-step word relationship questions appearing regularly.

English comprehension passages are moderately challenging and require careful reading between the lines — your son will need to make inferences and deductions rather than rely on simple recall. Mathematics is broadly in line with standard expectations and rarely surprises families. Time pressure is moderate overall, though the Verbal Reasoning section may feel tight for slower workers. Most importantly, because the school is oversubscribed, you should aim for high standardised scores rather than simply aiming to pass the Kent Test. Check the school's admissions policy directly for the exact number of places available and any other current requirements.