The Judd School (11+) 11 Plus Exam - 2026 Key Information

​The Judd School is a prestigious selective grammar school for boys located in Tonbridge, Kent. Established in 1888, it delivers an excellent education to over 1,200 pupils aged 11 to 18, covering Key Stage 3 (KS3) and sixth form (6th Form).

Frequently listed among the best grammar schools in the UK, Judd School is renowned for its high academic standards. Its current Ofsted rating is "Outstanding", reflecting its commitment to quality teaching.

At The Judd School the academic rigour is bolstered by the state-of-the-art Ashton Building for Science and Mathematics. The school uniquely cultivates character through its nationally acclaimed Cross Country squad and extensive Combined Cadet Force, ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and belong.

In this guide, I apply 18+ years of education consultancy to help parents navigate The Judd School 2026 11 plus (11+) Exam admissions with confidence.

School Details

• Type of School: Grammar (Voluntary Aided)
• Boarding Type: No Boarding
• Gender Type: Boys (Co-educational Sixth Form)
• Religion: None
• Age Range: 11-18
• Number of Pupils (Total): 1280+
• The Judd School GCSE Results (2024): 62.3% achieved Grade 9-8
• The Judd School A-Level Results (2024): 83.1% achieved A*-B

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Year 7 Admissions Details

• Year 7 Admissions Policy: Selective
• Number of Places in Year 7 (PAN): 180
• Exam Board: GL Assessment (Kent Test)
• Number of Stages: 1
• School Catchment Area: Yes. (See Below for more details)
• Sibling Policy: Yes. (See Below for more details)
• Pass Mark: Aim for 90%+

​Planning for The Judd School open day is the first step, but meticulous scheduling is vital for success. I have compiled the official The Judd School 11 plus exam dates, including the 11+ Exam date and kent 11+ exam date 2025 schedule, to guide your family through the admissions process.

These dates are arranged chronologically to help you plan the academic year.​

Admissions to The Judd School are coordinated by the Kent Local Authority. As one of the most competitive grammar schools in Kent, parents must adhere strictly to the 11 plus exam process to secure a place for their son.

How to Register for 11+ Exam

The application procedure involves registering for the test with the county and submitting preferences to your home authority. Please ensure you complete the 11 plus exam registration within the designated windows.

• Kent Test Registration: Parents must register their child for the 11+ Exam online via the Kent Local Authority Admissions Portal.
• Registration Dates: Registration typically opens in early June 2025 and closes in early July 2025.
• Common Application Form (CAF): You must complete the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) via your home Local Authority, naming the school as a preference, by 31 October 2025.
• Supplementary Information Form (SIF): This form is required only if you are applying for a Pupil Premium place.
• SIF Submission: As stated in The Judd School Admissions Policy, this form must be returned directly to the school, not the Local Authority.

The Judd School primarily allocates places based on high academic performance in the 11 plus test. Consequently, there is no fixed School catchment area for the majority of applicants. High scorers from any location are welcome to apply.

However, as stated in The Judd School Admissions Policy, an "Inner Area" is defined specifically for Pupil Premium applicants. This designated judd school the Catchment Area comprises the following Kent District Councils:

• Sevenoaks
• Tonbridge & Malling
• Tunbridge Wells

For all other candidates, the 11+ exam catchment is effectively open. Places are awarded by rank order of the aggregate score. Distance is measured in a straight line solely as a tie-breaker for equal scores.

According to the National School Census, competition remains consistently high at Judd Tonbridge. For the last three years (2022–2024), there have been roughly five applications for every single available place. This intense demand confirms that passing the eleven plus exam requires early, strategic preparation.

Source: Kent County Council (KCC) and the Department for Education (DfE).

The Judd School remains consistently oversubscribed, with an 77% oversubscription rate in 2025 against the Published Admission Number (PAN) of 180.

How hard is it to get into The Judd School?

Parents often come to me and ask, “Is The Judd School hard to get into?” given the sheer volume of applicants. Based on my experience, success is manageable with a solid, targeted strategy aligned with The Judd School Admissions Policy.

Keep reading to uncover the specific exam format and preparation strategy you need to secure your son’s place!

As stated in the The Judd School Admissions Policy, admission for September 2026 is determined by performance in the Kent Test. Students seeking entry to Judd Tonbridge must register for this examination during their Year 5 summer term to sit the test in September 2025. 

The assessment is designed to select the most academically able students suitable for education in kent secondary schools. Below is the breakdown of the The Judd School 11 Plus Test.

Exam Details

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Important Note for Parents - OMR Sheet Guidance

The Kent test 2025 utilises separate OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) answer sheets for the reasoning, English, and maths papers. Ensure your child practises marking a distinct horizontal line clearly across the correct box, as stray marks or incomplete erasures can cause machine-reading errors during the GL assessment scoring process.

Exam Board and Duration

• What exam board does The Judd School follow? GL Assessment (Kent Grammar Schools)
• How long is the 11+ Exam for The Judd School? Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes in total.

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Parent’s Top 2 Queries

Which test do students take? 

Candidates must sit the Kent Test (PESE) administered by the Kent County Council; the school does not have a separate internal entrance exam.

How is the score calculated? 

The school ranks applicants based on their aggregate score across English, Maths, and Reasoning, standardised by age.

Admission relies on The Judd School Admissions Policy and Kent Test scores. Boys must meet the county threshold, though securing a place requires a higher aggregate score.

Places are allocated by rank order based on your child's 11 plus exam results. At Judd Tonbridge pass mark is dynamic, determined annually by applicant performance.

Historical Cut-off Trends

• Inner Area: Typically requires a score around 363.
• Outer Area: Often necessitates scores exceeding 407.
• Preparation: Ample practice helps students comfortably surpass the cut-off in the eleven plus exam.

The Judd School represents the pinnacle of boys' education in Kent. However, with over 1,000 applicants competing for roughly 180 places, the acceptance rate is daunting. Securing a place requires a flawless performance on exam day.

I have guided families through the Kent 11+ process for over 18 years. I frequently see talented students miss the Judd cut-off by just a few marks. Therefore, I strongly advise parents to curate a balanced list of 3 Grammar options and 2 Private options. This strategy safeguards your son’s education against the unpredictability of a single test day.

Top 5 Alternative Grammar and Independent Schools

Families targeting The Judd School often look towards Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks for robust alternatives. Here is how the top competitors compare:

Why these schools are the top alternatives to The Judd School

• The Skinners' School: This is the most common direct alternative to Judd. It is located nearby in Tunbridge Wells and shares a similar ethos. Skinners' also uses the Kent Test scores for admission, making it a seamless backup option without extra exams.
• Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB): Known locally as "Tech," this school is an excellent choice for boys who pass the Kent Test but may not reach the super-selective scores required for Judd. It offers strong pastoral support and solid academic results.
• Dartford Grammar School: For families willing to commute slightly further, Dartford offers a world-class International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. It rivals Judd in academic output and consistently tops national league tables for state schools.
• Tonbridge School: As one of the most prestigious boarding and day schools in the UK, Tonbridge School is the closest private sector equivalent to Judd’s academic rigour. It boasts exceptional facilities and a high rate of Oxbridge success.
• Sevenoaks School: This is a premier co-educational independent option. Sevenoaks is famous for its IB programme and global outlook. It is a perfect alternative for parents seeking an elite education with a more diverse student body.

Advisory Note: While The Judd School remains the "Gold Standard" for many, the competition is intense. A strategy that includes Skinners' or TWGSB as grammar backups, alongside a strong private option like Tonbridge, is the best way to ensure success.

​The Judd School uses the Kent Test (PESE) for its admissions process. This exam consists of Reasoning, English, and Maths papers taken on the same day. Understanding the specific topic weightings is crucial for success.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Maths topics

Our analysis of kent test practice papers and past data reveals a strong focus on numerical reasoning. The 11+ maths topics covered often require quick mental arithmetic and a solid grasp of core concepts.

The table below breaks down the expected question distribution. Numbers and Geometry typically account for the majority of the marks in this section.

To master these areas, we recommend consistent practice with high-quality resources. Our 11 plus maths papers are designed to mirror the difficulty of the actual exam.

Which are the Best 11+ Practice Papers for The Judd School?

For The Judd School, we highly recommend the specific Kent Test practice packs. These resources cover the GL Assessment style used by the Kent Consortium.

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Analysis of 11+ Exam English topics

The English section of the Kent Test places high importance on comprehension skills. Reviewing 11+ english past papers shows that students must be able to infer meaning quickly from the text.

Vocabulary and grammar are also tested rigorously. The following table outlines the expected topic weighting for the English paper.

To score well, students should focus on 11 plus english comprehension exercises. Regular reading and vocabulary drills are essential for this part of the exam.

Which are the Best 11+ English Practice Papers for The Judd School?

We suggest a combination of comprehensive Kent-style papers and targeted skill-building packs. These resources ensure your child is prepared for every question type.

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Analysis of 11+ Exam Verbal Reasoning topics

Verbal Reasoning is a significant component of the Kent Test. Analysis of 11 plus verbal reasoning questions indicates a mix of code-breaking and word-meaning tasks.

Parents should ensure their children practise with verbal reasoning specific materials. This helps students become familiar with the logic required to solve these puzzles quickly.

Which are the Best 11+ VR Practice Papers for The Judd School?

These resources cover all known question types found in the Kent Test reasoning paper.

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Analysis of 11+ Exam Non-Verbal Reasoning topics

The Kent Test includes a spatial reasoning element within the 11 plus non verbal reasoning section. Visualizing shapes and patterns is key to high performance here.

Our resources for the non verbal reasoning test 11 plus provide extensive practice on spatial awareness. This ensures students are not surprised by complex 3D shape questions.

Which are the Best 11+ NVR Practice Papers for The Judd School?

Use these packs to master pattern recognition and spatial reasoning tasks.

​​The Judd School is highly competitive, making consistent practice crucial. Writing an 11 plus mock test allows students to understand the exam structure. These sessions highlight weak areas and test speed in a simulated environment. To join The Judd Tonbridge student must perform exceptionally well in the Kent Test.

We recommend these mocks to match the school's GL Assessment board:

Parents can also utilise our free 11 plus mock test to gauge initial performance levels. Regular 11 plus mock test Kent practice ensures your child is exam-ready. Focused The Judd School 11 plus mock exam preparation makes a significant difference.

• Autumn Half Term 1: Wednesday 03^rd September 2025 to Friday 17^th October 2025
• Autumn Half Term 2: Monday 27^th October 2025 to Friday 19^th December 2025
• Spring Half Term 1: Tuesday 06^th January 2026 to Friday 13^th February 2026
• Spring Half Term 2: Monday 23^rd February 2026 to Thursday 02^nd April 2026
• Summer Half Term 1: Monday 20^th April 2026 to Friday 22^nd May 2026
• Summer Half Term 2: Monday 01^st June 2026 to Friday 17^th July 2026

This information has been sourced from Get Information about Schools and The Judd School Official Website.