Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School (11+) 11 Plus Exam - 2026 Key Information

​Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School is a leading selective grammar school for girls in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Established in 1905, it provides an exceptional education to 1,000+ pupils aged 11 to 18, covering Key Stage 3 (KS3) and sixth form (6th Form).

Locally known as TWGGS, the foundation is recognised as one of the best grammar schools in UK. It holds an "Outstanding" Ofsted Rating, reflecting its consistent record of academic excellence.

TWGGS is the UK’s only all-girls state school with its own Combined Cadet Force across Army and Navy units. The largest all-female state contingent builds discipline, leadership, and adventure. It embodies the “Give Your Best” ethos, uniting academic excellence with exceptional co-curricular opportunities.

In this guide, I apply 6+ years of education consultancy to help parents navigate Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School 2026 11 plus (11+) Exam admissions with confidence.

School Details

• Type of School: Grammar / Foundation School
• Boarding Type: No Boarding
• Gender Type: Girls
• Religion: None
• Age Range: 11–18
• Number of Pupils (Total): 1060+
• Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School GCSE Results (2025): 67.11% achieved Grade 9–7
• Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School A-Level Results (2025): 75.1% achieved A*–B

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Year 7 Admissions Details

• Year 7 Admissions Policy: Selective
  
• Number of Places in Year 7 (PAN): 174
  
• 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% (Standardised Score: 332)

Navigating the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School open day schedule and admissions timeline requires focus. I have compiled the definitive Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School 11 plus exam dates, including the 11+ Exam date, to organize your preparation.

These 11 plus exam dates are structured chronologically to support your application.

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School (TWGGS) participates in the Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme managed by Kent County Council. Admission to this selective school is entirely based on the pupil's performance in the Kent Test.

How to Register for 11+ Exam

Parents must complete two distinct applications to secure a place for September 2026. The 11 plus exam process is strict, and late applications are rarely accepted.

• Register for the Kent Test: You must register your daughter for the 11+ Exam via the Kent County Council website.
  
• Kent Test Deadline: Online registration typically opens on Monday 2 June 2025 and closes at midnight on Tuesday 1 July 2025.
  
• The Common Application Form (SCAF): You must also apply to your home Local Authority listing twggs as a preference.
  
• Local Authority Deadline: Submit the SCAF through your Local Authority Admissions Portal by Friday 31 October 2025.
• Supplementary Information Form (SIF): As stated in the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School Admissions Policy, a SIF is generally not required unless applying for Pupil Premium priority.

The eleven plus exams are held in September, with results released before the application deadline for grammar schools in Kent.

The School catchment area for Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School is strictly defined by specific geographical boundaries and named parishes. As stated in the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School Admissions Policy, priority is primarily given to girls resident in the Priority Area who have been assessed as "grammar-suitable" via the 11 plus test.

The Defined Zones:

• Priority Area (The "Catchment"): This comprises applicants living within a 4-mile radius of the school or within designated parishes such as Sevenoaks, Pembury, and Hildenborough.
  
• Outer Area: This category includes applicants from all other parishes outside the designated priority zones who meet the 11+ exam baseline.
  

Distance is measured in a direct "as the crow flies" line from the child’s permanent residence to the school. For the TWGGS Catchment Area, 17 Governor Places are specifically reserved for the highest scorers from the named parishes or the 4-mile radius who did not secure a distance-based spot.

Success in the 11 plus test is essential, requiring a total aggregate score of 332 with no individual paper below 108. The 11+ exam catchment rules use distance as the final tie-breaker for oversubscribed places, with the 2025 cut-off falling at approximately 3.219 miles.

As stated in the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School Admissions Policy, admission requires achieving the required standard in the Kent Test. The Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School 11 Plus Test assesses pupils on literacy, numeracy, and reasoning skills to ensure they can access the grammar school curriculum.

The Kent Test Format

The Kent test 2025 is divided into two main papers plus a writing exercise. The English and Maths tests are combined into one paper, while the Reasoning test forms the second paper. The following table details the structure for the Kent 11 plus test.

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Parent’s Top 4 Queries

Is there a separate entrance exam for TWGGS?

No, TWGGS uses the Kent Test (PESE) exclusively for selection; there is no additional school-specific paper.

How is the final score calculated?

The scores are standardised and age-weighted. An aggregate score (usually requiring a minimum of 332) determines eligibility, with no single component falling below 108.

What exam board does Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School follow?

TWGGS uses the Kent Grammar Schools (Kent PESE), authored by GL Assessment.

How long is the 11+ Exam for Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School?

The tests take approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes total.

Important Note for Parents - OMR Sheet Guidance

The GL assessment papers use separate answer sheets. Pupils must mark their answers with a clear horizontal line using a pencil. Please ensure your child understands that stray marks or incomplete erasures can cause reading errors on the automated OMR scanner.

TWGGS determines admission eligibility using the standard Kent Test threshold managed by Kent County Council. To secure a place, students must achieve the required aggregate score in their 11 plus exam results.

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Recent Kent Test Thresholds

• 2025 Entry: Total score of 332 (minimum 108 per section).
• 2024 Entry: Total score of 332 (minimum 107 per section).

Meeting this pass mark allows entry into the allocation pool, usually prioritised by distance. Ample practice ensures your child can comfortably clear this threshold in the eleven plus exam.

TWGGS is widely considered the "Gold Standard" for girls' education in the area. However, with hundreds of applicants for roughly 174 places, the competition is severe. A single bad day during the exam can change everything.

I have advised Kent parents for over 18 years on school selection. I strongly recommend a "3 Grammar, 2 Private" strategy. This ensures your daughter has a secure pathway to elite education, regardless of one specific test result.

Top 5 Alternative Grammar and Independent Schools

When families apply to Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, they usually target Tonbridge for academic rigour. For private options, Sevenoaks and Kent College are the most common parallel choices.

Here is how the top alternatives compare:

Why these schools are the top alternatives to TWGGS

• Tonbridge Grammar School (TGS): This is the primary rival for high-achieving girls. It offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) and selects heavily based on high aggregate scores, making it a "Super Selective" option.
• Weald of Kent Grammar School: Located conveniently in Tonbridge with an annexe in Sevenoaks. It is generally easier to access via the Kent Test pass mark compared to the high cutoff often required for TGS.
  
• Sevenoaks School: This is a world-class independent option. If you are considering private education, Sevenoaks offers the IB curriculum and facilities that rival top universities, though entrance is fiercely competitive.
  
• Kent College Pembury: A fantastic local independent choice. It focuses on a holistic education and is often less academically pressured than the grammar system, while still delivering strong results.
  
• Mayfield School: A leading Catholic independent school nearby. It offers a strong creative arts programme alongside academics, providing a nurturing boarding or day environment that differs from the town-centre grammar schools.

According to the National School Census, TWGGS consistently attracts a high volume of applicants for its Year 7 intake. With roughly four to five applications for every place, the competition is undeniably intense. Parents must ensure their child is thoroughly prepared for the eleven plus exam to stand a chance.

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School remains significantly oversubscribed, with a 39% oversubscription rate in 2025.

How hard is it to get into Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School ?

Parents frequently ask me, “Is Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School hard to get into?” Based on my experience, success is a manageable goal with a solid, targeted strategy. As stated in the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School Admissions Policy, the school has a Pupil Admission Number (PAN) of 174.

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School requires a high standard of performance. Read the next section to understand the 11+ Exam Format and secure your daughter’s place.

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School follows the Kent Test format for year 7 admissions. This assessment covers Maths, English, and Reasoning.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Maths topics

Our analysis of 11+ maths papers shows that the Kent Test focuses heavily on core numerical skills. Students must master arithmetic and data handling to succeed in this section.

The table below outlines the topic weighting based on past trends.

To prepare, we recommend using our specific kent test practice papers designed for this format.

Try our 11+ maths topics questions. Used by over 20,000 students, these resources cover all essential areas found in the exam.

Analysis of 11+ Exam English topics

The English section of the Kent Test assesses reading skills and grammar knowledge. Our review of 11+ english papers indicates a strong emphasis on comprehension and vocabulary.

There is also a creative writing exercise. While not always scored initially, it is crucial for borderline cases.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Verbal Reasoning topics

11 Plus Verbal Reasoning is a significant component of the Kent Test. Analysis shows that coding, word meanings, and letter sequences are the primary focus areas.

Elevate your score with our targeted resources. These materials are trusted by thousands of parents for kent secondary schools entrance exams.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Non-Verbal Reasoning topics

For Non Verbal Reasoning 11 Plus, spatial awareness is key. Questions often involve matrices, analogies, and 2D/3D shapes.

Our NVR packs provide the structured practice needed to master these visual puzzles.

Which are the Best (11 plus) 11+ Practice Papers for Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School?

Our targeted 11+ practice papers online free samples and full packs help students familiarize themselves with the exam pattern. We recommend the following resources for the Kent Test format.

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School (TWGGS) is highly selective, making targeted preparation essential for the Kent Test. Sitting an 11 plus mock test helps students master the specific GL Assessment format used by the school. These exams identify weak areas, allowing your daughter to improve her speed and accuracy under timed conditions.

Since the school uses GL Assessment, we recommend the following mock exam packs to mirror the actual test content.

You can also access our free 11 plus mock test to evaluate your child's current performance level. Booking a formal 11 plus mock test Kent session ensures students are ready for the regional competition.

• Autumn Half Term 1: 2^nd September 2026 to 23^rd October 2026
  
• Autumn Half Term 2: 2^nd November 2026 to 18^th December 2026
  
• Spring Half Term 1: 4^nd January 2027 to 12^th February 2027
  
• Spring Half Term 2: 22^nd February 2027 to 25^th March 2027
  
• Summer Half Term 1: 12^th April 2027 to 28^th May 2027
  
• Summer Half Term 2: 7^th June 2027 to 16^th July 2027
  

This information has been sourced from Get Information about Schools and Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School Official Website.