Registration for Kingston Grammar School 11+ closes today. A free consultation now leaves time to plan the preparation before the assessment.
Book a free consultationKey Facts
| School Name | Kingston Grammar School (KGS) |
|---|---|
| Location | 70 London Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 6PY |
| Founded | 1561 (Royal Charter from Elizabeth I) |
| Type | Independent co-educational day school |
| Age Range | 11-18 years |
| Students | Approximately 876 pupils |
| Scholarships | Academic, arts, drama, music, and sports awards available |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £9,750 (gross, inc. VAT) per term |
| 11+ entrance exam | English, Mathematics (School's own papers) |
| Registration deadline | Monday 5 October 2026 (September 2027 entry) |
| Assessment date | Friday 6 November 2026 (September 2027 entry) |
| Offers | Friday 12 February 2027 |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Kingston Grammar School's 11+ entrance exam determines entry to Year 7, with candidates sitting English and Mathematics papers set by the school on a single day in November of Year 6. A Scholarship assessment runs alongside the standard papers, and shortlisted candidates attend interview before places are confirmed in February. Registration usually closes in early autumn of Year 6, so families need to apply in good time; the key facts table on this page carries the exact dates for the current entry round.
About Kingston Grammar School
KGS is a co-educational day school in Kingston upon Thames, with around 876 pupils on its roll.
The entrance exam
The 11+ assessments at KGS are set and marked by the school's own admissions department, distinct from the external testing boards used by some other independent schools. Candidates sit two timed papers on the same day, covering English and Mathematics, with a separate Scholarship assessment running alongside the standard entry papers for those applying for that route. Successful candidates are then called for interview as part of the wider admissions process, before offers are confirmed.
- English: comprehension and creative writing, 50 minutes
- Mathematics: 50 minutes
Registration and key dates
Registration for the 11+ assessments usually opens earlier in Year 6, with the closing date falling in early autumn; the assessment itself follows a matter of weeks later, and families hear the outcome in the new year. Because the timetable moves quickly from registration to assessment to offer, registering as soon as applications open is generally more comfortable than waiting until close to the deadline. The key facts table on this page confirms the dates that apply to a given entry year.
- Registration: usually closes in early autumn of Year 6
- Assessment day: usually held in November of Year 6
- Offers: usually confirmed in February of Year 6
- Entry: places begin in September, at the start of Year 7
Current dates are in the key facts table at the top of this page, taken from the school's own admissions pages below, which remain the reference for each round.
Past papers and familiarisation
KGS does not publish past papers or sample assessments on its website; sample papers are emailed directly to candidates once their registration is fully processed. The papers are set in-house, distinct from standard regional 11+ formats, so practising with the school's own sample papers once received tends to be more useful than generic 11+ practice materials. Families preparing for this format generally focus on timed comprehension and creative writing practice for English, alongside arithmetic and problem-solving practice for Mathematics, working within the fifty-minute limits that mirror the real assessment.
Preparing with Taylor Tuition
The KGS 11+ rewards steady preparation over a year or so, with the last term given to timed practice and interview confidence. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors match the programme to the school's assessment format and to where the child is starting from.
Because the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, and more than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status, families get a tutor who understands what the assessors are looking for. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.
Families in Surrey and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Kingston Grammar School 11+ exam involve?
- Candidates sit two school-set papers on the same day: English, covering comprehension and creative writing over fifty minutes, and Mathematics, also fifty minutes. A separate Scholarship assessment runs alongside the standard papers for those applying for that route, and shortlisted candidates are then invited to interview before offers are confirmed.
- When does registration close and when is the 11+ exam sat?
- Registration usually closes in early autumn of Year 6, with the assessment itself sat a few weeks later in November. Offers follow in February of the same school year. Exact dates vary by entry year, so families should check the key facts table on this page instead of relying on a fixed calendar date.
- Are past papers available for the 11+?
- The school does not publish past or sample papers online. Instead, sample papers are emailed directly to candidates once their registration is fully processed, giving families a sense of the format ahead of the assessment day itself. Practising with these official samples, once received, is generally more useful than generic 11+ materials.
- How hard is the 11+ and how should a child prepare?
- Because the papers are set by the school itself, preparation tends to focus on comprehension, creative writing and mathematical reasoning within a fifty-minute time frame, distinct from practice for a specific regional test format. Familiarity with timed writing and problem-solving generally helps candidates feel comfortable with the pace of the assessment.
- What type of school is KGS?
- KGS is an independent co-educational day school.
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Free 11+ familiarisation pack
English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with mark schemes.
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