Kendrick School 11+ Test & Preparation Guide
Kendrick School’s current admission test is provided by GL Assessment. Candidates sit two papers, each approximately one hour, with questions covering a combination of Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Mathematics.
This guide keeps admissions-policy detail aside and focuses on the test itself: what is tested, what each area requires, how to use GL-style familiarisation wisely, and how to prepare using Scholars Tutorial online practice and printed paper sets.
Kendrick School 11+ Test Overview
The current Kendrick School admission test consists of two GL Assessment papers. Each paper is approximately one hour.
The questions cover a combination of:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- English
- Mathematics
All marking and standardisation are carried out by GL Assessment.
How to Think About the Two Papers
Kendrick School describes the test as two papers with a combination of reasoning, English and Maths content. The school does not present the test as four completely separate subject exams.
This means pupils should be comfortable switching between skills and question styles. Practice should include mixed sections rather than only isolated single-subject work.
| Area | What It Tests | Preparation Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | Language-based reasoning and word logic | Vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, word relationships, codes, sequences and instruction reading. |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | Visual logic and pattern recognition | Shape patterns, matrices, rotation, reflection, symmetry, spatial reasoning and visual accuracy. |
| English | Language and reading skills | Comprehension, vocabulary in context, grammar, punctuation, sentence accuracy and careful reading. |
| Mathematics | Numerical fluency and problem solving | Arithmetic, word problems, fractions, decimals, percentages, measurement, geometry and data. |
Preparation Priority
The strongest preparation plan covers all four areas, with regular mixed practice so pupils can move confidently between verbal, visual, English and Maths question types.
GL Assessment Familiarisation
Kendrick School provides GL Assessment familiarisation material and recommends that children become familiar with the multiple-choice layout, content and examples of question types they may face.
Familiarisation is especially important for Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning because many children may not have encountered these question types in ordinary school lessons.
Familiarisation material should be used to understand style and answer method. It should not be treated as a guarantee of exact question numbers, exact timings or exact difficulty in the real test.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning is a core Kendrick preparation area. It tests how pupils work with words, meanings, relationships and logic.
Your child should practise:
- synonyms and antonyms
- word meanings
- word relationships
- compound words
- letter and word codes
- logical word sequences
- odd-one-out word questions
- verbal analogies
- vocabulary-based reasoning
- careful instruction reading
- eliminating incorrect answer choices
- working quickly without guessing carelessly
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ VR
- 11+ Foundation VR, if basics need strengthening
- 11+ Advanced VOCAB, for vocabulary development
- 11+ SPAG, for language accuracy support
Non-Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal Reasoning tests visual logic, shape relationships and spatial problem solving. Pupils need to spot patterns quickly and avoid being distracted by small visual changes.
Your child should practise:
- odd-one-out shapes
- shape sequences
- matrices
- matching patterns
- rotation
- reflection
- symmetry
- folding and nets
- 3D cube awareness
- shape codes
- spatial awareness
- visual problem solving under time pressure
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ NVR
- 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets
English Preparation
English preparation should focus on comprehension, vocabulary and language accuracy. Although Kendrick School states there is no creative writing element, strong reading and English accuracy remain important.
Your child should practise:
- reading comprehension
- retrieving information from a passage
- inference
- vocabulary in context
- synonyms and antonyms
- spelling accuracy
- grammar and punctuation
- sentence structure
- proofreading
- careful reading of question wording
- selecting the best answer from close options
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ English
- 11+ SPAG
- 11+ Foundation English, if basics need strengthening
- 11+ Advanced English
- 11+ Advanced VOCAB
- 11+ Advanced SPAG
Maths Preparation
Maths preparation should focus on fluency, accuracy and problem solving. Pupils need to apply Key Stage 2 knowledge quickly under time pressure.
Your child should practise:
- times tables and mental arithmetic
- written addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- fractions
- decimals
- percentages
- ratio and proportion
- measurement and unit conversion
- area, perimeter and volume
- shape, angles and geometry
- data interpretation
- graphs and tables
- number patterns
- money and time problems
- multi-step word problems
- checking whether answers are sensible
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ Maths
- 11+ Maths : Word Problems
- 11+ Foundation Maths, if basics need strengthening
- 11+ Advanced Maths, for stronger pupils
Multiple-Choice and Answer-Sheet Technique
GL Assessment familiarisation material helps children become familiar with the multiple-choice layout of the test. This is important because pupils must work accurately and quickly across different question types.
Pupils should practise how to:
- read instructions before answering
- match each question to the correct answer number
- mark only the intended answer
- rub out changed answers completely
- avoid accidental marks
- keep pace across timed sections
- move on from difficult questions when needed
- return to skipped questions if time allows
- avoid losing place between the booklet and answer sheet
- balance speed with accuracy
Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets support Multiple Choice Format practice, which helps pupils build confidence with answer selection and answer-sheet discipline.
What Not to Over-Prioritise for Kendrick
Because Kendrick School states that there is no creative writing element, pupils should not spend a disproportionate amount of time preparing long creative-writing tasks for Kendrick alone.
Creative writing may still be useful if the child is also preparing for other schools that test written English, but Kendrick preparation should focus mainly on:
- GL-style Verbal Reasoning
- GL-style Non-Verbal Reasoning
- English comprehension and language accuracy
- Maths and word problems
- mixed multiple-choice practice
- timed exam stamina
Scholars Tutorial Preparation Route for Kendrick
On the Scholars Tutorial platform, Kendrick preparation should focus on Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English, Maths, Maths Word Problems, SPAG, vocabulary and mixed GL-style practice.
Recommended Online Route
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ VR
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ NVR
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ English
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ Maths
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ Maths : Word Problems
- 11+ Mock Exams → 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE, for broader mixed GL-style practice
- 11+ Mock Exams → 11+ SPAG, for language accuracy support
- 11+ Foundation → 11+ Foundation VR, if basics need strengthening
- 11+ Foundation → 11+ Foundation English, if basics need strengthening
- 11+ Foundation → 11+ Foundation Maths, if basics need strengthening
- 11+ Advanced → 11+ Advanced VOCAB, for vocabulary development
- 11+ Advanced → 11+ Advanced English, for stronger comprehension and language accuracy
- 11+ Advanced → 11+ Advanced Maths, for stronger problem solving
- 11+ Advanced → 11+ Advanced SPAG, for stronger language accuracy
If Kendrick is the main target, prioritise balanced VR, NVR, English and Maths preparation, with regular mixed practice to reflect the combined nature of the papers.
Printed Paper Sets for Kendrick Preparation
Printed paper sets are useful because they help pupils practise concentration, timing, answer selection and full-paper discipline.
Useful Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets include:
- 11+ Mixed Practice Papers
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
- 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
- 11+ English Practice Papers
- 11+ Maths Practice Papers
- 11+ Maths : Word Problems Practice Papers
- 11+ SPAG Practice Papers
- 11+ Foundation Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
- 11+ Foundation English Practice Papers
- 11+ Foundation Maths Practice Papers
- 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers
- 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers
- 11+ Advanced Maths Practice Papers
- 11+ Advanced SPAG Practice Papers
For Kendrick, printed practice should mainly target mixed GL-style timing, answer-sheet confidence, VR, NVR, English accuracy and Maths problem solving.
Suggested Weekly Preparation Plan
A balanced weekly Kendrick preparation plan could include:
- 1 to 2 days per week: Verbal Reasoning and vocabulary
- 1 to 2 days per week: Non-Verbal Reasoning
- 1 to 2 days per week: English comprehension, vocabulary or SPAG
- 1 to 2 days per week: Maths, word problems or arithmetic fluency
- 1 day per week: mixed timed practice and mistake review
Pupils closer to the test can gradually increase full mixed-paper practice. Pupils still building foundations should use shorter focused sessions and review mistakes carefully.
Common Preparation Mistakes
Avoid these common mistakes:
- preparing only English and Maths while ignoring VR and NVR
- over-prioritising creative writing even though Kendrick states there is no creative writing element
- doing Verbal Reasoning practice without building vocabulary
- leaving Non-Verbal Reasoning until the final weeks
- doing Maths arithmetic but not word problems
- doing English comprehension without reviewing vocabulary and SPAG errors
- using familiarisation papers as if they replicate the exact test
- ignoring multiple-choice answer-sheet technique
- doing papers without reviewing mistakes
- focusing only on speed instead of accuracy
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides the Kendrick School 11+ test?
Kendrick School states that all marking and standardisation are carried out by GL Assessment, and that familiarisation material is provided by GL Assessment.
How many papers are there?
Kendrick School states that candidates sit two test papers, each approximately one hour.
What subjects are tested?
The tests include questions covering a combination of Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Mathematics.
Is there Creative Writing?
No. Kendrick School states that there is no creative writing element to the admission tests.
Should pupils practise multiple-choice technique?
Yes. Kendrick School recommends that children familiarise themselves with the multiple-choice layout, content and examples of question types they may face.
Do familiarisation materials exactly match the real test?
No. Kendrick School notes that exact timings and the number of questions in the local 11+ test may differ from familiarisation and practice materials.
Which Scholars Tutorial subjects are best for Kendrick?
Useful subjects include 11+ VR, 11+ NVR, 11+ English, 11+ Maths, 11+ Maths : Word Problems, 11+ SPAG, 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE, Advanced VOCAB, Advanced English, Advanced Maths and Advanced SPAG.
Are printed paper sets useful?
Yes. Printed paper sets help pupils practise VR, NVR, English, Maths, word problems, SPAG, timing, mixed-paper stamina and answer-sheet discipline.
Final Preparation Advice
Kendrick School preparation should reflect the current GL Assessment structure: two papers covering a combination of Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Mathematics, with no creative writing element.
Pupils should build strong vocabulary, verbal logic, visual reasoning, reading accuracy, SPAG, Maths fluency, word-problem and multiple-choice answer skills, supported by regular mistake review.
The Scholars Tutorial online platform helps pupils strengthen the key test areas through organised subject categories, while printed paper sets help children practise with realistic exam discipline.
By combining online practice, printed paper sets, GL-style mixed practice, timed VR/NVR work, English accuracy, Maths problem solving and careful mistake review, pupils can build the confidence and accuracy needed for the Kendrick School admission test.