parent guides

Kent Test dates: registration, test day and results timeline

Every date that matters for the Kent Test, from registration in June to offers day in March - and how the cycle fits together if your child is in Year 3, 4 or 5 now.

Reviewed 14 September 2026 against kent.gov.uk

The cycle at a glance

The Kent Test follows the same rhythm every year. Using the most recent cycle (the test sat in September 2026, for Year 7 entry in September 2027) as the template:

If your child is in Year 5 now (test September 2027)

Kent County Council publishes the confirmed dates for each cycle in the spring before registration opens. Based on the established pattern, expect registration for the September 2027 test (Year 7 entry 2028) to open around 1 June 2027 and close around 1 July 2027, with the test in the second week of September 2027 and results in mid-October 2027. Always confirm on kent.gov.uk when the new leaflet is published - we'll update this page when it is.

What this means for Year 3 and Year 4 parents

The dates above are fixed; the preparation window is not. Children who start structured practice in Year 3 or Year 4 simply have more weeks between them and test day - which is exactly why scores built gradually, week by week, beat cramming every time. A Year 3 starter has roughly 150 weekly practice cycles before their test; a Year 5 starter has about 50.

Common questions