Kent Test Week: How Parents Can Protect Confidence and Reduce Exam Anxiety
Kent Test week has arrived. Children attending Kent primary schools sit the test on Thursday 10 September 2026, while children who do not attend a Kent primary school sit it over the weekend of 12 and 13 September.
After months of preparation, it can be tempting to use every final minute for one more paper, one more vocabulary list or one more reminder about timing. However, the last few days should not be about cramming. They should be about protecting confidence.
Calm is part of the preparation
A rested child is more likely to read carefully, think clearly and recover when a question feels difficult. An exhausted or frightened child may struggle to access knowledge they already have.
During the final 48 hours:
- keep revision short and familiar;
- avoid introducing difficult new material;
- follow the arrangements provided by the school or test centre;
- prepare permitted equipment in advance;
- keep meals and bedtime as normal as possible;
- avoid discussing pass marks repeatedly; and
- do not compare your child with friends or siblings.
Children notice adult anxiety. Even when parents do not say anything directly, rushed conversations and repeated checking can communicate that something frightening is about to happen.
Choose your words carefully
Comments such as “You must pass” or “We have spent so much money on this” place an adult burden on a child. Comparison can be equally damaging: “Your friend will probably pass” may remain in a child’s mind long after the conversation ends.
Try saying:
“You have worked hard and prepared. Take one question at a time, read carefully and keep going. Whatever happens, I am proud of you.”
This does not reduce ambition. It gives your child the emotional safety to perform at their best.
Three useful test-room reminders
Children do not need a long speech on the morning of the test. Three short reminders are enough:
- Read the question that is actually on the page.
- If one question takes too long, make your best choice and move on.
- Do not allow one difficult section to affect the next one.
Every child will find some questions challenging. The ability to continue calmly is part of exam technique.
What to do after the test
When your child comes out, ask, “How are you feeling?” before asking about individual questions.
Avoid reconstructing the paper, calculating an unofficial score or comparing your child’s memory with other children’s accounts. A child’s immediate feeling is not a reliable prediction of the result. Children often remember the questions they found difficult and overlook everything they answered successfully.
If your child says, “I think I did badly,” respond honestly and calmly:
“I’m sorry it felt difficult. You completed it, and I am proud of you. We do not need to work out the result today.”
Then allow the test to end. Plan something ordinary and enjoyable. Let your child rest, play and return to being a child.
The Kent Test is important to many families, but it cannot measure every form of intelligence, talent, character or future potential. One result will not define your child.
At Maidstone Learning Centre, we are proud of the knowledge our students have developed, but we are equally proud of their perseverance, growing independence and courage. Those qualities will continue to serve them long after test day.
Follow Maidstone Learning Centre for calm, practical guidance before the Kent Test and support when results are released in October.