As the results of the Kent Test are released today, parents and pupils across the county will discover if they have secured a coveted grammar school place.

But thousands are set for disappointment with 14,484 Year 6 children registered to sit the test competing for just 4,803 places.

Over 505 more pupils passed the test compared to last year, with 6,258 passing the exam.

Families who registered online can log on after 5pm and view their test outcome if they have retained their log-in and password details.

KCC will also email families who registered online for the test after 4pm, but says parents may not receive the messages immediately.

Letters will be sent to nearly 14,000 families today, to arrive on doormats from tomorrow.

KCC Cabinet Member for Education Roger Gough, said: “Some serious decisions need to be taken, because making the right choice of secondary school will have a major impact on the rest of their education.

“Kent has a diverse mix of schools and it is important that parents and carers use all their available preferences, naming the schools they prefer in order of priority.

"We also recommend personal visits to each school in their catchment area and take advice from their child’s current primary school.”

The Kent Test consists of four sections – English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning – and all are multiple choice.

There will also be a writing exercise, which will not be marked but may be used by a local head teacher panel where children are assessed as borderline.

Last year Kent County Council introduced a new form of the test which education chiefs hoped would limit the advantages of private coaching.

It was also the first time children sat the tests in one day.

Each child is given three standardised scores for English, maths and reasoning.

Standardisation is a statistical process which compares a child’s performance with the average performance of other children in each test.

Each child’s age is also taken into account so that the youngest are not at a disadvantage.

A standardised score of 100 represents an average performance for a child of a given age, with the lowest standardised score normally around 70 and the highest around 140.

The threshold score for a Kent grammar school assessment takes into account the results children achieve. If scores are high, the pass mark is set higher, and vice versa.