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11+ Exam Boards
The key differences between GL and CEM for the 11+
Getting Ready for the 11+
Before you begin:
Whether you are new to preparing for the 11+ or accustomed to the rigours of the entrance tests, understanding the difference between ‘GL’, and ‘CEM’ can be confusing. On the very basic level, they are exam boards for the 11+ across the UK and in their overseas campuses.
They cover virtually the same 11+ topics: English, quantitative (maths), verbal, non-verbal and spatial reasoning. There are some differences in the way that the examinations work, so understanding what the differences are and they work will help you to prepare for the test.
GL Assessment for 11+
Covering the majority of grammar schools in the UK.
GL Assessment typically takes its questions from the GL Assessment Question Bank and uses a variety of different question types across all four subjects. With practice and preparation, it is possible for test takers to become familiar with question types.
Coverage
Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Kent, Lancashire & Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Medway, Northern Ireland, Warwickshire.
As well as schools in: Devon, Essex, Hertfordshire, Trafford, Wiltshire, Wirral, Yorkshire, who offer the CEM 11+ too.
Subjects
GL covers all 11+ batteries:
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English
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Maths
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Verbal reasoning
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Non-verbal reasoning
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Spatial reasoning
Timing
45-minutes
The test is typically 45 minutes long, however, it can change depending on the school. It is always best to check the particulars of each test with the testing-school.
CEM for 11+
CEM: Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring at the University of Durham, developed the CEM 11+ exam because there were concerns from grammar schools that the existing 11+ exam system had become too transparent.
The CEM 11+ exam is designed to minimise question spotting and teaching to the test, in order to “reduce any disadvantage created between children who are tutored for tests and those who are not.”
One of the main differences between GL and CEM is the format of the paper; CEM papers are mixed, with one exam combining English and verbal reasoning and another combining maths and non-verbal reasoning. In addition, some papers move quickly between a short maths section, a longer problem solving exercise, then some logic puzzles.
The format of the paper also varies between school and region and can include Standard Format, Multiple Choice, or a combination of both.
Coverage
CEM is administered in the following regions:
Berkshire, Bexley, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Walsall, Wolverhampton. As well as schools in: Devon, Essex, Hertfordshire, Trafford, Wiltshire, Wirral, Yorkshire, who offer the GL 11+ too.
Subjects
CEM covers all 11+ batteries except spatial reasoning.
As well as covering the majority of subjects in the 11+, CEM includes similar content to the GL 11+:
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Verbal reasoning
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Numerical reasoning
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Non-verbal reasoning
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The CEM test mimics parts of the GL 11+ too: ‘verbal reasoning’ involves many of the skills tested in the GL English exam, including comprehension. Likewise, ‘numerical reasoning’ involves the core maths skills needed for the GL exam.
Timing
Timings will be allocated to each section, and children will need to carefully manage the time they spend on each section.
In CEM exams, there will typically be more questions than are likely to be answered in the time allocated, and the weighting of each subject for your child’s final mark will be unknown before the exam.
