CEM11plus.org.uk
This is an independent website that has no affiliation to CEM Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring, Cambridge University. The advice and views on this website are not endorsed by the University of Cambridge or its subsidiaries. Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessments do not release past CEM 11+ papers nor do they sell and preparation material. They do not endorse or promote any third party preparation material. They do not encourage tuition.
A FREE CEM 11+ mock paper download is available from Children's Educational Material for 11+. Click here.
11+ tests: CEM -v- GL - so, what are the differences?
CEM and GL Assessment (GL) are competing 11+ test suppliers for selective 11 plus tests used in England for state grammar schools. Both suppliers cover the same 11+ subjects – English (comprehension), verbal reasoning (VR), maths and data-processing as well as non-verbal reasoning (NVR) including spatial reasoning.
The main differences are within verbal reasoning sections. CEM papers focus on a strong vocabulary where question types include synonyms, antonyms, cloze text, jumbled sentences and odd-word out. GL verbal reasoning comprise of a diverse range of question types that include codes for letters and maths based questions (sequences and simple sums). GL NVR questions involve more spatial reasoning questions. CEM and GL English and Maths more closely aligns its English and Maths to National Curriculum, KS2 which can include work in year 6, that may not be covered by schools when the test is sat. The net result is that far more preparation is required for GL 11+ tests.
Both tests are multiple-choice based with answers written on a separate answer sheet, although CEM have moved some clients on to computer based testing. CEM tests comprise of two papers of around 50-minutes with short sections each with a short break. Each test has a mixture of questions, whilst GL papers tend to focus on the same subjects with longer sections.
Because CEM 11+ papers comprise of short timed sections, they are effectively speed tests and often children do not complete all the sections. Time management is critical as is knowing when to move on to the next question. Weightings can be decided after the test is taken.
CEM withdrew paper based tests from 2023 and most suppliers moved over to GL Assessment.
History
GL Assessment (GLA) was previously known as the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). The NFER 11+ unit was purchased by Granada Learning in 2007 and re-branded GL Assessment. At the time GL Assessment developed the majority of 11+ tests used by state grammar schools. However, due to competition from CEM, GL re-formatted their papers, which some say resemble the format used by CEM and effectively re-launched their offerings. Their tests are created from a question bank. GLA is a private organisation which sells preparation material to bolster profits and is not subject to Freedom of Information Requests. They do not release past papers.
Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring was known CEM Centre and more recently as CEM. The foundations of this unit were born at Newcastle University. The staff moved to Durham University, where CEM Centre developed 11+ exams with an aim to identify innate ability and tests were often sold as “tutor-proof”, without any actual evidence. Nevertheless, the unit gained many clients at the expense of GL Assessment. CEM does not sell any preparation material or release past papers. They do not endorse any practice papers and claim to change the format of papers. However, papers are created via a data bank of questions. After losing their largest client, the grammars schools of Buckinghamshire, CEM soon put the unit up for sale. Their tests were found to increase tuition, were not tutor-proof and resulted in a higher proportion of middle class children entering grammar schools at the expense of poorer children. In 2019 CEM was sold to Cambridge Assessments and Cambridge University Press, so is now part of Cambridge University. Time will tell whether Cambridge University Press will start selling preparation material to bolster profits.