I spent about four months assuming my son's target school used GL. We'd bought the books, done the question types, and were getting somewhere. Then I actually read the admissions page properly. CEM. The whole time. Not going to pretend that wasn't annoying.
Here's what I wish I'd understood from the start.
Two organisations produce most 11+ papers: GL Assessment and CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, part of Durham University). They take quite different approaches. Getting this right before you buy anything is time well spent.
What GL Assessment tests
GL papers are structured and well-documented. Your child sits separate papers for each subject - Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning - each with clearly defined question types that stay consistent year to year.
GL Verbal Reasoning alone has around 21 distinct question types, including letter codes, hidden words, analogies, and number series. Work through each type and there aren't many surprises left on the day.
What CEM tests
CEM is deliberately less predictable. Subjects are combined within a single sitting - Verbal Reasoning and English comprehension can appear together, Numerical Reasoning and Maths are often blended - and question styles shift from year to year. There's no published list of types.
CEM places heavy emphasis on reading speed and comprehension. Kids who read widely tend to have a real advantage. Papers are timed more tightly than GL, so staying calm under pressure matters.
Which schools use which format?
- GL Assessment: Essex (CSSE), Hertfordshire, Kent, Buckinghamshire, and many individual grammar schools.
- CEM: Birmingham, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and several consortia in the north of England.
- Some areas use their own papers entirely. London consortium schools often use ISEB; some independent schools set their own tests.
Check the admissions page of every target school before buying a single practice book. Don't assume.
| Feature | GL Assessment | CEM |
|---|---|---|
| Paper structure | Separate papers per subject | Combined mixed papers |
| Question types | Fixed, published formats | Variable, unpredictable |
| Verbal Reasoning | 21 defined question types | Blended with English |
| Maths | Standalone arithmetic and problem-solving | Blended numerical reasoning |
| Reading emphasis | Moderate | High (speed matters) |
| Predictability | High (consistent year to year) | Lower (format can shift) |
How to prepare for GL
Systematic coverage is the approach. Work through each of the 21 Verbal Reasoning types until your child recognises them on sight - that recognition alone saves real time in the exam. For Maths, GL covers the KS2 curriculum thoroughly, so gaps in core numeracy will show. NVR is genuinely improvable quickly; children who haven't done much of it often see fast gains in the early weeks.
How to prepare for CEM
The emphasis shifts towards building underlying ability rather than drilling specific formats. Reading is the single most useful thing - a child who reads widely will handle comprehension passages far more naturally than one who has only done past papers. For Numerical Reasoning, mental arithmetic fluency matters more than obscure topic knowledge. Timed practice is especially important: your child should regularly work under genuine time pressure, not just finish at their own pace.
If you're not sure which format you're targeting yet, broad preparation covering all four subjects will serve well regardless. For GL, prioritise question-type recognition; for CEM, prioritise reading speed and mental agility. The underlying skills overlap more than you'd think.