Updated June 2026 · free, no sign-up · facts checked against official sources
CEM (originally the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University, now part of GL Assessment's portfolio) developed a style of 11+ test that was adopted by many grammar school regions from around 2012 onwards - partly to make the test harder to coach for. Since 2023-24, a number of regions that previously used CEM have transitioned back to standard GL Assessment papers. This page covers what the CEM-style test involves and free practice questions that suit its mixed-topic format.
CEM test format (2026) - what you need to know
Important: several regions that used CEM have switched to GL Assessment since 2024, including parts of the West Midlands and some northern areas. Always check with the specific school or consortium to confirm which test they currently use before you prepare.
Regions still commonly associated with CEM-style tests (as of 2026) include parts of Lincolnshire, Wiltshire and some individual school consortia - but this changes. Check the school's admissions page.
CEM tests cover verbal reasoning, comprehension (reading a passage and answering questions), and numerical reasoning. Non-verbal reasoning may or may not be included depending on the region.
The format is mixed and less predictable than standard GL: topic types change within a paper, sections are timed separately, and the exact question mix is not published in advance - making breadth of preparation more important than drilling specific question types.
Questions include synonyms, antonyms, cloze (fill-in-the-gap), comprehension inference, number sequences, word problems and data interpretation.
Results are standardised and expressed as a score. Qualifying scores vary by school; confirm the current figure with the admitting school or local authority.
Dates and pass marks change each year - always confirm with the school or local authority before you rely on them.
Free CEM-style practice questions
Tap an option to check it; a worked explanation follows every answer.
Question 1 · Numerical Reasoning
A car journey of 180 miles takes 2.5 hours. What is the average speed in miles per hour?
Which word is most opposite in meaning to CONCEAL?
Answer: reveal. Conceal means to hide or keep secret. Its opposite is reveal - to make something known or visible.
Question 3 · Cloze / Comprehension
A passage says: 'The explorer crossed the arid terrain, with no water source in sight for miles.' What does ARID most likely mean in this context?
Answer: dry. The context clue is "no water source in sight for miles", which strongly suggests dry. Arid means extremely dry with little or no rainfall.
Question 4 · Numerical Reasoning
What fraction of 60 is 45?
Answer: 3/4. 45 ÷ 60 = 3/4 (divide both by 15: 45/15 = 3, 60/15 = 4).
Question 5 · Verbal Reasoning / Odd-one-out
Which does NOT belong: whisper, murmur, shout, mutter?
Answer: shout. Whisper, murmur and mutter all describe quiet, low or indistinct speech. Shout means the opposite - speaking very loudly.
Question 6 · Numerical Reasoning
What is 2/3 of 96?
Answer: 64. 96 ÷ 3 = 32. 32 × 2 = 64.
Question 7 · Verbal Reasoning / Analogies
Choose the pair of words that best completes: 'The child was ___ but the adult was ___.'
Answer: timid ... bold. The sentence structure "but" signals a contrast. Timid (shy, reluctant) and bold (confident, daring) are direct opposites - the only contrast pair in the options.
Question 8 · Numerical Reasoning
What comes next in the sequence? 100, 91, 83, 76, 70, ___
Answer: 65. The differences between terms are: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 - decreasing by 1 each time. So 70 − 5 = 65.
Question 9 · Verbal Reasoning
Which word is most similar in meaning to TRANQUIL?
Answer: calm. Tranquil means free from disturbance, peaceful and quiet - calm is the closest synonym.
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