"The 11+" isn't one exam — it's a catch-all term for several different tests, run by different organisations, used by different schools and local authorities. Knowing which one applies to the school(s) you're targeting changes how you should prepare. This page explains each format in plain English.
GL Assessment is the largest provider of 11+ tests for state grammar schools, used across counties including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and many more. Papers typically cover verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths, usually multiple-choice and marked by optical mark reader.
CSSE is specific to Essex/Southend and deliberately excludes reasoning papers, focusing on English and maths only — a real difference from GL-style testing. SET ("Secondary Transfer Test") is used as a name by several unrelated local consortia; the actual content and provider behind a "SET" test in Buckinghamshire is not necessarily the same as a "SET" test in Sutton or Bromley, so don't assume format from the name alone — check with the specific consortium.
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is mainly used by independent schools. It's computer-adaptive (question difficulty responds to how the child is doing) and covers English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning; the same result is shared with every school on the application that accepts it, avoiding multiple separate sittings. Bespoke/own-paper tests, by contrast, are unique to one school — Tiffin, the Henrietta Barnett School, QE Boys Barnet and most independent day schools fall into this category. These vary the most in content and are hardest to generic-prepare for beyond strong core skills.
Exam boards, formats and test dates can change year to year, and schools sometimes move between consortia. Always confirm the current arrangements directly with the school or admissions authority before relying on any single source, including this page.
Pulled straight from PipPrep's own question bank — not invented for this page.
PipPrep adapts to your child's target school with 100,000+ questions across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Free to start, no card needed.
Start free →CEM (the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) was acquired and its 11+ business was wound down; schools that historically used "CEM-style" tests have generally moved to other providers or GL Assessment in recent years. If a source describes a school as "CEM", treat that as potentially out of date and confirm the current provider directly with the school or local authority.
Check the school's own admissions page or contact the school/local authority directly — the board can change between admissions cycles, and third-party lists (including this site) can lag a change.
Yes, meaningfully. GL and CSSE-style tests reward broad reasoning/maths/English practice with exam-condition timing. The ISEB pre-test rewards comfort with an on-screen, adaptive format. Bespoke own-paper schools are the hardest to target-practice for since format varies most, so a strong general foundation matters even more.
It's uncommon but not impossible for a school's process to combine, eg, a shared pre-test as a first stage with a bespoke second-stage assessment. Always read the specific admissions process for the school, not just the headline board name.