Everything parents need to know about the 11+ exam format — and the big change that happened when CEM retired from paper-based exams in 2023.
Granada Learning
Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring
GL Assessment (Granada Learning) is the most widely used 11+ provider. It produces separate papers for each subject, each independently timed. A child sitting GL exams might complete four separate papers across one or two exam sessions.
What it tests: English (comprehension, grammar, vocabulary), Maths (arithmetic, problem-solving, geometry), Verbal Reasoning (analogies, sequences, codes), and Non-Verbal Reasoning (visual patterns, matrices, rotations).
Format: Multiple choice, five options per question, a separate answer sheet that's marked by machine. Question types are consistent year-to-year — your child can prepare with confidence by practising the formats repeatedly.
Where it's used: Kent, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Lancashire, Trafford, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, parts of Birmingham, and many more regions.
CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, formerly part of Durham University, now CEM Cambridge) was designed to be more "tutor-proof" — varying its question style and content year on year so that intensive coaching has less of an effect.
What it tests: Numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning. English and maths are interleaved within papers rather than tested separately.
Format: A single paper combining multiple skills, with sections of different question types. Less time per question than GL — children must work quickly and accurately. Some questions are standard short answer rather than multiple choice.
Where it's used: Bexley, parts of Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Dorset, and a small number of grammar consortiums elsewhere.
| GL Assessment | CEM | |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects per paper | 1 (separate papers) | Multiple subjects mixed |
| Time per question | Generous, predictable | Tighter, faster pace |
| Question style | Consistent year-to-year | Varies between years |
| Answer format | Multiple choice (5 options) | Mostly multiple choice + short answer |
| Tutor-proofing | Lower (predictable) | Higher by design |
| Practice papers available | Plentiful | More limited |
| Best preparation | Master the formats | Build speed and adaptability |
Check the school's admissions page or the consortium page for your region. Our Regions page has a breakdown of every major area in England with the format listed.
Yes — and it's a good idea if you're applying to schools in different consortiums. Our papers include both GL-style and CEM-style questions, clearly labelled.
Not necessarily harder, but many children find CEM trickier because it mixes subjects within a single paper and moves faster. GL tends to be more predictable in format. Neither is 'harder' — they require different preparation strategies.
Most families start in Year 4 or early Year 5, giving 12–18 months of gentle practice before intensive preparation in Year 6 summer. Starting in Year 6 alone is possible but tight.
Our All Subjects Bundle includes papers in both formats. Single subject packs include GL-format papers by default.
It varies by school and year. Grammar schools don't publish fixed pass marks — they offer places to the highest-scoring children up to their capacity. Standardised scores vary by year group difficulty.
Free papers for GL and CEM formats. Create an account and start today — no payment needed.