Two organisations shaped the bulk of UK 11+ papers for years: GL Assessment and CEM (the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, originally based at Durham University). They tested the same four subjects but in noticeably different ways. The single most important fact for parents in 2026 is that this is no longer a fair fight: CEM's paper-based 11+ was discontinued around 2022-2023, and most regions that once used it have moved to GL or to their own bespoke papers. If you are reading older tutoring guides, much of what they say about "sitting a CEM paper" is now out of date.
Current state, 2026: what actually changed
CEM was created to be "tutor-proof" — its papers blended subjects and used a wide vocabulary so that drilling narrow question types was less effective. It worked well enough that whole counties adopted it. But CEM has since become part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and its separate paper 11+ was withdrawn. Where CEM-style online products still exist, they are online and adaptive rather than the printed multi-subject booklet parents remember. In practice, this means the everyday 11+ that most children now sit is a GL Assessment test, a written consortium exam like CSSE in Essex, or an online ISEB Common Pre-Test for independent schools.
Because systems change year to year, always confirm the current provider with your own local authority (LA) admissions page or the school directly. Our grammar school directory and 11+ process guide are kept current, and the key dates page lists registration and test windows by region.
GL Assessment papers: the now-dominant format
GL is the most widely used board across England. Its papers are usually delivered as separate, tightly timed single-subject tests — one each for English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) — though many regions test only a subset (commonly VR, NVR and Maths). Questions are almost entirely multiple choice, with answers marked A to E on a separate answer sheet. Timing is brisk: roughly a minute per question, no calculator, with sub-sections often timed separately so a child cannot borrow time from one part to finish another. A typical paper carries around 50 to 80 questions.
GL draws from a known bank of question types, which is exactly why targeted practice helps. You can drill each type in isolation on our free worksheets, then sit a full-length timed GL-style mock to build exam stamina.
GL Verbal Reasoning question types
GL VR is built from around 21 named question types. Recognising the type instantly is half the battle. Common ones include:
- Letter codes — if CAT is coded DBU (each letter moved on one), what is DOG? Answer: EPH.
- Hidden words — a word hidden across two others, e.g. "the beach lies" hides beach... more usefully, "worth early" hides hear.
- Closest meaning / opposite — pick the pair nearest in meaning, or most opposite.
- Odd one out, analogies, compound words, move-a-letter, letter sequences and number series, plus short logic puzzles.
GL Non-Verbal Reasoning question types
NVR uses shapes and patterns, so vocabulary is not a barrier. The main types are series (what comes next), matrices (fill the missing cell in a grid), analogies (A is to B as C is to ?), odd one out, reflections and rotations, and spatial tasks such as cube nets and paper folding. A classic rotation item shows an arrow pointing up-left, then asks which option shows it turned 90 degrees clockwise (it now points up-right). Practise these on our free NVR worksheets.
CEM's legacy format (and why it mattered)
When CEM was live, its papers blended subjects within a single sitting: a child might move from a comprehension passage to worded numerical reasoning to verbal analogies without a break. It leaned heavily on cloze procedure (filling gaps in text), a wide vocabulary, and relentless timing pressure. The design philosophy was coaching-resistance. Even though the paper 11+ is gone, the underlying skills — broad reading, fast mental arithmetic, calm switching between task types — are still exactly what a strong candidate needs. Our mixed-mode mocks deliberately mimic that switching pressure so children are not thrown by variety on the day.
GL vs CEM vs CSSE vs ISEB at a glance
| Board | Format | Subjects | Answers | Prep focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL | Paper, separate timed papers | English, Maths, VR, NVR (region varies) | Multiple choice (A-E) | Question-type drilling, speed |
| CEM (legacy) | Paper, now discontinued / online only | Blended numerical + verbal | Mixed | Vocabulary, versatility |
| CSSE (Essex) | Two written papers | English + Maths only | Written / free response | Written technique, creative writing |
| ISEB Pre-Test | Online adaptive, ~2.5 hrs | English, Maths, VR, NVR | Multiple choice on screen | On-screen practice, no revisiting |
The other boards you may meet
CSSE runs the Essex consortium exam: two written papers (English and Maths), each marked out of 60 and equally weighted, including a creative writing task. It has no verbal or non-verbal reasoning. See our CSSE paper guide for the written technique that scores marks.
ISEB Common Pre-Test is used by 70+ independent senior schools (including names such as Eton, Harrow, Westminster and St Paul's) and by the London 11+ Consortium. It is online, adaptive and roughly 2.5 hours across English, Maths, VR and NVR, pitched at a Year 5 curriculum ceiling. Crucially, questions cannot be revisited, so children must practise committing to an answer and moving on.
Which board does my region use?
Always confirm with your LA, but as a 2026 starting point:
| Region / consortium | Provider | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Kent & Medway | GL | English, Maths, Reasoning (VR+NVR) |
| Buckinghamshire | GL (Secondary Transfer Test) | VR, NVR, Maths |
| Birmingham / King Edward VI | GL | All four, blended over two papers |
| Essex (CSSE) | CSSE | English + Maths (written) |
| Sutton / London grammars | GL (SET) | English + Maths, no reasoning |
| Trafford, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon | GL (regional) | Varies by consortium |
| Many independent schools | ISEB Pre-Test | English, Maths, VR, NVR |
Find full-length centre-matched papers on our centre-specific mocks page, covering 52 selective centres.
Standardised scores and age standardisation
Raw marks are converted to a Standardised Age Score (SAS) on a scale where 100 is average and the spread is roughly 69 to 141. The key idea is age standardisation: younger, summer-born children get a small uplift so they are not penalised for being months behind classmates. Two children can score the same raw mark and land on different standardised scores because of their birth month. Many grammar schools look for around 111 or above, but exact qualifying marks vary by area and year — never trust a fixed number quoted online without checking. Our revision hub explains how mock scores translate.
Board-specific preparation strategy
- GL: drill each named question type, then rehearse under strict sub-section timing. Practise the separate answer sheet so filling bubbles never costs time.
- CEM-style: build vocabulary widely and practise switching between comprehension and mental maths without losing rhythm.
- CSSE: focus on written English, planning a creative piece, and showing full working in maths.
- ISEB: practise on screen, work at pace, and get comfortable committing to answers you cannot revisit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kent Test GL or CEM?
Kent uses GL Assessment. It covers English, Maths and Reasoning (a combined VR and NVR paper), with an aggregate threshold and a headteacher assessment route for borderline cases.
Does the Essex CSSE exam have verbal reasoning?
No. CSSE tests only English and Maths through two written papers, including creative writing. There is no VR or NVR component, which makes it very different from a GL region.
Is CEM still used for the 11+ in 2026?
The old CEM paper 11+ was discontinued around 2022-2023. Former CEM regions have largely moved to GL or their own bespoke papers, so most children today sit GL, CSSE or the online ISEB Pre-Test. Always confirm with your local authority.