Know your exam. Don't waste prep on the wrong one.

Start with the board, then the region

Three names cover the vast majority of English 11+ exams. Knowing which one applies to your target school shapes everything that follows — the question types, the timing, the answer format and how scores are worked out.

• GL Assessment is the dominant provider for state grammar schools. GL papers are multiple-choice, tightly timed and taken with no calculator. They cover up to four skill areas: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Many areas that previously used other boards have moved to GL, which is why practising the GL style is a safe default for most state grammar candidates.
• ISEB Common Pre-Test is used by many independent (private) senior schools. It is an online, adaptive assessment, usually taken in Year 6 or Year 7, covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Because it is adaptive, the difficulty of the questions adjusts as the child answers.
• CSSE runs the Essex exam — its own bespoke English and Maths papers, which include some free-writing and worked answers rather than being purely multiple-choice. If you are aiming at Essex consortium grammars, the CSSE format is quite distinct and worth practising in its own right.

You may also see CEM mentioned in older guides and forums. CEM's separate paper-based 11+ was discontinued around 2022–2023, and the regions that used to sit CEM papers have since moved to GL or to their own bespoke tests. If a resource still describes "CEM-style" preparation as a current, distinct exam, treat it as out of date and check what your specific area uses this year.

A quick reference for the main boards

Use this table to orient yourself, then read the individual guide for your target school for the exact detail. Always confirm the current format directly with the grammar school or local authority, as arrangements are reviewed regularly.

Regional tests: the same skills, different rules

Even where two areas both use GL, the details differ. The Kent Test, Medway Test, Bucks Secondary Transfer Test, the Slough and Reading exams, Trafford, Wirral, Sutton Coldfield and the King Edward VI consortium in Birmingham each have their own registration windows, their own combination of papers and their own catchment rules. Some areas test all four skill areas; others weight English and Maths more heavily, or use a familiarisation booklet in advance. Read the specific regional guide above so you know exactly which skills are examined and how the day is structured, rather than assuming every GL area is identical.

Understanding scores before you read too much into practice marks

Most GL-based 11+ results are reported as a Standardised Age Score rather than a raw mark or percentage. This adjusts a child's score for their age in months, so a summer-born child is not disadvantaged against an older classmate who has had more time to develop. Standardised Age Scores typically run on a scale where 100 is the average for a child's age, spanning roughly from the high 60s to the low 140s. There is no single national pass mark: the qualifying score depends on the school, the area and how other children performed that year, so treat any specific number you read online with caution and confirm it locally.

Turning a guide into a study plan

Once you know the board and region, a sensible way to use Quest Arena is to work in three stages:

1. Build the skills. Use free worksheets to practise each skill area — English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning — a little and often, rather than in long cramming sessions.
2. Practise the format. Move on to full mock papers and, where relevant, centre-specific mocks so your child gets used to the exact timing and answer style of their real exam.
3. Plan around the calendar. Check the key 11+ dates for registration deadlines and exam days, and use the revision hub to schedule a steady run-up rather than a last-minute rush.

If you are still deciding which schools to target, the UK grammar schools directory shows which board each school uses, and the GL 11+ papers and CSSE 11+ papers pages let you practise those specific formats directly. New to all of this? Start with how Quest Arena works.

Frequently asked questions

Which 11+ exam board does my child need to prepare for?

It depends on the school. Most state grammar schools use GL Assessment, many independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test, and Essex grammars use CSSE. Check each target school's admissions page, then read the matching guide above so you practise the correct format.

Is CEM still a separate 11+ exam?

No. CEM's separate paper-based 11+ was discontinued around 2022–2023, and former CEM areas have moved to GL Assessment or to their own bespoke papers. If a resource treats CEM as a current, distinct exam, it is out of date — always confirm what your area uses this year.

Do I have to pay to use these guides and practice materials?

No. Quest Arena is 100% free. The exam guides, worksheets, mock papers and revision tools are all available at no cost — you can sign up free to save progress, but you never need to pay to prepare.