GL Assessment vs CEM: How the 11 Plus Format Changes How You Prepare

When we started looking into the 11 plus, I was quickly baffled by talk of "GL areas" and "CEM areas", as if the exam came in rival flavours. In a sense it does. The format your child sits shapes how you would prepare, so it is worth understanding the landscape, while bearing in mind that it changes and you must confirm what your own target schools use.

Why There Is More Than One Format

The 11 plus is not a single national paper. Different regions and schools use different exam providers, and those providers structure their tests differently. Historically, two names came up most often: GL Assessment and CEM. Understanding the general differences helps you prepare sensibly, but the crucial caveat is that the market has shifted over the years, providers and arrangements change, and some areas have moved between formats. So treat the following as background, and always check the current arrangements for your specific schools.

GL Assessment, in General Terms

GL Assessment has long been one of the most widely used 11 plus providers. In broad terms, GL-style tests have often drawn from defined content areas, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths and English, with a fair amount of published familiarisation material available. Because the question types have been relatively well documented, families have often found it more straightforward to know what to practise. Formats and papers still vary by region, so this is a general picture rather than a fixed spec.

CEM, in General Terms

CEM (the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) historically took a different approach, and was often described as harder to prepare for narrowly, because it aimed to be less coachable, mixing skills within papers and placing weight on vocabulary and comprehension. Importantly, the CEM 11 plus landscape has changed in recent years, and arrangements in areas that previously used it may now differ. This is exactly why you cannot rely on general reputation and must confirm what is actually used for the year your child will sit.

How Format Changes Preparation

The format matters because it shapes where preparation effort is best spent:

• Where question types and content are well defined and documented, familiarisation with those specific formats and timing is useful
• Where a test deliberately resists narrow coaching and leans on vocabulary and comprehension, broad reading and genuine understanding tend to serve better than drilling one question type
• Timing and question style differ, so practising under the right conditions matters more than the brand name itself

In practice, a strong foundation, wide reading, solid maths, good vocabulary and calm exam technique, serves a child well whatever the format, and reduces the risk of over-preparing for the wrong thing.

How to Find Out Which Your Area Uses

Because this genuinely varies and changes, do not rely on what worked for a family a few years ago. Instead:

• Check the admissions or 11 plus information published by the specific grammar schools or consortium you are applying to
• Contact the school or the local authority admissions team directly to confirm the current provider and format
• Look for official familiarisation materials the schools or provider point you to, rather than assuming

Keeping the Right Information to Hand

Once you know which schools and formats you are dealing with, the process still involves registration windows, familiarisation sessions and test dates that differ between schools. My School Agent can pull those emails and reminders into a daily briefing and shared calendar so nothing is missed. The single most useful step, though, is simply confirming the current, correct format for your child's specific schools, and preparing for that, rather than for a reputation that may be out of date.