Everything parents need to know about the two main 11+ exam formats — what they test, how they differ, and how to prepare your child for either.
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.