Our recommended independent school practice tests (ISEB, CEM and GL)

Whilst CEM and GL Assessment exams broadly cover English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, there are a number of key differences.

11 plus exam formats differ

GL exams are:

• Split by subject (English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning).
• 11 plus Questions are chosen from GL question banks.

Whereas 11 plus CEM exam papers

• Do not separate subjects by paper.
• Typically, a CEM 11 plus exam paper tests English and verbal reasoning skills. Then another tests maths and non-verbal reasoning skills.
• CEM 11 plus exam papers are broken into varying sections of different question types.

Whereas CEM 11 plus exam papers:

• CEM’s 11 plus exams include verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning.
• Verbal reasoning includes many of the skills covered in a GL Assessment English test.
• CEM’s numerical reasoning covers the main maths skills that would be tested in a GL maths exam.
• CEM exams align much more closely to KS2 National Curriculum content than GL does.

Exam timing differs

• GL’s 11 plus exams are typically 45 mins.
• Whereas CEM 11 plus exams do not follow a specific format. CEM’s 11 plus exams therefore change from year to year. You are advised to check the current year’s format on the CEM 11 plus Website.

GL Assessment 11 plus exam papers:

• English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
• GL grammar schools therefore pick to administer all subjects, or a selection only.
• GL Assessment exams can cover any of 21 different verbal reasoning skills, much more than seen in CEM examinations. However, CEM examinations require a much broader range of vocabulary.

GL 11 Plus

Firstly, the GL 11 Plus consists of these four 11 plus papers: English GL Assessment; Maths GL Assessment; Verbal Reasoning GL Assessment; and Non-verbal Reasoning GL Assessment.

• The format of these papers does vary from region to region.
• GL 11+ exams have an administration time of 45 mins. Individual grammar schools determine their own test times and the multiple-choice/standard 11 plus format.

11 Plus Exam Differences