If your child is preparing for the 11 plus exam, you must have heard of various types of 11 plus exam formats. We understand this can be a bit confusing for parents. In this guide, we have tried to explain different types of formats used by schools in the UK. The most common 11 plus exam formats are GL, CEM, CSSE, SET, ISEB and Private School written format.
Contents
CEM
What is CEM?
The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) is a Cambridge based exam authority responsible for producing exam papers for various disciplines including 11 plus exams or secondary transfer tests. CEM is one of the popular 11 plus exam formats.
How long is CEM 11 plus exam?
The CEM 11 plus exam consists of two papers of 45 minutes each. Both papers have a mix of sections based on English, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning (Maths). These papers are split into various sections; there are sections on short comprehension and numerical reasoning on the first paper and mathematics and non-verbal reasoning on the second paper.
All the sections in both papers are labelled with time recommendations. The CEM 11 plus exam format is very challenging for pupils as it is challenging for them to complete the paper in the given time.
What is CEM’s curriculum?
The CEM 11 plus exam paper approximately covers 50% verbal reasoning, 20% non-verbal reasoning, and 30% numerical reasoning. It is an approximate value, but there is a strong emphasis on vocabulary skills, problem-solving skills, and speed. The paper has a mix of both multiple-choice questions and standard format questions.
Commonly one paper tests English and verbal reasoning skills, whilst the other tests maths and non-verbal reasoning skills.
English & Verbal Reasoning
The English parts involve comprehension, cloze passages, reading, spelling, and word choices.
Verbal reasoning involves different types of questions based on –
- Spotting letter sequences
- Cracking codes based on letters and numbers
- Following written instructions
- Spotting words within words
- Finding a letter to complete two other words
Non-Verbal Reasoning:
- Rotation
- Codebreaking
- Missing Square
- Missing sequence
- Like shapes identification
- Nets
- Most Like
- Spatial Recognition
More on non-verbal reasoning.
Numerical Reasoning:
This section mainly covers the math skills tested in a GL exam. You can further read more about what it includes and what you need to know about the 11 plus maths exam.
How do I know if my school uses CEM for 11 plus?
You can visit the website of your preferred school to know which format they use. You can also check out our comprehensive list of grammar schools and consortiums by GL / CEM / CSSE / SET / ISEB.
What is a good CEM 11 plus score?
A score of above 80% should be aimed for when sitting the CEM 11 plus exam. The results vary each year depending on the number of pupils sitting the exam, the age of the child and the standard deviation that impacts the standardised scoring. To learn more about how the standardised scores work visit our standardised score calculator.
How do you pass the CEM test?
To prepare your child to pass the 11 plus exam, you can start honing their skills. You can start your preparation either at home or by booking 11 plus tuition lessons. The other important thing is to use practise papers and past papers, it helps children to get familiar with the format moreover cem paper is challenging for pupils to complete the paper in the given time. These papers will help them to prepare better for their main 11 plus exam.
Apart from this, you can encourage your child to take mock exams.
Which schools have adopted CEM?
A number of schools have adopted CEM over other 11 plus exam formats or their own exam format. The exam format of the school generally depends on their region, schools in the following region uses the CEM assessment.
Berkshire, Bexley, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wirral, Latymer, Wolverhampton, Redbridge, Chelmsford
Some region such as Devon, Esses, Hertfordshire, Trafford, and Yorkshire covers both CEM and GL assessments.
Is CEM the same as GL assessment?
Although the curriculum is largely similar, CEM is not the same as GL. Both CEM and GL 11 plus exam formats are based on multiple-choice questions.
GL Assessment
What is GL?
Granada Learning (GL) is an exam board that’s been conducting premium quality 11 plus school entrance exams for more than two decades. Previously, it was known as National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), but in 2001 the exam board was bought by Granada learning and became part of it. GL Assessment is amongst the key 11 plus exam formats and its popularity is growing as more schools are adopting GL as their exam standard.
How long is GL assessment?
Most GL assessments are around 45 to 50 minutes. The questions are generally in multiple-choice format; however, some local authorities also use a standard format (written answer format) for math tests and verbal reasoning. In GL assessment, pupils get sufficient time to answer each question.
What is GL’s curriculum?
GL assessment covers five subjects English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness. The school can further choose the combination of these subjects to best suit their selection policy.
English
- Reading Comprehension
- Spellings
- Punctuations
- Grammar
Maths
- Numbers
- Algebra
- Ratio and Proportion
- Geometry
- Measurements
- Statistics
- Train time tables
- Logical questions
Verbal Reasoning
- Missing words
- Synonym
- Antonym
- Completing the words
- Inserting and removing a letter to form a new word
- Related words
- Closest meaning
- Word making
- letter connections
- Codebreaking
- Identifying hidden words
- number sequences
- working with letters and numbers
- Word connections
- Rearranging letter
- Compound words
- Letter sequences
- Number sequences
- Complete the sum
- Related Numbers
- Word-number codes
Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Series
- Analogies
- Like figures
- Codes
- Odd one out
- Matrices
- Merge shapes
More on non-verbal reasoning.
Spatial Reasoning
- Nets of cubes
- Reflections and rotations
- Folding and punching
- 3D shapes
What is a good GL assessment score?
The average standardised GL assessment score is 100; a score above 100 is considered above average, whereas a score below 100 is below average. Above two-thirds of pupils have standardised scores between 85 and 115.
Which schools have adopted GL?
The regions that follow GL assessment are Dorset, Kent, Lancashire & Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Medway, Northern Ireland, Wiltshire.
Regions that cover both CEM and GL assessment are Devon, Essex, Hertfordshire, Trafford, and Yorkshire.
Is GL assessment easier than CEM?
Depending on the difference between the focus topics between GL assessment and CEM we can assume that CEM requires long term focus while GL assessment can be prepared in a relatively shorter duration.
CSSE
What is CSSE?
Essex and Southend grammar school admissions are administered by CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex). Year 7 admissions in the CSSE are based on pupil performance in the 11 plus exam. To ensure pupils only sit one exam to cover all the schools on their performance form.
Essex Consortium Grammar Schools 11 Plus Exam Format
The CSSE 11 plus entrance exam paper consist of two papers of English and Maths of 60 minutes each.
These papers contain both multiple-choice questions and standard format questions. You can purchase the past exam papers for Maths and English from the Consortium website.
What is the pass mark for CSSE 11 plus?
The minimum passing mark of CSSE is 303, however, many schools are oversubscribed and therefore the school use their own admission criteria.
What schools come under CSSE?
- King Edward VI – Grammar School
- Colchester County High School — for Girls
- Colchester Royal – Grammar School
- Southend High School – for Girls
- Southend High School – for Boys
- Westcliff High School – for Girls
- Westcliff High School – for Boys
- St. Bernards High School – for Girls
- St. Thomas More – High School
- Shoeburyness – High School
How do I register for the 11 plus exam in Essex?
To register for the 11 plus exam in Essex, you need to complete CAF and supplementary information form. You can complete the form from any school that offers selective places or CSSE.
What is Essex’s curriculum?
The English paper include-
- Comprehension
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Creative writing
- Verbal reasoning
- literacy questions
The Maths paper includes all the topics from KS2 National Curriculum.
How can I prepare for CSSE?
Practising some past papers when you get closer to the exam is a good way to measure your strengths and weaknesses.
SET
What is the Selective Eligibility Test?
The SET or selective eligibility test is a first stage 11 plus entrance test commonly used by six schools in the London Borough of Sutton. The test contains two multiple-choice papers of Maths and English for 45 minutes each, and there is a break given between these two papers. Some of these schools have a further stage of testing in October.
Schools that use the Selective Eligibility Test (SET)
- Nonsuch High School for Girls
- Sutton Grammar School for Boys
- Wallington County Grammar School
- Wallington High School for Girls
- Wilson’s School
- Greenshaw High School
Greenshaw High School uses the result of SETs to determine those children who are eligible for one of their 60 ability places. Also, even if your child does not achieve the passing marks in his SETs, they may be still eligible for the place at Greenshaw High School under one of their admission criteria.
Wallington County Grammar School does not have a second stage test. They use the selective eligibility test to decide who are eligible for a place at the school. For further information, you can check their website.
Other schools (Sutton Grammar School, Nonsuch High School for Girls, Wallington High School for Girls and Wilson’s School) conduct the second stage exam in October. The exam contains two papers of Maths and English based on the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum. The test will be in the standard format (written test) and not multiple-choice questions.
How to register for SET?
To register your child for the Selective Eligibility Test you need to complete an online registration form before the deadline. You can access the registration form from the websites of Greenshaw High School, Nonsuch High School for Girls, Sutton Grammar School for Boys, Wilson’s School, Wallington High School for Girls and Wallington County Grammar School.
Format of Selective Eligibility Test
Selective Eligibility Test consists of two multiple-choice style papers of Maths and English, each of 45 minutes. These tests do not include verbal reasoning or non-verbal reasoning. As it is a multiple-choice paper, students will get a separate multiple-choice answer sheet to write their answers. An extract from a sample answer sheet can be viewed here.
Both the papers are based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. You can further check the sample SET Sample Maths Questions and SET Sample English Questions.
How to prepare for the Selective Eligibility Test?
To prepare for these tests and make your child confident, you can encourage them to solve past papers and take online mock exams. Practice papers are good tools for any student to prepare for 11 plus exams. They help applicants to build their confidence and get familiar with the test format and complete the test in the given time. You can start your 11 plus preparation with our English and Maths past paper bundle.
ISEB
What is the ISEB?
The ISEB (Independent Schools of Examination Board) is the examining board that provides the common entrance (for year 6 and year 8) and common pre-test used by independent schools.
What is the ISEB exam?
Students sit for the common entrance examination at 11 plus for entry to year 6 in senior independent girl’s schools. There are two exam sessions each year in November and January.
What is the ISEB Common Pre-Test?
ISEB Common Pre-test is an online pre-test designed by GL assessments, generally opted by senior schools to use as the entrance pre-tests instead of running their own.
What is a good Iseb score?
A score of 100 is considered as the average score with 120 and above is high and 80 above as low.
Is ISEB common entrance?
The Independent School Examination Board provides common 11 plus entrance examination papers and 13+ entrance examination papers, and online ISEB Common Pre-Tests.
What independent schools use Iseb 11 plus?
The independent schools that use ISEB 11 plus are
- Benenden School
- Downe House School
- Queen Anne’s School
- Queenswood School
- Sherborne Girls School
- St Mary’s School
- St Swithun’s School
- Westonbirt School
- Woldingham School
- Wycombe Abbey School
How long is the ISEB test?
The complete test is about two-and-a-half hours to complete (that included four tests, English – 25 minutes, Mathematics – 50 minutes, Non-verbal Reasoning – 32 minutes, and Verbal Reasoning – 36 minutes). You can either take these tests together or at separate times.
ISEB Common pre-test Format
ISEB is a multiple-choice, adaptive, computerised test. The test includes four sections English, Mathematics, Non-verbal Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. Each of these sections begins with a set of written instructions and can be taken consecutively or separately. These tests include
- English test is of 25 minutes and includes online comprehension and questions based on punctuation, spelling, and grammar questions.
- Math test a 50 minutes test and has 36 questions.
- Verbal Reasoning is a 36 minutes test that includes 6 different types of questions.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning – The test includes 3 different types of non-verbal reasoning questions.
The questions are based on the National curriculum of Key Stage 2.
Examination syllabuses & specimen papers
Schools Own Exam
Some selective schools set their own 11 plus entrance exams. This ensures that their exam is unique, but they also test applicants basic core principles of English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Most schools design their English and Maths papers based on the key stage 2 curriculum, whereas verbal and non-verbal reasoning is not taught in schools and therefore need to be practised well.
The content of English papers may vary from school to school, but the preparation of the key stage 2 curriculum is a must. English tests can include comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Maths tests generally examine the problem-solving ability of the applicants, and therefore some questions can be based on topics that pupils have never encountered. They will be expected to apply their knowledge of the subject to new types of questions.
How to prepare for the school written 11 plus exam?
To excel in the 11 plus entrance exam, the applicant should have a good level of KS2 knowledge. Some schools include creative writing tests in their 11 plus entrance exam; therefore, it is essential to check the exam format of your preferred school and prepare accordingly. If you wish to know more about the 11 plus exam, read our complete guide on the 11 plus exam.
If they include creative writing in their assessment, you can improve your child’s creative writing skills by encouraging them to write on various creative writing prompts. You can ask your child to attempt our free creative writing assignment and get a free evaluation from our excellent tutors. You can also book one to one lessons and other creative writing courses for your child.
Further, you can encourage your child to attempt as many past papers as one can. Past papers help kids build confidence and get familiar with the format. It will help them face new and unfamiliar questions with confidence without getting nervous.
You can also access some free past papers or purchase an entire past papers bundle of 340 papers with detailed explanations.
Which of these 11 plus exam formats is important for me?
It depends on the schools you apply to. If you wish to know more about the 11 plus exam, visit our 11 plus guide for parents.
Ultimate practice papers for the 11+ exam
