One of the most common questions from parents starting the 11+ journey is deceptively simple: "Which exam will my child actually sit?" The answer depends on where you live, and getting it wrong means months of preparation aimed at the wrong format. There are two main exam boards — GL Assessment and CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, run by Durham University) — and they test differently enough that it matters.
GL is the older and more widely used of the two boards. Most grammar school areas in England use GL, including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and parts of Essex, Devon, and Dorset.
GL exams use separate papers for each subject. A typical GL 11+ will include some or all of the following:
Each paper is clearly structured. The question types are well-documented and haven't changed dramatically in years. This makes GL exams highly responsive to preparation — once your child learns the question formats, they can practise them systematically.
GL papers are typically 45–50 minutes each. The number of papers varies by region — some areas test all four subjects, others test only two or three. Check your local authority's admissions page for the exact format.
CEM was introduced specifically to be harder to tutor for. It's used in Birmingham, Buckinghamshire (some schools), parts of the South West, Warwickshire, and other areas. Some schools have switched from GL to CEM in recent years to reduce the advantage of intensive tutoring.
CEM exams use mixed-format papers that blend subjects together. Instead of a separate verbal reasoning paper and a separate maths paper, a single CEM paper might switch between maths questions, comprehension passages, and verbal reasoning tasks with no warning.
Key differences from GL:
CEM exams typically consist of two papers, each around 45 minutes. The papers are divided into timed sections, and children cannot go back to a previous section once time is called.
| Feature | GL Assessment | CEM |
|---|---|---|
| Paper format | Separate subject papers | Mixed, blended papers |
| Question types | Published and predictable | Unpublished, can vary yearly |
| Ease of preparation | Systematic practice is very effective | Harder to prepare for specifically |
| Vocabulary demand | Moderate | High — often includes advanced words |
| Time pressure | Moderate | High — often more questions than time allows |
| Non-verbal reasoning | Usually a dedicated paper | Sometimes included, sometimes not |
| Past papers available | Yes, widely available | No official past papers released |
There are three reliable ways to check:
GL preparation is methodical. Work through each question type systematically. Use past papers and practice books (Bond, CGP) to build familiarity. Timed practice is important because children need to manage their pace across a structured paper. The predictability of GL is your advantage — use it.
Because CEM doesn't publish question types, preparation has to focus on underlying skills rather than specific formats. That means broad reading for vocabulary, strong mental arithmetic, and comfort with switching between different types of thinking quickly. Timed practice is even more critical for CEM than for GL.
Some parents agonise over GL vs CEM as though choosing the wrong preparation approach will doom their child's chances. In reality, a child who reads widely, has strong arithmetic skills, and can reason logically will perform well on either format. The differences between GL and CEM matter at the margins. The fundamentals — vocabulary, number fluency, and reasoning ability — matter everywhere.
Find out which board your school uses, tailor your practice accordingly, and spend the rest of your energy keeping your child confident and curious. That's the preparation that matters most.