What Is The Difference Between The GL vs CEM 11 Plus Exams?

Difference Between GL vs CEM 11+ Exam Papers

You will practise the key subjects such as Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning in both CEM and GL Assessment 11 Plus exams. However, there are key differences that you should know about before starting the preparation.

11 Plus Subjects

• GL Assessment papers cover English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning tests. Grammar Schools can choose to administer all these core subjects or pick the ones that best meet their admission requirements for eligible students.
• CEM exams cover numerical, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. However, the verbal reasoning paper includes most skills covered in the English paper of GL Assessment. Also, the numerical reasoning part includes fundamental maths skills for which students are tested in the GL assessment Maths exam.

11+ GL and CEM: Exam Format

The GL 11 Plus exam papers are composed of English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning. The paper includes questions from GL question banks and past papers. Therefore, students need consistent practice to familiarise themselves with the different types of questions they will solve in the final exam. There can be MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) for which the answers are given in a separate answer book.

On the other hand, CEM exams do not separate the subjects. Generally, one paper tests a child’s English and verbal reasoning and the other assesses students’ Maths and Non-Verbal reasoning skills. However, the exam papers usually cover different sections. Firstly, students solve short Maths, then non-verbal reasoning questions followed by word problems.

Questions in CEM papers can be in a standard form or MCQs, with answers being given in an answer book. However, due to the mixed papers and questions, the marks of each subject are unknown before the exam.

Now that you know the differences between the GL assessment and the CEM exams, it’s time to sign up and start your child’s 11+ journey!

CEM Locations:

Bexley, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wirral, Wolverhampton.

GL Assessment Locations:

Dorset, Kent, Lincolnshire, Medway, Lancashire & Cumbria, Northern Ireland, Wiltshire.

Regions Covering CEM and GL Both

Devon, Essex, Hertfordshire, Trafford, Yorkshire

CEM vs GL: Timings of the 11 Plus Exam

• On average, students solve GL exam papers within 45 minutes, but the timings can vary as well.
• However, CEM exams follow various formats, and time can change yearly. Some schools may publish information about the 11 Plus format for the current exams on their websites. If we talk about the past, CEM covered two papers of 45 minutes each. A break is also given between the papers. Each paper covers mixed verbal, non-verbal, Maths, English and numerical reasoning topics.
• Generally, the CEM papers are split into different sections with varying number of questions and respective timings. Students are given a specific time to answer the section and cannot move forward until the examiner tells them.
• There are four separate papers; each covers a different subject, including English, Maths, and Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning. Each paper covers different topics, depending on the choice of schools and their admission criteria.

CEM vs GL Tests: Knowledge and Skills

• 11 Plus GL Assessment papers cover 21 different verbal reasoning questions, more than CEM covers. However, the students must prepare vocabulary for CEM exams.
• CEM papers are more close to the content of the KS2 primary school curriculum than GL exams. Thus, these exams challenge students with more vibrant questions and subject areas.