The CEM 11 Plus was a selective entrance assessment developed by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM). It was widely used by grammar schools and selective areas and became known for an approach designed to reduce predictability and place greater emphasis on underlying academic and reasoning skills.
However, CEM withdrew from the paper-based 11 Plus market in 2023. Schools that previously used CEM moved to GL Assessment or introduced bespoke entrance tests of their own. This means children no longer prepare for a current paper-based CEM 11 Plus exam.
Parents may still encounter CEM in older admissions information, practice books, past guidance, and online resources. Understanding how the former CEM format worked can therefore provide useful context, but current preparation should always be based on the test used by the target school for the relevant admissions year.
The Format of the CEM 11 Plus Exam
Unlike some other 11 Plus exams that followed a more fixed structure, CEM tests were known for varied formats and mixed-question papers. They assessed areas such as English comprehension, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning, although the precise structure could vary.
Some CEM papers used separate timed sections, meaning children had to work efficiently within one part of the test before moving to the next. Others mixed skills and question types, requiring students to adapt quickly.
CEM tests could include multiple-choice questions and placed significant emphasis on language skills. The verbal reasoning component included areas such as synonyms, antonyms, cloze exercises, comprehension, and vocabulary.
Numerical reasoning required students to apply mathematical skills to problem-solving tasks rather than relying solely on straightforward arithmetic. Non-verbal reasoning assessed skills such as identifying patterns, sequences, and spatial relationships.
These characteristics describe the former CEM paper-based format. They should not be taken as a description of a current 11 Plus exam unless a school’s latest admissions information specifically identifies comparable content in its present test.
How CEM 11 Plus Differed from Other Exam Boards
One of the defining features of the former CEM 11 Plus was its emphasis on reducing predictability. Compared with the generally more structured approach associated with GL Assessment, CEM used varied question combinations and tightly timed sections. This was intended to make preparation based purely on memorising recurring question patterns less effective.
The balance between skills could also differ between CEM tests. Verbal skills, numerical reasoning, comprehension, vocabulary, and non-verbal reasoning could appear in different combinations depending on the assessment.
CEM tests placed particular emphasis on reading comprehension and vocabulary. Children who read widely could benefit from having a broader vocabulary and greater familiarity with complex texts and unfamiliar words. Speed and adaptability were also important because students often had limited time to work through individual sections.
This GL versus CEM comparison is now historical. CEM withdrew from the paper-based 11 Plus market in 2023, and schools that formerly used it moved to GL Assessment or developed bespoke testing arrangements. Parents should therefore check the current admissions information for each target school rather than choosing between GL and CEM preparation.
Using CEM 11 Plus Materials Today
Although there is no longer a current paper-based CEM 11 Plus exam to prepare for, older CEM-style materials can still help children develop useful skills. Their varied question formats can provide additional practice in problem-solving, logical reasoning, vocabulary, comprehension, and working under time pressure.
Encouraging children to read from a variety of sources, such as novels, newspapers, and magazines, can help expand their vocabulary and strengthen comprehension skills regardless of the entrance test they will eventually sit.
Time management is another transferable skill. Older CEM materials frequently used tightly timed sections, so they can provide useful additional practice for children learning to work accurately under pressure.
Similarly, practice tests can help children become more comfortable with exam conditions. However, CEM-style practice should supplement rather than replace preparation for the current test used by the child’s target school.
Mental arithmetic and problem-solving exercises can also provide valuable general preparation. Word problems, logic exercises, vocabulary work, reading, and pattern recognition can strengthen skills that appear across different types of selective entrance tests.
Common Misconceptions About the CEM 11 Plus
One of the biggest misconceptions today is that children can still sit a paper-based CEM 11 Plus exam. CEM withdrew from this market in 2023, so references to current CEM 11 Plus preparation are outdated. Schools that previously used CEM moved to GL Assessment or introduced bespoke entrance tests.
Another misconception is that older CEM practice materials are now useless. Although they should not be used to predict the format of a current entrance test, they can still help children develop vocabulary, comprehension, numerical reasoning, problem-solving, speed, and adaptability.
Parents should also avoid assuming that a school still follows a CEM-style format simply because it did so in the past. Admissions arrangements can change, and historical information about a school, consortium, county, or region may no longer reflect the exam a child will actually sit.
The safest approach is to consult the target school’s official admissions information for the relevant entry year and use preparation materials that correspond to its current test.
Summary
The CEM 11 Plus was an influential part of selective school admissions and was known for varied question formats, tight timing, vocabulary demands, and an emphasis on reasoning and adaptability. However, CEM withdrew from the paper-based 11 Plus market in 2023, so it should no longer be described as a current 11 Plus exam provider.
Schools that previously used CEM moved to GL Assessment or introduced bespoke entrance tests. Older CEM-style materials can still be valuable for developing general 11 Plus skills, but they should not determine a child’s preparation strategy.
Parents should check the latest official admissions information for each target school and prepare for the test their child will actually sit. Understanding the former CEM format remains useful for interpreting older resources, but current school requirements should always take priority.
