CEM vs GL Assessment — what's the difference?

Most UK 11+ tests are produced by one of two organisations: GL Assessment (used by most Birmingham, Walsall, Sutton, Stratford and many independent grammars) or CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, used by some areas — though many CEM schools have moved to GL since 2024). Knowing which your child will sit shapes what kind of preparation matters most.

GL Assessment in brief

GL papers are highly format-predictable. Each paper sticks to one subject (English, Maths, VR, NVR), uses multiple-choice answer sheets, and has familiar question types that students can drill methodically. Mock practice tightly mirrors the real exam.

CEM in brief

CEM papers historically were less predictable, mixing subjects within a single paper and rotating question types each year. They were designed to be harder to coach to. CEM has been wound down in many regions but the philosophy of broad, less-coachable testing still influences some independent school entry papers.

Preparation differences

For GL: lean into past-paper drilling and question-type mastery. For CEM (or CEM-style independent papers): focus on deep core skills — wide reading, vocabulary fluency, mental arithmetic — rather than memorising question patterns.

If you don't know which your child will sit, ask the school directly or check our 11+ tutoring page for the regional breakdown.