CEM Practice Papers with Tutor-Led Video Solutions

What is the CEM test? (also searched as "what is CEM test") The CEM test (developed by the Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring, originally based at Durham University and now part of Cambridge Assessment) is an 11+ entrance exam used by certain UK grammar schools and independent schools. The CEM test meaning is "Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring" — it was designed to be harder to coach for than other formats, with mixed-section papers and questions interleaved across different subjects in a single timed paper.

The CEM 11+ exam (also known as the CEM 11 plus, or simply the CEM eleven plus) is one of the main 11+ entrance assessments used by selective schools in the UK. CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) was originally part of Durham University and is now operated by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing. CEM papers were designed to be harder to coach for than the older GL Assessment format — questions vary by year and combine Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning within mixed-format papers under tight timed conditions.

Test provider: CEM (Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring) — Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing

Subjects covered: Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning (sometimes with English comprehension)

Who uses CEM: Select state grammar schools (e.g. Medway, Colyton, Warwick) and many independent schools across the UK

Key feature: Mixed-format timed sections — pupils must switch rapidly between topics without warning, making time management as important as subject knowledge.

Our 8 CEM packs were built by experienced 11+ tutors to mirror the real exam format. Every question comes with a video walkthrough explaining the technique — so your child learns the thinking process, not just the answer.

Looking for a different test format? See our GL Assessment 11+ practice papers, independent school 11+ papers, or SEAG transfer test papers (Northern Ireland).

CEM 11+ papers combine multiple subjects within mixed-format timed sections, designed to test reasoning under pressure rather than rote learning. Format varies slightly by school and year — our packs cover the most common configurations.

• Subjects: Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning (some schools also test English comprehension)
• Paper structure: Typically 2 papers of 45–60 minutes each, often split into multiple short timed sections within a single paper
• Question style: Multiple choice + short-answer; questions designed to be tutor-proof with novel formats year-to-year
• Difficulty curve: Time pressure is the biggest challenge — pupils must switch rapidly between topics without warning
• Marking: Standardised by age (younger pupils receive an age allowance); raw scores converted to standardised scores ~70–140
• Test provider: CEM (Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring) — Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing

Birmingham is one of the most CEM-relevant regions in the UK. The King Edward Consortium of grammar schools — covering King Edward VI Aston, King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys, King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls, King Edward VI Five Ways, King Edward VI Handsworth and King Edward VI Handsworth Wood — historically used CEM and continues to test in a CEM-style format. Other West Midlands grammars including Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (Sutton Coldfield), Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls and Walsall grammars (Queen Mary's Grammar School, Queen Mary's High School) sit alongside the Birmingham CEM 11 plus landscape.

Our CEM 11 plus mock papers (also widely searched as CEM 11 plus past papers) are written by experienced tutors familiar with the Birmingham CEM 11 plus format. Each pack covers the mixed-section style used in West Midlands grammar entrance tests — with online video walkthroughs for every question. CEM online test practice with our papers can be done at home, on tablet or laptop, with 12 months unlimited access. A free CEM sample paper is also available for cem online test practice free download.

• KE Consortium schools: 6 King Edward VI grammars across central Birmingham
• Sutton Coldfield grammars: Bishop Vesey's, Sutton Coldfield Girls
• Walsall grammars: Queen Mary's Grammar (boys), Queen Mary's High (girls)
• Test format: CEM-style mixed sections — Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning combined in timed papers
• When: September of Year 6 (registration earlier in Year 5/6)

Browse all CEM grammar schools in our database.

📅 CEM-style tests are set by each school, most commonly in September, October or November of Year 6 — there is no single national date, so check with the school.

Unlike the single SEAG test in Northern Ireland, CEM 11+ exams are held at different times by each individual school — most commonly in September, October or November of Year 6. There is no centralised national test date.

Effective CEM preparation isn't about cramming — it's about consistent practice across all four core skills, mastering exam technique, and building stamina for the timed sections. Here's the proven approach our 100+ verified reviews keep coming back to:

• Tip 1: Start 12–18 months ahead — typically the beginning of Year 5 — to build skills gradually
• Tip 2: Cover all three core areas — Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning — equally; CEM mixes them within papers
• Tip 3: Practice under strict timed conditions; speed and accuracy under pressure is what CEM tests
• Tip 4: Watch the 900 video explanations — these break down the specific question types that recur in CEM papers
• Tip 5: Sit each practice paper as if it were the real exam — same time of day, same length, no breaks
• Tip 6: Don't over-rely on rote — CEM rotates question formats year to year, so understanding the underlying technique matters more than memorising patterns

Over 100 verified parents have trusted ExamTutor's CEM 11+ practice papers to prepare their child for CEM Select independent and grammar school entrance exams. Our papers mirror the real CEM exam — mixed sections, tight timing, and the deliberate question-type variation CEM is known for.

• Expert tutor video walkthroughs for every question — your child learns the technique, not just the answer
• Full CEM 11+ syllabus coverage across Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Affordable alternative to private tutoring — typically £800+ saved compared to weekly 1-to-1 tutoring
• 12 months unlimited access with no auto-renewal — buy once, use as much as needed
• 11+ CEM practice papers online — used across the UK — 63 CEM Select schools represented in our customer base
• Free sample paper and free tutorial videos — try before you buy with no email signup

See 102 verified reviews from families across the UK, or browse the full list of CEM schools to find your target school.

Unlike GL Assessment and Independent 11+ which include English as a separate paper, the CEM 11+ exam tests three core skills: Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning — combined within mixed-format timed sections. Our papers cover all three subjects.