What Is the CEM Test & How to Prepare Effectively
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.
📝 CEM vs GL Assessment — what's the difference? Both are 11+ tests but use different formats. GL Assessment uses four separate timed papers (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning) with a clear structure. CEM uses mixed-format papers — Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning combined within single timed papers, with NO English paper. CEM is deliberately designed to be less predictable. Most UK state grammar schools moved to GL Assessment after 2022; CEM-style papers still appear at some independents and the CEM Select consortium. See our GL Assessment practice papers for state grammar school preparation.
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+ Subjects Covered in Our Practice Papers
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.
🔢 CEM Maths
Number, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, algebra basics, geometry, measurement, data handling, mental arithmetic and word problems. CEM Maths sections combine pure calculation with applied problem-solving under time pressure.
🧠 CEM Verbal Reasoning
Word codes, antonyms, synonyms, letter sequences, missing letters, hidden words, compound words, analogies and cloze passages. CEM Verbal Reasoning is heavily vocabulary-driven — our videos build the techniques and word knowledge needed.
🔷 CEM Non-Verbal Reasoning
Matrix patterns, series completion, codes, analogies, cube nets, 3D shapes, reflections and rotations. CEM Non-Verbal Reasoning rewards systematic pattern recognition under varying time pressure across mixed sections.
CEM Online Test Practice to Build Exam Confidence
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
Schools Using CEM
CEM-style 11+ assessments are used by select state grammar schools and many independent schools across the UK. The list below shows 63 schools currently using the CEM or CEM Select format — covering Kent (Medway), London independents, Northern grammars, and prestigious independent schools nationwide.
| School Name | Location | Type | GCSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKS Lytham (AKS) | Lancashire, FY8 1DT | Mixed | 48.2% |
| Bancroft's School | Essex, IG8 0RF | Mixed | 88.3% |
| Belmont (Mill Hill) School | London, NW7 4ED | Mixed | 75% |
| Chatham Grammar School for Girls | Kent, ME5 7EH | Girls | 70% |
| City of London School for Girls (CLSG) | London, EC2Y 8BB | Girls | 95.4% |
| Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) | Devon, EX24 6HN | Mixed | 80.9% |
| Cranford House School | Oxfordshire, OX10 9HT | Girls | 60% |
| Croydon High School | South Croydon, CR2 8YB | Girls | 77.5% |
| Dunottar School | Surrey, RH2 7EL | Girls | 49% |
| Eaton (Holme) Grange School | Berkshire, RG40 3AL | Mixed | — |
| Edgbaston High School for Girls (EHS) | Birmingham, B15 3TS | Girls | 63.4% |
| Eltham College | London, SE9 4QF | Boys | 88.5% |
| Exeter School | Devon, EX2 4NS | Boys | 68.8% |
| Farnborough Hill | Hampshire, GU14 8AT | Girls | 50.5% |
| Fort Pitt Grammar School | Kent, ME4 6TJ | Girls | 70% |
| George Heriot's School | EH3 9EQ, Scotland | Mixed | — |
| Guildford High School | Surrey, GU1 1SJ | Girls | 96.7% |
| Haberdashers' Boys' School (Habs Boys) | Hertfordshire, WD6 3AF | Boys | 70% |
| Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools | NP25 3XP, Wales | Boys | — |
| Harrogate Ladies' College | North Yorkshire, HG1 2QG | Girls | 45.8% |
| Heathfield School Ascot | Berkshire, SL5 8BQ | Girls | 70% |
| Holcombe Grammar School | Kent, ME4 5JB | Boys | 37.4% |
| Hymers College | East Yorkshire, HU3 1LW | Mixed | 68.2% |
| Ibstock Place School | London, SW15 5PY | Mixed | 83.4% |
| King's Ely Junior School | Cambridgeshire, CB7 4DB | Mixed | — |
| Kirkham Grammar School | Lancashire, PR4 2BH | Boys | — |
| Kneller Hall School | — | Mixed | — |
| Millfield School | Somerset, BA16 0YD | Mixed | 40% |
| Moreton Hall | Shropshire, SY11 3EW | Girls | 45.2% |
| Myddelton College | LL16 3EN, Wales | Girls | — |
| Newcastle High School for Girls | Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3BA | Girls | 55.2% |
| Newcastle School for Boys (NSB) | — | Boys | 50% |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme School | Staffordshire, ST5 1DB | Boys | 68.9% |
| Our Lady's Abingdon School (OLA) | Oxfordshire, OX14 3PS | Mixed | 60-70% |
| Pangbourne College | Berkshire, RG8 8LA | Mixed | 38.5% |
| Princethorpe College | Warwickshire, CV23 9PX | Mixed | 53.5% |
| Prior Park College | Somerset, BA2 5AH | Mixed | 52% |
| Queen Anne's School, Caversham | Berkshire, RG4 6DX | Girls | 70% |
| Rainham Mark Grammar School | Kent, ME8 7AJ | Mixed | 39.9% |
| Rendcomb College | Gloucestershire, GL7 7HA | Mixed | — |
| Rochester Grammar School | Kent, ME1 3BY | Mixed | 52% |
| Royal Grammar School (RGS) Newcastle | Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4DX | Boys | 80.3% |
| Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton Grammar Schools | — | Boys | 87.5% |
| Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester (The Math) | Kent, ME1 3EL | Mixed | 55.6% |
| St. Columba's College, St. Albans | Hertfordshire, AL3 4AW | Boys | 54.6% |
| St. Edmund's College, Ware | Hertfordshire, SG11 1DS | Mixed | — |
| St. Georges Weybridge | — | Mixed | 79.9% |
| St. John's School, Leatherhead | Surrey, KT22 8SP | Mixed | 79.6% |
| St. Margaret's School, Bushey | Hertfordshire, WD23 1DT | Girls | 60% |
| St. Mary's Calne | Wiltshire, SN11 0DF | Girls | 71.4% |
| St. Mary's School, Cambridge | Cambridge, CB2 1LY | Girls | 62.9% |
| St. Michael's School (St Mike's) | SA14 9TU, Wales | Mixed | 78.7% |
| St. Nicholas' School, Fleet | Hampshire, GU52 0RF | Girls | — |
| St. Paul's Girls' School (SPGS) | London, W6 7BS | Girls | 99.5% |
| Sutton High School | Surrey, SM1 2AX | Girls | 68% |
| The Cathedral School, Llandaff | CF5 2YH, Wales | Mixed | 69.9% |
| The Grange School | Cheshire, CW8 1LU | Mixed | 65.3% |
| The King's School, Chester | Cheshire, CH4 7QL | Boys | 83.6% |
| Thomas's Battersea | London, SW11 3JB | Mixed | — |
| Tudor Hall School | Oxfordshire, OX16 9UR | Girls | 40.6% |
| Warwick School | Warwickshire, CV34 6PP | Boys | 76.7% |
| Worth School | West Sussex, RH10 4SD | Mixed | 60% |
Birmingham CEM 11 Plus — KE Consortium Grammar Schools
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 11+ Test Dates & Format
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.
📅 What to expect
- Test format: Mixed-format papers combining Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Duration: Typically 45–60 minutes per paper, often split into multiple short timed sections
- Question style: Multiple choice + short-answer; designed to be tutor-proof with unfamiliar question types
- Marking: Standardised by age — younger pupils receive a small age allowance
- When to start: Most families begin focused prep at the start of Year 5 (12–18 months before the test)
⚠️ Always check your target school's website for exact dates, registration deadlines and the specific format used.
How to Prepare for the CEM 11+
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
Why Parents Choose ExamTutor for CEM 11+ Preparation
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
- 10% off orders over £50 with code EXAMDISCOUNT
See 102 verified reviews from families across the UK, or browse the full list of CEM schools to find your target school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions parents ask about CEM 11+ practice papers and how to prepare your child for the exam.
What is the CEM 11+ exam?
The CEM 11+ is an entrance exam developed by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (originally at Durham University, now part of Cambridge Assessment). It tests Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning within timed mixed-format sections. The exam is used by selected grammar and independent schools across the UK for Year 6 entry.
Is the CEM 11+ still used in 2026?
CEM stopped providing paper-based 11+ tests to most state grammar schools after 2023. Most grammars have switched to GL Assessment. However, CEM-style assessments and Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing materials are still used by many independent schools and select grammar groups, so CEM-style practice remains essential preparation. See our GL Assessment Practice Papers if your target school has switched to GL.
How much do CEM 11+ practice papers cost?
Our individual CEM Test Packs cost £30 each (3 papers · 150 video explanations · 7–8.5 hours of tutor video). Our Multi Pack Bundles cost £70 each and combine 3 Test Packs — saving £20 compared to buying separately. All packs include 12 months full access with no auto-renewal. Use code EXAMDISCOUNT for 10% off orders over £50.
Are there free CEM 11+ practice papers?
Yes — we provide a free CEM sample practice paper and free tutorial videos so you can see the quality before buying. No email signup required — download instantly.
What's the difference between CEM and GL Assessment 11+?
GL Assessment papers are subject-specific (separate Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning papers), with predictable formats year-on-year. CEM papers combine multiple subjects in mixed timed sections, with deliberate variation in question types between years — designed to be harder to coach for. Most state grammars use GL today; CEM is mainly used by independent schools. Check our CEM schools list to see which exam your target school uses.
When should we start CEM 11+ preparation?
Most families start focused CEM 11+ preparation at the beginning of Year 5 (12–18 months before the test). Earlier exposure to verbal reasoning vocabulary and non-verbal reasoning patterns is also helpful from Year 4 onwards. See our 6-step preparation guide below for the proven approach used by 100+ successful families.
Do you offer practice papers for specific CEM schools?
Our 8 CEM packs are designed to match the broad CEM exam format. The same papers work for any CEM-style assessment — including Kent grammars (Medway), Birmingham KEHS & Edgbaston High, Habs Boys, Guildford High, St Paul's Girls, Eltham College and dozens of other independent schools listed on this page.
Do the papers cover specific CEM Select schools' entrance exams?
Our 8 CEM packs cover the mixed-format question types used across the CEM Select consortium and other independent schools using CEM-style assessments — including Kent Test (Medway grammars), Birmingham KEHS & Edgbaston High, Habs Boys, Guildford High, St Paul's Girls, Eltham College, Colyton Grammar, Pate's Grammar, Newcastle High Girls, Hymers College, Millfield and dozens of other CEM Select schools listed on this page.