Please note that CEM no longer create written 11+ Exams. Click here to use our School Search feature to see which exam board your target school will be using.
CEM and GL are similar in some ways and different in others. It's important to be aware of the specifics of each exam board so your child is familiar with what to expect on exam day. The Centre of Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) is part of Cambridge Assessment. GL Assessment, formerly known as Granada Learning, is often just referred to as GL.
The key differences are:
CEM 11+ Exams focus more heavily on vocabulary and are more time pressured. The exam will almost always cover Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning.
GL Assessment exams could include any of the following depending on the school or region: Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
In recent years, GL tests have trended towards the CEM style with a focus on shorter subject sections mixed together rather than separate papers for each subject. This can vary from school to school though.
If you're not sure whether the school you are interested in uses GL, CEM or neither of these exam boards, then just type the school name into the School Search box at the top of this page.