What is CEM?
4 min read · updated 2026-10-02
CEM (the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, formerly at Durham University and now part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment) was for years the main alternative to GL Assessment for the 11+. It stopped supplying paper 11+ tests in 2023, and the grammar areas that used it have moved to GL or to their own tests. 'CEM-style' now mostly describes practice materials, but the skills it tested still matter.
CEM in 2026: what changed
After CEM withdrew its paper 11+ tests in 2023, areas such as Reading and Kendrick in Berkshire, Wiltshire, Shropshire and Lincolnshire moved to GL Assessment papers, and CEM's own assessments are now online tests used mainly by independent schools. If a practice book or website describes your area's test as CEM, check the school's admissions page for the current supplier before you buy anything.
How CEM-style papers differed from GL
- ✓ CEM did not publish question types in advance, so children could not practise the exact format
- ✓ CEM papers had shorter, mixed sections rather than separate papers per subject
- ✓ Vocabulary breadth mattered more in CEM, which tested a wider range of word meanings
- ✓ Timing was tighter, which made pacing skills critical
How to prepare for CEM-style papers
Since CEM avoids publishing question types, preparation should focus on the underlying skills: wide vocabulary from daily reading, mental maths speed, and general reasoning puzzles. Practise with mixed-format papers from multiple publishers rather than one format. Many grammar areas have moved from CEM back to GL, so check which your target school uses.
FAQs
Which areas still use CEM?＋
For state grammar schools, effectively none: CEM stopped its paper 11+ tests in 2023 and those areas now use GL Assessment or their own tests. Some independent schools use CEM's online assessments. Always check the target school's admissions page for its current test.
Can we prepare for both CEM and GL at the same time?＋
Yes, by focusing on the underlying skills (vocabulary, mental maths, reasoning logic) rather than one format. Those skills transfer to either style.
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