Types of exams and updates
The CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) and GL Assessment are two common examining bodies that provide 11+ exams in the UK. While both exams assess similar skills and subjects, there are differences in their formats and question styles. Here's an overview of the formats for each:
CEM Exam Format:
1. Adaptive Testing: the difficulty of questions adjusts based on the student's performance. This means that if a student answers a question correctly, the subsequent questions may become more challenging, and vice versa.
2. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): CEM exams typically include multiple-choice questions across various subjects such as Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, and English. These questions assess a range of skills including problem-solving, critical thinking, and comprehension.
3. Variety of Question Types: CEM exams feature a variety of question types within each subject area, including sequences, analogies, codes, word relationships, and numerical reasoning.
4. No Published Past Papers: CEM does not release official past papers or sample papers. Instead, they provide schools with a bank of questions from which to create bespoke assessments.
5. Unique to Each School: CEM exams can vary between schools, as each school may select questions from the CEM question bank to create their own unique exam papers.
GL Assessment Exam Format:
1. Standardized Format: GL Assessment exams follow a standardized format with fixed question papers administered across different schools. This means that students across different schools will sit the same exam paper.
2. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): GL Assessment exams primarily consist of multiple-choice questions across subjects such as Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, and English. These questions assess similar skills as CEM exams, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and comprehension.
3. Published Past Papers: GL Assessment releases official past papers and sample papers, which students can use for practice and familiarization with the exam format and question types. This allows students to prepare more effectively by practicing with materials that closely resemble the actual exam.
4. Structured Sections: GL Assessment exams typically include structured sections within each subject area, with clear instructions and standardized question formats. This provides a consistent testing experience for students and ensures fairness across different test-takers.
5. Subject to Centralized Marking: GL Assessment exams are subject to centralized marking, where exam papers are collected and marked by GL Assessment examiners. This ensures consistency and reliability in the marking process.
In summary, while both CEM and GL Assessment exams assess similar skills and subjects for the 11+ entrance exam, they differ in their formats, question styles, and administration processes. Students preparing for these exams should familiarize themselves with the specific format of the exam they will be sitting and practice accordingly.
Recent changes to the exam formats
2017 - For Buckinghamshire covering areas like Amersham, Chesham, the Chalfonts, High Wycombe, the consortium ditched the CEM format in 2017 and now tests its students based on the GL exam format.
2023 – CEM decided to switch online from 2023. This means that all papers tests from September 2023 will no longer go ahead with CEM format, and would have shifted to the GL format. This has impacted over 50 schools in UK, including schools in Slough, Reading close to Buckinghamshire.
This means that in order to succeed in securing a grammar school spot, your child will most likely need to prepare on the GL format. Tuition typically adds valuable practice and helps brush concepts. In addition, tips and tricks to help solve these type of questions is always useful coaching for a child.
Ideal preparation to ensure your child has the best chance to crack the exams
ELBucks is based on the GL preparation format. If you need any guidance for your school of choice, write to us on sachiin.rai@elbucks.co.uk and we’d be happy to help you.
With our curated courses, highest in class preparation time for your child, and our specialisation in GL exam formats, you can give your child the best chance to cracking the GL exam in 2024. We cater to all schools covering areas like Amersham, Chesham, Little Missenden, Great Missenden, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St Peter, Watford, Rickmansworth and surrounding areas. Additionally, if you need test practice, write to us to get a free assessment booked for your child. The feedback will highlight areas of strength and weakness and a plan to improve these areas, should you be targeting the exam in 2024.
Local insights
Each grammar school in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire has their own rules for admission to year 7. Whilst some schools maintain a strict merit basis admission criteria, there are selective rules within this merit based system too. In other schools, accommodation for distance factors, sibling factors are considered. Whilst there is no straight forward criteria for you to select grammar schools you wish to apply for, speaking to experts can help you ease the stress involved in this process. Call us on 07503595543, or write to us to have a no obligations chat involving your child.
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