CEM 11+: Children's Educational Material for the 11+

Children's Educational Material 11+ ^TM www.CEM11plus.com
This website has no association or affiliation with CEM ® Centre for Education & Monitoring ®, University of Cambridge. CEM ®. Cambridge Assessments & Cambridge University Press do not release past 11+ test papers, nor sell practice material, nor does it endorse any preparation material from any supplier.

The CEM 11+ test

Where can I obtain Mock Papers?

Low cost mock tests are available from the Shop on this site, to download.

Who owns CEM Centre?

The Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring ® (CEM ®) was sold by Durham University to Cambridge Assessments ® and Cambridge University Press ®, so is now part of Cambridge University.

Who is CEM’s main competitor?

There are two major suppliers of selective 11+ tests in England. One is CEM ® and the other is GL Assessment ®.

How are CEM tests designed and developed?

Tests are developed according to requirements from consortia or individual schools and can include English/comprehension, Verbal Reasoning (synonyms, antonyms, cloze passages, jumbled sentences and odd word out), Maths/Data-Processing and Non-verbal Reasoning (NVR). Some tests include all 3 three components, whilst others do not. Questions are obtained from a databank and can be reused in other regions and in different years. Questions are repeated.

What is the format of CEM 11+ tests?

Tests are online only using its CEM Select software.

Test weighting and standardisation.

The components of the tests are weighted differently for different schools and consortia. Often the weighting is 50% English and Verbal Reasoning combined and 25% Maths and 25% NVR. In some areas the weighting is 1/3 in each category. Schools that share the same tests may provide each student with different standardised scores for different schools.

The raw scores are age-standardised to produce a single combined score, ensuring summer born children are not disadvantaged. This means children scoring the same raw scores end up with different standardised scores if they are born in different months. Winter born children have to score high raw marks than summer born children.

Is tuition required?

CEM do not encourage tuition and claim it is not required. They claim the tests are designed to identify innate ability, but there is no cogent evidence this is true. Preparation and tuition are effectively the same. Research shows the majority of students are extensively prepared for 11+ tests, especially tests from CEM. Preparation does not always have to involve tutors. Many books and online solutions are available. The English and Maths components cover Key Stage 2 (CEM claim to the end of year 5, but some questions types are not covered in many schools until year 6). NVR is not covered in Key Stage 2, hence preparation is helpful. Many areas provide free out-reach schemes for pupil premium qualified children, which is effectively free 11+ tuition.

Does CEM sell preparation and practice material?

CEM does not produce or endorse any commercially available practice papers, mock tests, preparation material, tuition, or coaching classes or schemes. It does produce and short free familiarisation material and there a couple of shorter sample tests produced for a limited number of schools (click to download). Familiarisation booklets are provided by schools in order to provide an idea of the format, look and feel of tests. However, the actual format and questions types can change each year.

What are the main differences between CEM 11+ and GL Assessment (GLA) 11+ tests?

CEM tests comprise of short timed sections with different topics in each paper, usually all. GL papers are slightly longer and have 2 subjects per paper. CEM tests require less preparation and the verbal reasoning tests reply more on vocabulary, acquired by reading. GL Assessment verbal reasoning requires much more preparation as there are many types of questions, similar to the old 21 type questions, many of which do not rely upon via a strong vocabulary and may even include simple maths. The NVR also contain more spatial reasoning questions. GLA provide free practice papers.

11+ Exam Registration & 11+ Exam Entry

11+ Exams

There are numerous organisations that create entrance exams for secondary school admission. The main supplier is GL Assessment (GLA)^®. CEM^®. Cambridge, have pulled out of paper-based 11+ tests leaving the field wide open to GL Assessment. CEM provide online test using CEM Select and are mainly used by private schools. A A few small state schools use these tests.

CEM Centre and GLA

Both sets secondary school entrance assessments (widely referred to as selective entrance or 11+ exams) for various English grammar schools and regions, including Bexley; Birmingham; Buckinghamshire; CCHS (Essex); Gloucestershire; Henrietta Barnett & Latymer; Reading; Redbridge; Shropshire; Slough; Walsall; Warwickshire; Wolverhampton; Trafford; Bexley; Torbay & Devon; Kent Shepway, and Medway .

GL Assessment^® (formally National Foundation for Educational Research^®) is another supplier. Every year GL Assessment^® constructs new, custom-made selection tests for many schools and Local Authorities. Although GL Assessment^® is the copyright holder of the tests, it is the property of the commissioning school or Local Authority for the duration of use.

Both tests are easy to prepare for using WordBuilder.co.uk and CoolCleverKids.co.uk.

Purchase Mock Exams from the Shop

Past eleven plus papers set by CEM Centre^® Cambridge University are not released and cannot be purchased. Usually, two weeks before the test, applicants receive a sample sheet containing example questions.

The new tests from GL Assessment® are similar in to tests from the University of Durham® as far as content is concerned. The move is towards a rich vocabulary, curriculum maths (old level 5 and 6, now a score of 105+) and NVR. The difficulty is tailored for GL 11+ (Grade Level 11+).

Children`s Educational Material for the 11+ has constructed seven practice mock exams. These mock test packs consists of two 50-60 minute papers as well as answers and are available from the shop.

These are NOT endorsed or associated with CEM Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring^® who do not provide preparation material. They are also suitable for the new GL Assessment® and ISEB selection tests.

Warwickshire and Birmingham Consortium

From 2016, Warwickshire shares Birmingham 11+ Consortium test, so 5000 Birmingham students and 2000 Warwickshire students can pass on content to late Warwickshire sitters. The shared test will now require students to mark answers on a separate answer sheet and no longer write answers in a booklet, increasing the chances of marking answers in the incorrect place as has occurred numerous times in other regions. If a test is shared, with other regions, always tick a box to share results with another areas as a backup plan. You have nothing to lose by doing so, and it could prove useful. You never know what may happen.

In 2013, the Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby unlawfully withdrew a place of a child days before the end of year 6 despite the local authority refusing to withdraw the place on four occasions. Luckily the child was offered a place at Schools in two different areas (Walsall and Birmingham) as opposed to be left unplaced because of serious failings of this school. Unfortunately, the child displaced other innocent children, through no fault of his own when he moved straight to the top of waiting lists and was offered places. Play safe and share results with other schools and areas even if you have no intention of taking up a place in other areas.

Free Mock Exams

Taking a "free mock" will cost the school money. But one would expect financially astute schools to consider the financial implications of setting an early test date. Common sense dictates an earlier test is likely to be used as a "free mock" and this has been well known to occur for many years.

We recommend all children, where possible, register for the Warwickshire 11+ tests.

Mock tests are the best way to prepare. What better than using a real test as a mock? This is your legal right.

We believe there is no evidence that any 11+ tests are resistant to prepping and practise will simply improve performance.

NVR

Non-verbal Reasoning

Prepare for different types of NVR questions using

ULTIMATE NVR

over 30 different types of NVR question examples
with explanations.

Available to download from the shop.

Free CEM 11+ material for preparation

Free CEM Familiarisation Material

Free CEM Select familiarisation

Free Synonyms & Antonyms test

Free Maths & NVR samples tests

Free Maths question generator

11+ Course with a score money back guarantee.

11 plus courses for CEM 11+ tests. Unique 100% success or a refund.

Verbal Reasoning booklets & mock tests included, all for just £750 from the shop which includes online content from WordBuilder & CoolCleverKids.
The only supplier to guarantee a qualifying score or your money back. Does your tutor offer this? Ask them why!

Read the simple terms and conditions. What do you have to lose? Click here for money back T&Cs.

CEM Centre for Evaluation
& Monitoring® CEM 11+ ® Tests

Online tests using CEM Select
Different subjects in each test
Mainly multiple choice questions
Questions are from a data bank and reused in different tests.
Familiarisation questions available.
CEM do not sell official preparation material
Mainly used by private schools
Few state schools use the tests

GL Assessment ® 11+ (NFER®) GL 11+ Selection Tests

Two 60-minute multiple choice papers.
Paper 1 covers English & Maths
Paper 2 covers Verbal and NVR
Verbal Reasoning is diverse
Mark in answer sheets
Same test is used for late sitting,
Questions are from a data bank and reused.
GL sell preparation material.

CEM 11+ Preparation Material Recommendations

English and Verbal Reasoning:
www.WordBuilder.co.uk

Maths &
Non-verbal Reasoning (NVR):
www.CoolCleverKids.co.uk

Year 5 Course with 100% money back
11+ Practice Papers are available from the shop.
Word lists, lesson notes and `Ultimate NVR` questions are available from the shop.

Books for CEM 11+ from SATsBooks.com

How to prepare for the 11+ test.

The most important things children can do includes reading a variety of books, magazines and websites; analysing what they have read and looking up unfamiliar words. They should practice maths and problem solving with a focus on learning to work out strategies for unfamiliar questions. A deep understanding of core maths coupled with undertaking calculations at speed is critical. As NVR is not taught in schools, it is useful to learn NVR concepts and practice a variety of question types.

Popular 11+ preparation material

Two popular online systems helpful for 11+ preparation are WordBuilder and CoolCleverKids. WordBuilder was designed especially for CEM 11+ tests and covers Comprehension, antonyms, synonyms, cloze passages, jumbled sentences, odd-word out plus many other activities. Click here for a demo.

CoolCleverKids covers 11+ and SATs maths/data-processing and NVR (it also includes KS2 spellings and science tests). There are lesson notes, links to videos, worksheets and tests, all marked online with explanations. Click here for a demo. Covering all the past maths SATs tests on this site is useful. For those who do not want to pay for a subscription, SATs papers can be downloaded free of charge from SATsPapers.org.uk (but they have to be printed and marked manually).

Word lists, booklets and mock papers are available from the shop on this site as well as a 100% money-back guarantee 11+ course.

Free mock tests

It is a good idea to take real 11+ tests in other areas if the test dates are before your test. This is a legal right and schools cannot refuse, so apply before deadlines. Many people sit the Warwickshire 11+ test as a free mock exam.

Cambridge University have now withdrawn CEM paper based 11+ tests. Cambridge spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees to refuse to answer basic questions including which schools shared the same tests. They answered such questions to a Caucasian women after refusing to answer the same question posed by an Asian man. They were aware of the ethnicity of both.

CoolCleverKids
11+ Maths and NVR
CoolCleverKids.co.uk

The Maths site with NVR (Non-verbal reasoning) for Sats and 11+ preparation. Ideal for primary school education and selective school exams. Maths lesson notes; worksheets; presentations; games, & tests auto marked with explanations.

WordBuilder
11+ English & VR
www.WordBuilder.co.uk

Verbal reasoning and English for the 11+, Sats and private/independent school entrance exams as well as primary school. Spellings; definitions; meanings; synonyms; antonyms; cloze passages; jumbled sentences & comprehension.

Sats Papers
Year 2-6 & 11+
www.SatsPapers.org.uk

Information relating to Sats Tests. Free downloads of Sats papers covering Year 2 to 6 with no registration. Prepare for Year 6 level 3-5, level 6 & 11+ tests. Download the latest phonics tests.

ATA React
Free Android App
Google Play

Fun FREE Android App to test your thinking and reaction speed. Four fun games: colours; shapes; numbers and next letter. Stores score history. Ideal for Sats & 11+ fun whilst you prepare. Download from Google Play.

11+ tourists, take the Warwickshire 11+. Tick the box to share results with Birmingham & Warks.

Download FREE SATs papers. No registration & no annoying popup adverts.

11+ English (Verbal Reasoning)
online preparation with

Spellings; Vocabulary; Synonyms; Antomyms; Conundrums; Cloze Passages; Comprehension, and Jumbled up sentences. Ideal for 11+ tests set at the CEM Centre, at Durham University^®.
www.WordBuilder.co.uk

11+ Maths (Numerical Reasoning)
and NVR online preparation with

Free maths question generator
Lesson notes; presentations (videos); worksheets; games; Sats style tests from Year 2 to 6 including mental maths audio tests; private school 11+ tests, and CEM style past questions.
Now includes Non-verbal Reasoning.
Ideal for 11+ tests set at the CEM Centre, at Durham University^®.
www.CoolCleverKids.co.uk