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Guide

CEM vs GL: what changed and why it matters now

The short answer

For many years, families compared "CEM" and "GL" as the two main 11+ styles. Today the picture is different. The CEM name now leads to Cambridge Insight, whose entrance product is a computer-based test, and the grammar school areas covered on this page name other providers, including GL Assessment. So the useful question now is not "CEM or GL?" but "which test will my child sit, in our entry year?"

Why do families still compare CEM and GL?

The two labels are still everywhere. Practice books, online courses, second-hand bundles and older siblings' materials are often marked "CEM" or "GL". Advice written a few years ago may also describe an area as using one or the other.

Because test arrangements change, a label on a book can be out of date. That is the main reason this comparison matters now: not to choose a style, but to avoid preparing for a test your child may not sit.

What does the CEM name refer to today?

The CEM website now presents Cambridge Insight. Its entrance product, Cambridge Select Insight, is described as a computer-based entrance assessment from Cambridge InsightCambridge Insight: Select insightChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM).The source says: Cambridge Select Insight computer assessments are designed for selective independent schools, partially selective state schools, Grammar Schools and schools with fair banding admissions.View the official source. Cambridge says the assessment comes with 25% extra-time versionsCambridge Select Insight: extra-time versionsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM).The source says: Cambridge Select Insight comes with 25% extra time versions for candidates with special educational needs.View the official source for candidates with special educational needs.

On preparation, Cambridge states that it offers no commercially available practice materials, including practice or past papersCambridge Insight: practice materialsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM).The source says: we do not provide any commercially available practice materials (including practice or past papers) nor endorse any other commercially available resources or tuition services.View the official source.

You may read elsewhere that CEM stopped providing paper 11+ tests for grammar schools at a particular time. We have not found an official statement that confirms this, so we do not give a date or a reason here. Our CEM page will be updated if we can source it.

What do official sources say about GL tests?

GL's guidance, as published by a grammar school, warns that 11+ tests vary from area to area, so a local test’s timings, topics and number of questions may differ from GL’s own materialsGL Assessment: tests vary by areaChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.The source says: 11+ tests vary from area to area so please be aware that the exact timings, the combination of topics covered (for example, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, Maths and English) and the number of questions in your local 11+ test may differ from those in our familiarisation and practice materials.View the official source. Two examples show how different GL tests can be:

  • West Midlands Grammar Schools: the sections are English comprehension, verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal/spatial reasoningWest Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test: SectionsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against West Midlands Grammar Schools.The source says: Each test paper is divided into smaller individually timed sections that test:View the official source, answered all multiple choice, on a separate answer sheetWest Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test: Answer formatChecked 9 Oct 2026 against West Midlands Grammar Schools.The source says: There are no sections of writing within the test - all questions are multiple choice and children record their answers on a separate answer sheet.View the official source.
  • Gloucestershire (up to 2027 entry): the papers are Paper 1 (verbal) (comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning); Paper 2 (non-verbal and maths) (non-verbal reasoning and mathematics)Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment): PapersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Stroud High School.The source says: In one paper, students will be tested on their verbal skills (including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning). The other test paper assesses non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding.View the official source.

For practice, GL offers free familiarisation papers to print; practice papers cost moneyGL Assessment: free practice materialChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.The source says: While familiarisation papers are freely available for download, practice papers are only accessible for purchase.View the official source.

How do the official descriptions compare?

This table only uses what official sources say. It is not a ranking, and it does not mean any school near you uses either test.

Cambridge Select Insight (CEM website)GL Assessment 11+
How it is takena computer-based entrance assessment from Cambridge InsightCambridge Insight: Select insightChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM).The source says: Cambridge Select Insight computer assessments are designed for selective independent schools, partially selective state schools, Grammar Schools and schools with fair banding admissions.View the official sourceVaries by area; in Slough, a range of answer formats, recorded on a separate computer-marked answer sheetSlough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Answer formatChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Questions on both papers have a range of answer formats. Candidates indicate their answers on a separate answer sheet. This is marked by computer and must be filled in exactly as directed in the instructions.View the official source
Official practice materialno commercially available practice materials, including practice or past papersCambridge Insight: practice materialsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM).The source says: we do not provide any commercially available practice materials (including practice or past papers) nor endorse any other commercially available resources or tuition services.View the official sourcefree familiarisation papers to print; practice papers cost moneyGL Assessment: free practice materialChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.The source says: While familiarisation papers are freely available for download, practice papers are only accessible for purchase.View the official source
Extra time25% extra-time versionsCambridge Select Insight: extra-time versionsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM).The source says: Cambridge Select Insight comes with 25% extra time versions for candidates with special educational needs.View the official sourceSet by each area; in Slough, up to 25% extra time per paper with evidence, received by 3pm Friday 12 June 2026Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Access arrangementsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Extra time may be available for pupils with recognised special educational needs. This is up to 25% for each paper.View the official source
Who decides the formatNot covered by our sourcesEach area, so 11+ tests vary from area to area, so a local test’s timings, topics and number of questions may differ from GL’s own materialsGL Assessment: tests vary by areaChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.The source says: 11+ tests vary from area to area so please be aware that the exact timings, the combination of topics covered (for example, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, Maths and English) and the number of questions in your local 11+ test may differ from those in our familiarisation and practice materials.View the official source

Have grammar school areas moved to GL?

Some have. Slough is one example with an official statement: the Slough Consortium says Slough changed to GL Assessment in 2024GL Assessment: SloughChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Please note that following the change of test provider to GL Assessment in 2024, the previous arrangements where some schools used the same test as the Slough Consortium no longer apply.View the official source. Its guide adds that the consortium changed to GL Assessment in 2024; no longer shares a test or scores with the Reading schoolsSlough: Previous changeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Please note that following the change of test provider to GL Assessment in 2024, the previous arrangements where some schools used the same test as the Slough Consortium no longer apply.View the official source.

Arrangements keep changing, and not always towards GL. Slough itself gives its next step as: GL Assessment for the September 2026 test (2027 entry); Quest Assessments for the September 2027 test (2028 entry)Slough: Provider change statementChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: 11+ test provider for September 2028 entry (exam in September 2027) The Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools has contracted with Quest Assessments as the test provider for the 11+ examination to be held in September 2027.View the official source. In Trafford, the arrangement is FSCE from 2028 entry; Year 5 testing from 2029 entryTrafford: change to FSCE testsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2028, the test provider will be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in September of Year 6.View the official source. Our guides to GL vs Quest and GL vs FSCE explain those changes.

So a book bought for a sibling, or advice written for an earlier year, may describe a test that no longer applies.

What does this mean for preparation now?

Check the test for your child's entry year. Children now in Year 6 are applying for 2027 entry; children now in Year 5 for 2028 entry. Find your area on find your 11+ area and look at the provider listed for your year.

Use older CEM-labelled books for general skills only. Reading practice, vocabulary, arithmetic and problem-solving do not go out of date. But a CEM-labelled book is not a guide to the format, timing or mix of questions in your child's actual test.

If your area uses GL, start with your area's own information. Read the area or consortium's description of the papers first, then use GL's free familiarisation papers to see the style. Remember that the local test may differ from GL's general materials.

If a school uses Cambridge Select Insight, read that school's guidance. It is taken on a computer, and Cambridge does not offer practice papers. The school's own information explains what to expect.

Do not buy twice. There is no need to work through both "CEM" and "GL" materials to cover every possibility. Once you know your test, focus on that and on everyday learning. Our guide on how much 11+ practice is enough may help you keep things in proportion.

Is one easier than the other?

No official source we have checked says so, and we do not compare providers in that way. Each area sets its own standard, and scores are usually standardised against the children who take the same test. Our guide to standardised scores explains what that means.

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 13 October 2026: Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge Insight), GL Assessment (as published by Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School), the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, Upton Court Grammar School, West Midlands Grammar Schools, Stroud High School (Gloucestershire) and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any test provider. How we make our content.

Facts used in this guidesources in each row
FactDetailSource
Cambridge Insight: Select insighta computer-based entrance assessment from Cambridge InsightSource: Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM), checked
Cambridge Select Insight: extra-time versions25% extra-time versionsSource: Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM), checked
Cambridge Insight: practice materialsno commercially available practice materials, including practice or past papersSource: Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CEM), checked
GL Assessment: tests vary by area11+ tests vary from area to area, so a local test’s timings, topics and number of questions may differ from GL’s own materialsSource: Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, checked
West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test: SectionsEnglish comprehension, verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal/spatial reasoningSource: West Midlands Grammar Schools, checked
West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test: Answer formatall multiple choice, on a separate answer sheetSource: West Midlands Grammar Schools, checked
Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment): PapersPaper 1 (verbal) (comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning); Paper 2 (non-verbal and maths) (non-verbal reasoning and mathematics)Source: Stroud High School, checked
GL Assessment: free practice materialfree familiarisation papers to print; practice papers cost moneySource: Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, checked
Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Answer formata range of answer formats, recorded on a separate computer-marked answer sheetSource: Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, checked
Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Access arrangementsup to 25% extra time per paper with evidence, received by 3pm Friday 12 June 2026Source: Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, checked
GL Assessment: SloughSlough changed to GL Assessment in 2024Source: Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, checked
Slough: Previous changechanged to GL Assessment in 2024; no longer shares a test or scores with the Reading schoolsSource: Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, checked

Written and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team. Every fact on this page links to its official source. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.