One of the most confusing parts of the 11-plus is that there is no single exam. The paper your child sits, the subjects tested and even whether the answers are written or multiple-choice all depend on where you live and which grammar schools you are applying to. This guide maps the main exam boards to the regions that use them, so you can prepare for the right format from day one. Last verified: July 2026.
The 2026 headline: CEM's paper 11+ is gone
If you read older forum posts or competitor pages, you will see endless debate about "GL versus CEM". Here is the single most important fact that most stale content gets wrong: CEM's separate paper 11-plus was discontinued around 2022-2023. CEM began at Durham University and was later run by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Almost every former CEM grammar region has since moved to GL Assessment or to a bespoke local paper. So in 2026 the practical picture is simpler than the internet suggests: GL dominates, CSSE runs Essex, ISEB serves many independents, and a handful of areas write their own tests. Always confirm the current arrangement with your local authority (LA) or the school directly, because providers do occasionally switch. Our fuller comparison lives in GL vs CEM explained.
Meet the four boards you actually need to know
- GL Assessment - the dominant board. Separate single-subject, multiple-choice papers with a predictable published syllabus. Answers go on a standard sheet or a separate machine-marked answer sheet.
- CSSE (Essex) - two written-answer papers, English and Maths, including a creative-writing task. No verbal or non-verbal reasoning.
- ISEB Common Pre-Test - an online, adaptive, multiple-choice test used by many independent senior schools. English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- Bespoke / other - some areas write their own papers (for example Reading School's new FSCE format) or use another provider such as Quest Assessments.
Region-by-board lookup table
Use this as a starting point, then confirm with your LA. Test months are typically September of Year 6.
| Area / consortium | Provider (2026) | Subjects tested | Test month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | GL | English, Maths, Reasoning (VR+NVR) | Early September |
| Medway | GL / bespoke | English, Maths, Extended Writing + Reasoning | September |
| Buckinghamshire | GL | VR, NVR, Maths | September |
| Birmingham / King Edward VI | GL | All four, two mixed papers | September/October |
| Sutton (SET) & London grammars | GL | English, Maths (no reasoning) | September |
| Trafford | GL | Maths, VR, NVR | September |
| Essex (CSSE) | CSSE | English, Maths (written) | Autumn |
| Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon | GL | Usually VR/NVR/Maths (+English) | September |
| Reading School (Berkshire) | Bespoke FSCE (from 2025) | Four papers | Autumn |
| Independents (Eton, Harrow, Westminster, St Paul's, Wellington) | ISEB Common Pre-Test | English, Maths, VR, NVR (online) | Year 6/7 window |
For a deeper walkthrough of local systems, see our 11-plus by region guide and the grammar schools hub.
Board comparison at a glance
| Board | Format | Answer type | Predictability | Prep focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL | Paper, single-subject | Multiple-choice | High - published question types | Question-type drilling, speed |
| CSSE | Paper, two subjects | Written / free response | Medium | Written technique, creative writing |
| ISEB | Online, adaptive | Multiple-choice | Medium - difficulty adjusts | On-screen practice, no revisiting |
| CEM (legacy) | Was blended paper; now online only | Mixed | Lower by design | Wide vocabulary, timing |
Inside a GL paper
GL splits the 11-plus into four possible subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Which combination you sit depends on your region (see the table above). A typical paper has roughly 50-80 questions in separately-timed sub-sections.
Verbal Reasoning question types
GL Verbal Reasoning uses around 21 named types. A worked code example: if CAT = DBU, each letter has moved forward one place in the alphabet, so DOG becomes EPH. Other common types include letter sequences, hidden words ("There is a hen in kitchen"), analogies, odd-one-out, closest-in-meaning and opposites, compound words, move-a-letter, number series and logic puzzles. Practise these in our free worksheets and see vocabulary roots.
Non-Verbal Reasoning question types
NVR tests spatial thinking: series, matrices, analogies, odd-one-out, reflections, rotations, and cube nets/folding. For a rotation question you mentally turn a shape 90 degrees clockwise and pick the match; for a cube net you fold a flat cross into a cube and check which faces meet. These skills sit outside the national curriculum, so familiarity matters. Try a timed mock.
CSSE, ISEB and the written vs online split
CSSE (Essex) is unusual: two written papers, English and Maths, each marked out of 60 and equally weighted, including a creative-writing task. There is no reasoning. That means prep is all about written technique and clear working, not multiple-choice speed. ISEB Common Pre-Test runs about 2.5 hours online, is adaptive (questions get harder as you answer correctly), and cannot be revisited - so on-screen practice and steady pacing matter more than for a paper test. See how the disciplines break down in our exam guides.
Standardised and age-standardised scores
Almost every board reports a standardised score: average 100, standard deviation 15, typical range about 69-141. Scores are age-standardised, so a summer-born child gets an uplift for being younger. Worked example: two children both score 45 raw marks. The September-born (older) child might standardise to 108; the August-born (younger) child could standardise to 114 for the identical raw mark. Younger age, same performance, higher standardised score.
Worked Kent Test example
Kent reports three standardised scores - English, Maths and Reasoning. A common rule is an aggregate of 332 across the three, with no single subject below 106. So a child scoring 120 + 115 + 100 totals 335 but fails because Reasoning (100) is under 106. A child on 112 + 110 + 110 = 332 with nothing below 106 qualifies. Passing the test, though, is not the same as securing a place - catchment and ranking still apply. In Buckinghamshire the qualifying score is 121.
Board-specific preparation tips
- GL: drill each named question type to automaticity and build speed - see GL papers.
- CSSE: polish handwriting, planning and creative-writing marks - see CSSE papers and word-problem method.
- ISEB: practise on-screen and get comfortable committing to an answer.
- Everyone: master the basics with our maths formula sheet and revision hub.
Myths to ignore: "CEM is untutorable" (it is prepared for like any test), "all regions use the same paper" (they do not), and "a qualifying score guarantees a place" (it does not). Check dates on our key dates page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kent Test GL or CEM?
Kent uses GL Assessment. Its test covers English, Maths and Reasoning (verbal and non-verbal) and is sat in early September of Year 6.
Does CSSE (Essex) test verbal reasoning?
No. CSSE sets two written papers, English and Maths only, including a creative-writing task. There is no verbal or non-verbal reasoning component.
How long is the ISEB Common Pre-Test?
Around 2.5 hours online, covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. It is adaptive and questions cannot be revisited once answered.