Which 11+ exam will my child sit?

"The 11+" isn't one exam — it's a label for several different tests, set by different organisations, with real differences in format and question style. Which one your child sits depends entirely on where you live and which schools you're applying to. Here's what to expect from each.

A note on CEM: for years, Durham University's CEM was the second major board alongside GL. Cambridge Assessment bought it in 2019 and wound down its state 11+ testing after the autumn 2022 round. Areas that used CEM have since moved to GL or to newer boards like Quest Assessments — so if an older guide mentions CEM, treat it as historical and check your local authority's current admissions page.

GL Assessment

The most widely used board for state grammar schools.

Subjects tested: English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning — schools choose their own combination, often 2 or 3 of the 4.
Format: Standard papers (answers written on the question paper) or multiple-choice with a separate answer sheet. Most papers run 45–50 minutes.
What to expect: Question types are drawn from GL's own question bank, so they're fairly predictable — a child who's practised the common formats has a real advantage.
Where it's used: Buckinghamshire, Kent, Medway, Lincolnshire, Lancashire & Cumbria, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Walsall, Northern Ireland, and most Greater London grammar schools.

CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex)

Essex's own board, used only for Essex and south-west Hertfordshire grammar schools.

Subjects tested: English and maths, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning woven into both papers rather than tested separately.
Format: Two papers, usually sat on the same morning.
What to expect: CSSE writes its own questions rather than drawing on GL's bank, so past CSSE papers are the closest thing to reliable practice material.
Where it's used: Essex and parts of south-west Hertfordshire only.

Quest Assessments

A newer board that's taken over several areas since CEM (below) wound down its 11+ testing.

Subjects tested: Similar ground to GL — English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning — with its own question style.
Format: Varies by area; check the local authority's admissions page for the current year's format.
What to expect: Question types are less established than GL's, simply because Quest is newer to this — expect areas using it to publish clearer sample papers as the format settles.
Where it's used: Bexley (since 2024) and Wirral (from the 2026 test, for 2027 entry) are the two confirmed so far. Check locally, since boards can change year to year.

ISEB Common Pre-Test

Used by many independent (private) senior schools, not state grammar schools.

Subjects tested: Mathematics, English, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.
Format: Computer-based and adaptive — the difficulty of later questions adjusts based on earlier answers, so two children can sit visibly different papers.
What to expect: Usually taken in Year 6, sometimes earlier for schools with a Year 7 or 8 entry point. Each school sets its own pass mark and weighting, and most still interview candidates on top.
Where it's used: Independent schools nationally — not tied to a geographic region the way state grammar tests are.

Exam boards change — a local authority can switch provider from one admissions cycle to the next, as several did when CEM wound down. Always confirm the current board and format on your local authority's or target school's own admissions page before relying on any guide, including this one.

Not sure which one applies to you?

Our free worksheets cover the core skills common to every board — verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths, and English — so they're a safe place to start regardless of which exam your child will actually sit.

Get 10 free worksheets