Welcome to our 11 plus blog titled, 11 plus Exam Board Differences.
* * * CONTENT UPDATED OCTOBER 2020 * * *
Learn more about the 11 plus exam board differences
Key 11 Plus Exam Board Differences
CEM, GL and CSSE 11 Plus exams
CEM and GL are two different exam boards that are the exam boards in virtually all regions where the 11+ is still used. Although the CEM and GL exams cover roughly the same 11+ topics, there are differences in how they work.
CSSE 11 plus exams are however for those that want to apply for one of the 10 Grammar schools in the consortium of selective schools in Essex.
GL 11 Plus
Firstly, the GL 11 Plus consists of these four 11 plus papers: English GL Assessment; Maths GL Assessment; Verbal Reasoning GL Assessment; and Non-verbal Reasoning GL Assessment.
- The format of these papers does vary from region to region.
- GL 11+ exams have an administration time of 45 mins. Individual grammar schools determine their own test times and the multiple-choice/standard 11 plus format.
CEM 11 Plus
The CEM 11 Plus consists of these six 11 plus papers: Comprehension; Literacy; Verbal Reasoning; Numeracy; Numerical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- Firstly, each consists of two papers; divided into separately timed sections.
- The mixed paper format combines two of these into one test. Thus, the CEM English and the CEM verbal reasoning tests are combined. Secondly, the CEM maths test and the CEM non-verbal reasoning test are combined.
- CEM 11 plus timings are given per section.
CSSE 11 Plus (for the Essex consortium of grammar schools)
The CSSE 11 Plus consists of two tests: firstly the CSSE English paper and secondly, the CSSE Maths paper.
Firstly, the English paper will last sixty minutes with ten minutes additional reading time.
- Each paper is worth 50%, or equally weighted. A child’s score on each paper is standardized.
Secondly, the English paper also has a Creative Writing section.
11 Plus Exam Differences
How many of these 1940s/50s 11 Plus Test Papers questions can you get right?
Born out of the 1944 Butler Education, the 11 Plus test has been used for over 70 years to determine whether or not a child should go to a selective grammar school. But just how much have the questions changed over that period? And how do 11 Plus Test Papers from yesteryear compare to the latest grammar school sample papers found on this site?
In this fun article we look at genuine exam questions taken from the 1940s and 1950s which are featured in The Eleven-Plus Book: Genuine Exam Questions from Yesteryear. These are taken from various sections of the 11 Plus papers of the time, including Arithmetic, General English and General Intelligence/General Knowledge. Other sections included Comprehension as well as a section on Essays and Composition.
How many of these questions below can you answer? (Don’t worry the answers are at the bottom of the page!)
11 plus exam differences
Arithmetic Questions from 11 Plus test papers
- Four boys, each having the same number of marbles, started playing games. At the end of the games, Albert had 22 marbles, Bob had 33, Charles had 20 and Dan had 41. How many marbles had each won or lost?
- A clock was set correctly with the radio time signal on Monday at 7 a.m. On the following Saturday at the 7 a.m. radio time signal, the clock was 6 minutes fast. How many seconds did the clock gain each hour?
- An aeroplane uses 100 gallons of petrol for a flight of 150 miles. How far could it fly using 40 gallons?
- A newsreel cinema opened at 2 p.m. From:
- 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., 410 people entered and 86 people left.
- From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 257 people entered and 207 left.
- 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., 156 entered and 396 left.
How many people were inside at 5 p.m.?
General English Questions from 11 Plus test papers
Put the following sentences into the plural changing all necessary words:
- My cat caught a mouse.
- Her grocer has no butter.
- This knife is very blunt.
- A woman who lives in a shoe is sure to have trouble with her child.
- We talk of a football pitch. What special names are connected with these games and pastimes?
a golf …….. a skating…….. a race……. a tennis…… a bowling……
11 plus exam differences
Give the feminine of each of the following:
- Brother
- Nephew
- Monk
- Wizard
- Gander
- Merman
- Waiter
- Hero
- Fox
- Cousin
Each of the following sentences contains one error. Rewrite the sentences correctly:
This is not an Infant’s School.
I am told that Tom Jones’ brother have won a Scholarship.
The bishop and another fellow then entered the hall.
When the dog recognised me it wagged it’s tail.
That matter does not concern you or I.
Talking to my friend, the bus passed me.
General Intelligence Questions from 11 Plus test papers
One word in each group of four means the same or nearly the same as the word in capitals. Write this word down.
Example: SMALL: baby, size, little, mouse
Answer: little
- CUT: knife, sever, canal, wound.
- TWIN: engine, triplet, brother, duplicate.
- OFTEN: sometimes, frequently, always, again.
- POWER: might, strong, cable, electricity.
- CLOTHES: washing, shut, frock, apparel.
- What do the following letters stand for?
U.S.A., B.B.C., H.M.S., P.T.O., U.N.O., H.R.H.,M.P. - One number in each line does not fit properly with the others. Find this number and write it down.
- 2, 5, 8, 11, 15, 17
- 29, 26, 21, 17, 13, 9
- 1, 9, 16, 23, 27, 31, 34
- 2, 6, 18, 52, 162
- 144, 120, 96, 75, 48, 24
- Write down the words which describe a collection of: cows, fish, bees, sheep, crows.
11 plus exam differences
Answers for 11 Plus test papers
Arithmetic
- Albert lost 7 marbles, Bob won 4, Charles lost 9 and Dan won 12
- 3 seconds per hour
- 60 miles
- 134 people
General English
1a) Our cats caught mice
b) Their grocers have no butter
c) These knives are very blunt
d) Women who live in shoes are sure to have troubles with their children
2. Golf course, skating rink, race course, tennis court, bowling alley/green
3. Sister, niece, nun, witch, goose, mermaid, waitress, heroine, vixen, cousin
4a) This is not an Infants’ School.
- b) I am told that Tom Jones’ brother has won a Scholarship.
- c) The bishop and another gentleman then entered the hall.
- d) When the dog recognised me it wagged its tail.
- e) That matter does not concern you or me.
- f) While talking to my friend, the bus passed me.
General Intelligence
- a) sever, b) duplicate, c) frequently, d) might, e) apparel
- United States of America, British Broadcasting Corporation, Her/His Majesty’s Ship, please turn over, United Nations Organisation, Her/His Royal Highness, Member of Parliament
- 15, 26, 23, 52, 75
- herd, shoal, swarm, flock, murder
11 plus exam differences
School Entrance Tests advice for parents
In our oipinion, the best way to prepare for any Exam is to believe that your children can do it. Secondly, to manage their expectations openly. They should see the chance to get into a school as a possibility. And not a necessity. So if they don’t get in, it Is because the school was not right for them. Promote a growth mindset by avoiding the belief that your child has failed somehow.
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11 plus exam board differences
