11 Plus Exam Papers

Welcome to our 11 plus blog exploring differences in 11 plus Exam papers’ questions.

*  *  Content updated Q2 2021  *  *

We focus in particular on the 11 plus:

• Exam board differences in 11 plus exam papers tested; and
• 11 plus sub-test formats.

Why not try our 11 plus practice papers?

Key 11 Plus Exam Papers’ Questions Differences

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.

We expect this feature will help you to earn more about the 11 plus exam paper questions differences.

11 Plus exam papers  

What score do you need for passing the 11+? /Health tips during exams / Getting high exam results /  How to apply for grammar school test / Some last minute 11 Plus Strategies! / How to become an 11 Plus Tests tutor / Top Tips for Successful 11-plus Preparation / 11+ Maths tips  /   11 Plus Non-verbal reasoning test tips  /  11 Plus English Comprehension practice   /   Bespoke 11+ Verbal reasoning tests designed for tutors 

CEM, GL and CSSE 11 Plus exam paper differences

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.

11 Plus Questions differences

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.

Why not try our 11 plus practice papers?

 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!)

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CEM and GL assessment

The two predominant 11 Plus examiners are:

• GL Assessment, formerly known as NFER.
• CEM exams were developed by the University of Durham’s Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring.
• They do not publish CEM 11 plus practice materials.
• CEM also change the format of examinations to minimise ‘teaching to the test’.
• Hence there is an increasing number of switches to using CEM examinations.
• Alternatively, both GL Assessment and CEM exam papers are used, or some counties, like Essex, have their own unique 11 plus exams.

 CEM and GL Assessment

Whilst CEM and GL Assessment exams broadly cover English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, there are a number of key differences.

11 plus exam formats differ

GL exams are:

• Split by subject (English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning).
• 11 plus Questions are chosen from GL question banks.

Whereas 11 plus CEM exam papers

• Do not separate subjects by paper.
• Typically, a CEM 11 plus exam paper tests English and verbal reasoning skills. Then another tests maths and non-verbal reasoning skills.
• CEM 11 plus exam papers are broken into varying sections of different question types.

Why not try our 11 plus practice papers?

GL Assessment 11 plus exam papers:

• English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
• GL grammar schools therefore pick to administer all subjects, or a selection only.
• GL Assessment exams can cover any of 21 different verbal reasoning skills, much more than seen in CEM examinations. However, CEM examinations require a much broader range of vocabulary.

Whereas CEM 11 plus exam papers:

• CEM’s 11 plus exams include verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning.
• Verbal reasoning includes many of the skills covered in a GL Assessment English test.
• CEM’s numerical reasoning covers the main maths skills that would be tested in a GL maths exam.
• CEM exams align much more closely to KS2 National Curriculum content than GL does.

Exam timing differs

• GL’s 11 plus exams are typically 45 mins.
• Whereas CEM 11 plus exams do not follow a specific format. CEM’s 11 plus exams therefore change from year to year. You are advised to check the current year’s format on the CEM 11 plus Website.

Why not try our 11 plus practice papers?

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:

1. My cat caught a mouse.
2. Her grocer has no butter.
3. This knife is very blunt.
4. A woman who lives in a shoe is sure to have trouble with her child.
5. 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……

Give the feminine of each of the following:

1. Brother
2. Nephew
3. Monk
4. Wizard
5. Gander
6. Merman
7. Waiter
8. Hero
9. Fox
10. 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.

 CEM and GL Assessment 11 plus exam questions differences

Why not try our 11 plus practice papers?

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

1. CUT: knife, sever, canal, wound.
2. TWIN: engine, triplet, brother, duplicate.
3. OFTEN: sometimes, frequently, always, again.
4. POWER: might, strong, cable, electricity.
5. 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.

1. 2, 5, 8, 11, 15, 17
2. 29, 26, 21, 17, 13, 9
3. 1, 9, 16, 23, 27, 31, 34
4. 2, 6, 18, 52, 162
5. 144, 120, 96, 75, 48, 24

• Write down the words which describe a collection of: cows, fish, bees, sheep, crows.

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Answers for 11 Plus test papers

Arithmetic

1. Albert lost 7 marbles, Bob won 4, Charles lost 9 and Dan won 12
2. 3 seconds per hour
3. 60 miles
4. 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.

1. b) I am told that Tom Jones’ brother has won a Scholarship.
2. c) The bishop and another gentleman then entered the hall.
3. d) When the dog recognised me it wagged its tail.
4. e) That matter does not concern you or me.
5. f) While talking to my friend, the bus passed me.

General Intelligence

1. a) sever, b) duplicate, c) frequently, d) might, e) apparel
2. 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
3. 15, 26, 23, 52, 75
4. herd, shoal, swarm, flock, murder

Why not try our 11 plus practice papers?

Our 11 Plus exam papers  

What score do you need for passing the 11+? /Health tips during exams / Getting high exam results /  How to apply for grammar school test / Some last minute 11 Plus Strategies! / How to become an 11 Plus Tests tutor / Top Tips for Successful 11-plus Preparation / 11+ Maths tips  /   11 Plus Non-verbal reasoning test tips  /  11 Plus English Comprehension practice   /   Bespoke 11+ Verbal reasoning tests designed for tutors

Our Brilliant Passing Numerical Reasoning Tests book – also available for download from the Apple Store.

11 plus exam questions differences