11+ assessment update
The shift from CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) to GL Assessment is the biggest structural change to the 11+ world in a generation. What was once a familiar split across the UK is now being redrawn around paper style, question patterns, and the way children are trained to “think on the spot”.
StudooFor a long time, CEM and GL split the UK map for paper-based 11+ exams. In late 2022, CEM announced it was moving to a digital-only format.
The result was immediate ripple-effect pressure: grammar school consortia had to pivot back towards GL Assessment for paper-based exams. For parents preparing for the 2026 intake, this isn’t only a logo change on a page—it's a change in the “DNA” of the test.
By 2026, the transition is nearly complete. Regions that were “CEM strongholds” for years are now integrated into GL Assessment.
The volatility is the point: don’t assume last year’s paper format will match next year’s. Always confirm which provider and exam style your child’s school uses.
Many families plan using revision books passed down from an older sibling. That can help with foundations, but it’s a risky strategy when the exam provider changes.
Maths and English themes stay familiar, but the reasoning sections are fundamentally different. If your practice materials don’t match the question style, your child can “know the concept” and still lose marks in the format.
Quick rule for 2026
Practise reasoning using the same provider style as the school expects—otherwise you end up training for yesterday’s exam.
The biggest technical shift is in how children are tested on language and thinking skills.
| Feature | Old CEM style (now mostly obsolete) | New GL style (2026 standard) |
|---|---|---|
| English focus | Cloze tests: filling in missing letters/words in a story | Comprehension & SPaG: deep analysis of text and formal grammar rules |
| Verbal reasoning | Vocabulary heavy: synonyms/antonyms | Logic & codes: multiple question types including letter-codes and “move a letter” puzzles |
| Maths format | Often integrated into a general reasoning paper | Usually a dedicated, timed maths paper (commonly around 50 minutes) |
| Predictability | Designed to be “tutor-proof” and unpredictable | More transparent: specific styles can be practised and mastered |
Important note for 2026
Even though CEM has left the paper-based market for most areas, CEM Select (online) is still used by some elite independent schools. Check exactly which version your target school requires before you buy a 2026 practice bundle.
If your child sits a GL exam in 2026, they need to move beyond “memorise and hope”. GL verbal reasoning is about patterns—so practise should look like pattern recognition under time pressure.
Studoo helps you replace guesswork with targeted practice. You can focus on the question types your child struggles with, practise regularly, and build the confidence that comes from knowing the right pattern to look for.
In short
The CEM-to-GL shift is a real change in exam style. For 2026, the biggest risk is practising with “hand-me-down” reasoning materials that don’t match the provider your school expects. If you practise the right logic and code patterns, your child will be trained for the actual test—not the previous one.