In the United Kingdom, the 11+ entrance examination remains a critical step for many families seeking places at selective grammar schools. The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) is a prominent provider of these assessments, known for their unique format and question styles. For parents and students preparing for these exams, access to high-quality, free practice materials is invaluable. This article outlines the available free CEM practice papers, their sources, and the key details surrounding their use, based exclusively on the information provided in the referenced materials.
The provision of free practice papers serves a vital function in the preparation process. They allow students to familiarise themselves with the exam format, question types, and timing without initial financial outlay. Official familiarisation materials from CEM itself, alongside publisher-created papers that interpret the CEM style, form the core of these resources. The materials indicate that while many papers are available at no cost, a degree of caution is necessary, as CEM can introduce new question types without warning, making core skill development essential.
Understanding CEM and Its Assessment Format
The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) designs assessments for educational institutions to gauge student capabilities. The 11+ CEM exam is a key example, typically used for grammar school selection. According to the source data, the exam format consists of multiple-choice questions and written tasks, though specific details are drawn from familiarisation guides and publisher interpretations rather than a single, universal specification. One source notes that the exam is completed independently, working at a computer guided by on-screen instructions for some schools, with all questions being multiple choice.
A critical point highlighted in the materials is the variability of the CEM exam. Publishers work to interpret what an actual CEM paper might look like based on the information CEM publishes. However, the data explicitly warns that "children should have a particular focus on core skills through their preparation and should prepare flexibly because CEM can without any warning introduce entirely new question types." This underscores the importance of using practice papers as a tool for skill development rather than as a definitive predictor of the final exam content.
Official CEM Familiarisation Resources
The most authoritative source of information about the CEM exam format is the official familiarisation materials produced by CEM itself. These are provided directly to schools and are often made available to parents and students for free.
- General CEM Familiarisation Guide: CEM has produced a general guide for all of their tests, providing examples of exam format and question types. This all-in-one booklet gives detailed information on Word Choice, Pictures, Comprehension, and Maths. It is designed to give a broad overview of what to expect from a CEM assessment.
- CEM Select Online Familiarisation Test: For schools that use the online CEM Select test, an official familiarisation test is available via a provided link. This resource is particularly useful for understanding the computer-based format, including on-screen instructions and navigation. The materials confirm that this test is useful for preparation where the online format is used.
- School-Specific Familiarisation Guides: Some schools provide their own up-to-date familiarisation guides based on the CEM format. For example, the materials mention a 2019 entry familiarisation guide from Devon for Torquay Boys’ Grammar School. These guides are tailored to the specific school's testing procedures and are considered highly relevant for applicants to that institution.
It is important to note that these official resources are primarily guides rather than full practice papers. They illustrate the types of questions and format but may not offer the volume of practice that publisher-created papers do.
Publisher-Interpreted Free CEM Practice Papers
Several educational publishers have developed practice papers that interpret the CEM style. These papers are widely used and are often available for free download in PDF format. The source materials consistently mention two main publishers: CGP and Bond.
CGP (Coordination Group Publications): CGP is a leading publisher of 11+ resources. The materials indicate that CGP produces free familiarisation PDFs and a selection of practice papers. One source specifies that CGP produces three papers, but the norm for most tests is for all three disciplines (Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Numerical Reasoning/Maths) to be dealt with through two 45-minute papers, with each paper featuring a mix of questions. This mixed-discipline format is a key characteristic of many CEM-style papers. CGP's free resources are noted as being suitable for preparation for the 2026/2027 11+ entrance exams.
Bond 11 Plus: Bond is another major publisher featured in the resources. Like CGP, Bond offers free familiarisation PDFs and practice materials. The papers are described as being among the best representations of what CEM 11+ papers might look like. The materials emphasise that these are interpretations, not official CEM papers.
Examberry Papers: Examberry is also highlighted as a source of free practice materials. Specifically, the data mentions "Examberry Papers – Free Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 1," which includes a free test, multiple-choice sheets, and answers all together in one PDF. This is targeted practice for the Non-Verbal Reasoning section of the CEM exam, which is a significant component of the assessment.
Types of Practice Papers Available
The free resources available cover the core disciplines tested in the 11+ CEM exam. The materials consistently categorise these into three main areas:
- Verbal Reasoning (VR): This includes English comprehension, vocabulary, and verbal logic. The data suggests that CEM exams may have a bias towards Verbal Reasoning disciplines, particularly vocabulary breadth. Free papers in this category often include sections on Word Choice and Comprehension.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR): This involves visual patterns, shapes, and logical sequences based on visual information. Dedicated NVR practice papers, such as those from Examberry, are available for free download.
- Numerical Reasoning/Maths: This covers mathematical concepts and problem-solving. Practice papers in this area focus on the numerical questions that appear in the CEM format, which may differ from traditional maths papers.
Many publisher-created papers are designed as mixed-discipline papers, reflecting the common format of the actual exam where questions from different subjects appear within a single paper or session. For instance, the materials note that some papers feature a mix of Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Numerical Reasoning questions within a 45-minute timeframe.
Accessing and Using Free Practice Papers
A significant benefit of the resources mentioned is their accessibility. Multiple sources state that the free PDFs require no sign-up or login. They can be downloaded directly from the publishers' or educational websites. Answers are typically provided, often on the last page of the paper or in a separate answer booklet, allowing for self-assessment.
When using these papers, the materials advise a focus on core skills. Given that CEM can introduce new question types, practice should be used to build foundational abilities in verbal, non-verbal, and numerical reasoning, rather than to memorise specific question formats. The flexibility of preparation is stressed as a key to success.
School-Specific Contexts and Eligibility
While the practice papers are generic, the ultimate goal is often admission to a specific grammar school. The source data includes examples of schools that use or have used CEM or CEM-style tests, providing context for their selection processes.
- Reading Girls' School: This school uses CEM-style tests for selecting up to 42 places by ability. The catchment area prioritises girls living nearest to the school. The school provides its own sample papers in a similar style to CEM tests.
- Gateways School: The exam style here is CEM Select, with a 60-minute exam covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Mathematics. All questions are multiple choice.
- The Harvey Grammar School: This boys' grammar school also uses a CEM-style test, with a 60-minute exam format. The school has a catchment area based on distance.
These examples illustrate that while the practice papers are general, the specific exam length, format, and selection criteria can vary by school. Therefore, parents should check the specific requirements of their target schools, as some may provide their own familiarisation guides or sample papers.
Additional Resources and Preparation Tips
Beyond full practice papers, the materials mention other valuable resources for 11+ success. These include:
- Year-Specific Preparation Guides: Some resources offer preparation advice for specific years (e.g., Year 3, Year 4, Year 5), focusing on developing skills gradually.
- Subject-Specific Preparation: Guides for Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Numerical Reasoning preparation are available, allowing for targeted skill development.
- Bonus Resources Lists: Various websites compile lists of "bonus resources," which may include additional sample papers for English, Maths, and Reasoning from different publishers or schools.
The overarching advice from the materials is to use a combination of official familiarisation materials and publisher-created practice papers. This approach helps students become comfortable with the exam's structure while building the core skills needed to tackle both familiar and potentially unfamiliar question types.
Conclusion
Accessing free CEM practice papers is a practical and cost-effective strategy for 11+ exam preparation in the UK. The available resources, from official CEM familiarisation guides to publisher-interpreted papers from CGP, Bond, and Examberry, provide a solid foundation for understanding the exam format and question styles. These materials are typically available as free PDF downloads without registration, often including answers for self-assessment.
However, a critical insight from the source data is the inherent variability of the CEM exam. While practice papers are invaluable, they should be used to develop flexible core skills in verbal, non-verbal, and numerical reasoning, rather than to anticipate a fixed set of questions. Parents and students are advised to supplement general practice with school-specific familiarisation materials where available, and to focus on building a broad skill base to adapt to any new question types that may appear in the actual exam.