CEM 11+ (Durham University)
CEM tests are developed by Durham University's Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring. Known for being harder to prepare for, CEM tests don't publish past papers and vary their format each year.
~1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours
Duration
2
Papers
No
Neg. Marking
Overview
CEM (Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring) at Durham University provides 11+ tests used by several standalone grammar schools and some regional groupings. CEM is deliberately designed to resist intensive coaching — they don't release past papers and change the test format each year. The test assesses verbal ability, numerical ability and non-verbal ability but weaves these into combined papers rather than separate subject tests.
Subjects & Weightage
Verbal Ability
~33%Tests vocabulary, reading comprehension, verbal reasoning and language skills. Questions are integrated into the papers rather than forming a separate section.
Question Types
What's Covered
Vocabulary & Word Knowledge
- Advanced synonyms and antonyms (words beyond everyday vocabulary)
- Understanding unfamiliar words from context and root analysis
- Prefixes, suffixes, Latin and Greek roots (e.g. bene-, mal-, -ology, -graph)
- Shades of meaning (e.g. happy → elated → ecstatic)
- Homonyms, homophones and words with multiple meanings
Reading Comprehension
- Close reading of fiction and non-fiction extracts
- Inference and deduction (reading between the lines)
- Identifying themes, mood and author's perspective
- Summarising and paraphrasing key points
- Understanding figurative and literary language
Verbal Reasoning
- Cloze passages — selecting the most appropriate word for each gap
- Shuffled sentences — reordering words to make a correct sentence
- Odd one out — identifying the word that doesn't belong to the group
- Sentence completion using grammar and meaning clues
Tip: Wide reading is the best preparation for CEM verbal — fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, encyclopaedias. Build vocabulary naturally rather than through word lists.
Numerical Ability
~33%Mental arithmetic, problem solving and mathematical reasoning. Questions can appear anywhere in the test, interspersed with other sections.
Question Types
What's Covered
Mental Arithmetic
- Rapid addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- Working with decimals and fractions mentally
- Percentage calculations without a calculator
- Estimation and rounding to check answers
- Applying number facts quickly (times tables, number bonds, doubles/halves)
Mathematical Reasoning
- Multi-step word problems requiring two or three operations
- Money, time and real-world context problems
- Ratio and proportion (sharing, scaling, best-buy comparisons)
- Working backwards from an answer to find missing values
- Spotting patterns in number sequences and tables
Data Interpretation
- Reading information from charts, tables and graphs
- Calculating totals, differences and averages from data sets
- Answering multi-part questions about the same data source
- Converting between units in data contexts
Tip: Strong mental maths is key. CEM numerical questions often require speed rather than complex calculation. Practice mental maths daily.
Non-Verbal Ability
~33%Spatial reasoning and pattern recognition using shapes and diagrams. Aims to assess innate ability rather than learned skills.
Question Types
What's Covered
Pattern Recognition
- Identifying rules governing shape sequences (size, rotation, shading, position)
- Multi-step patterns with two or more simultaneous changes
- Predicting the next or missing item in a series
- Complex repeating cycles in extended sequences
Shape Analogies & Matrices
- Applying observed transformations to new shapes (A:B as C:?)
- Solving 3×3 matrices using row and column rules
- Identifying layered rules (e.g. rotation + shading change + size change)
Spatial & 3D Reasoning
- Rotation in 2D (clockwise and anticlockwise by 45°, 90°, 180°)
- Reflection across horizontal, vertical and diagonal axes
- Folding 2D nets into 3D shapes and identifying correct results
- Paper folding with hole punches — predicting the unfolded result
- Building and deconstructing 3D shapes from cubes (plan views, isometric)
- Overlapping transparent shapes — predicting the combined image
Tip: CEM non-verbal questions can be more challenging than GL. Practice a wide variety of question styles as the format changes each year.
Test Format & Scoring
Total Duration
Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours
Papers
2 papers (subjects are mixed within papers, not separated)
Question Format
Mix of multiple-choice and short answer. Papers combine all three ability areas.
Scoring
Scores are age-standardised. Maximum scores are not published. Individual schools set their own qualifying thresholds.
No negative marking — always attempt every question, even if you're unsure.
Test Day Information
What to Bring
- HB pencils and a pen
- An eraser
- No calculators or electronic devices
- Water bottle
Breaks
Typically a short break between the two papers.
Test Centres
Usually at the grammar school being applied to, or at a designated test centre. Check with the individual school.
Special Arrangements
Apply directly to the school with supporting professional evidence. Schools individually manage access arrangements for CEM tests.
Preparation Advice
When to Start
12–18 months is recommended, but CEM preparation should focus on broad ability building rather than test-specific drilling.
Key Resources
CGP CEM-style practice papers, Bond CEM papers. Because CEM doesn't release past papers, no practice material is 'official'. Wide reading and mental maths are the best preparation.
Practice Tips
CEM specifically designs tests to be coaching-resistant. The best preparation is broad: read widely, practise mental maths, and do varied reasoning exercises. Don't over-rely on any one practice book format.
Important Notes
CEM does not release past papers — any claiming to be 'official CEM papers' are third-party approximations
The test format may change from year to year
Scores are not published in the same way as GL — schools will tell you if your child has 'qualified'
Each school using CEM manages its own registration and test administration
CEM tests are designed to assess broader ability rather than trained performance
Ready to check your chances?
Enter your postcode to see which CEM 11+ (Durham University) schools you could realistically get into — with distance, score and selection method analysis.