Dealing with Unfamiliar Formats

One of the defining features of CEM exams is that they deliberately include unfamiliar question formats. Unlike GL exams, which use a consistent and predictable structure, CEM is designed to test how well you cope when you encounter something you have not seen before. This lesson prepares you for that challenge.

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Why CEM Uses Unfamiliar Formats

CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) was developed by Durham University. Their philosophy is that an 11+ exam should test natural ability and thinking skills, not just how much tutoring a student has received. To achieve this, CEM regularly introduces new question types that cannot easily be prepared for by rote learning.

This means:

• You may see question types in the real exam that you have never practised before
• The format of the paper may change from year to year
• Being adaptable and confident is more important than memorising specific question types

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How CEM Differs from GL