Cloze and Gap-Fill

Cloze passages (also called gap-fill exercises) are a key part of the CEM 11+ exam. In these questions, you are given a passage of text with certain words missing, and you must choose the correct word to fill each gap. This tests your vocabulary, grammar, and ability to understand context — all at the same time.

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What Makes CEM Cloze Different?

In CEM exams, cloze questions can appear in several formats:

Format	How it works
Multiple choice	You choose the correct word from 4 or 5 options for each gap
Word bank	A list of words is provided and you match each word to the correct gap
Free response	You write the missing word yourself (less common in multiple-choice CEM papers)

The CEM exam is known for being time-pressured. You may have only 30 seconds per gap, so speed and accuracy are both vital.

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The Five-Step Strategy

Use this strategy every time you face a cloze passage:

Step 1 — Read the Whole Passage First