If you are starting 11+ preparations for your child, you may have come across the acronym GL. GL is an abbreviation of ‘Granada Learning’, a leading provider of the 11+ assessment across the country for over 35 years.

GL believe in providing “all children the opportunity to experience sample questions across a range of question types in advance of the test”. For this reason, GL produce a range of practice papers to build skills and confidence before the transfer test.

Whether a child sits the GL Assessment or the CEM 11+ (second leading 11+ exam provider) depends entirely on the region of the grammar school. As of 2019, regions using the GL Assessment format include:

Buckinghamshire

Dorset

Kent

Lancashire & Cumbria

Lincolnshire

Northern Ireland

Plymouth

Trafford (some schools use the 11+CEM format)

Wiltshire

Yorkshire (some schools use the 11+CEM format)

Please note that some schools in these areas may also use the CEM format.

For further information regarding the specific testing criteria in your region, CND recommends that parents contact their preferred grammar school directly or visit their local education authority website.

Past GL Assessment exams have consisted of two papers, typically 40-45 minutes each. Each paper is broken down into individually timed sections covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Awareness; although schools can choose any combination of these to suit their selection policy. GL Assessment uses 21 different Verbal Reasoning question types and can incorporate any into the exam. We recommend children familiarise themselves with each of these in advance of the test.

The GL transfer test has a varying number of multiple-choice style questions and timings for each section. Once the time in each section has elapsed, children will not get the opportunity to re-visit a section. All answers are marked on a separate answer sheet.

Preparing for the GL Assessment 11+ entrance exam is a unique journey and each child has a different set of goals. For this reason, CND ensure that our 11plus  tuition programmes are tailored specifically to suit areas for improvement, with weaker topics targeted in future tests. Furthermore, each child will be allocated a qualified 11+ tutor whom parents may contact over the phone or via email regarding their progress.

Regardless of whether your child is sitting the GL Assessment or CEM 11+, time management skills are essential. That’s why all of our Year 5  tests are timed, helping children to manage their time effectively. Speed and accuracy skills are also tested using our ‘Beat the Clock’ tests, encouraging your child to beat their past score each week!

Please note that the information on this page was believed to be accurate at the time of publication.

However, CND always recommends checking with the individual school websites or contacting your local consortium of grammar schools before acting upon any information given.