Here we explain the difference between the different 11+ exam types.
The world of entrance examinations can be frustratingly opaque and stressful for parents and children alike. One of the more obvious challenges is the seemingly endless list of acronyms and terms used to categorise exam formats on school websites and other education sites.
To make life a little easier, we have put together a list of the most common entrance exams. Looking at what they are and how to use Atom Home to prepare for them.
GL
GL or Granada Learning are an examination board responsible for writing and administering a high volume of 11+ entrance exams. Schools using GL Assessment tests get to choose which components they want to cover. This can and does change from year to year, so it is important to check the latest information with the senior schools you are applying to (if you're not 100% sure about the circumstances surrounding the exam for your school please email us at support@atomlearning.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help!).
The Maths and English components always stay rooted in the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum but cover topics across the entire syllabus. This means, being familiar with all of the possible Year 6 content at the top level which may not have been taught yet at school, is key. The Learning Journeys on Atom Home will allow your child to learn and revise the content at an optimal level for their needs, making sure they have covered everything they need to by the time of their exam.
CEM
CEM stands for the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring. As the other leading examination board, CEM also provides a high volume of 11+ entrance exams. CEM tests also follow the KS2 Curriculum but there is a greater emphasis on vocabulary, problem solving and speed. Alongside the Learning Journeys, we recommend that your child uses a combination of Mock Tests and timed Custom Practices on worded questions to help prepare for a CEM test.
CEM Select
The CEM Select is an online, non-adaptive, version of the CEM exams, covering the same curriculum as the paper-based tests with a similar emphasis on vocabulary and speed. The CEM Select is advertised as a test of verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths but in practice also includes a reading comprehension section so it is important to practice all four subjects and not ignore English.
ISEB Common Pre-Tests
The ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board) Common Pre-Tests are a set of online tests covering English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. The ISEB is one of the only entrance exams that is fully adaptive, meaning the questions will get more or less difficult depending on how your child is performing. However, unlike most other entrance exams the ISEB only tests the Year 5 National Curriculum rather than the full KS2 National Curriculum.
To achieve the highest score possible, accuracy is extremely important, particularly at the start of each test. Your child needs to answer the lower-level questions correctly to be given a chance to answer questions at a higher level of difficulty, worth more marks. Students must ensure they take their time and double check each question before moving on. The ISEB pre-test is taken between October and December of Year 6 and the results are shared with all of the schools that your child has applied to that accept the ISEB.
SATs and CATs
Sats (Standard Assessment Tests) measure children’s educational achievement in years 2 and 6, with the ultimate aim of holding schools to account for the attainment of their pupils and the progress they make. However, as a test of their understanding of the Key Stage 2 curriculum, some secondary schools may use the results to determine the ability of their new Year 7 intake. The Schools that do not will likely use internal tests named CATs (Cognitive Abilities Tests) instead with the same aim of streaming Year 7’s into top and bottom sets. These are often taken just a few weeks into Year 7 and it is vital to perform as well in these tests as possible, as gaining entry into a top set will give your child a huge advantage in any exams to come up to A-Level.
To keep up the momentum and high level of academic attainment your child will be exhibiting during the final stages of 11+ preparation, we recommend that you stay on the platform until the end of Year 6. This will enable your child to demonstrate their full academic potential to any future school by using Atom Home to prepare for the tests at the end of Year 6 and the start of Year 7.
Accurate at the time of publishing.