11+ Exam Boards Explained: A Complete Guide To Every 11 Plus Exam Board

The main 11+ exam boards in 2026 are GL Assessment, ISEB, Quest Assessments, CSSE, FSCE and Cambridge (formerly CEM). GL Assessment is the most common one for state grammar schools. ISEB and Quest are used mainly by independent schools, and Bexley's grammar schools use Quest. CEM no longer supplies paper-based grammar school tests. Northern Ireland uses a single test called SEAG, which GL Assessment produces. The right board depends on the school or area, so always check first. 

Not sure what GL, CEM, ISEB, Quest, CSSE or FSCE mean? This guide explains every 11+ exam board. You will learn who uses each one, what each test looks like and how to find the right one for your child. 

What are 11+ exam boards?

An 11+ exam board is a company or group that writes and marks entrance tests for grammar schools and independent schools. You may also hear them called test providers. The 11+ is not one single national exam. Different areas and schools use different boards, and each board has its own style of questions.

This matters a lot. A child who practises for the wrong board may spend months learning the wrong style. That is why the first job for every parent is to find out which board their child's school uses. 

List of 11 plus exam boards in 2026

Here is the full list at a glance. We explain each one in the sections below.

GL Assessment 11+ exam board

GL Assessment is the most widely used 11+ exam board for state grammar schools in England. GL stands for Granada Learning. It writes the papers, marks them and turns the marks into standard scores.

GL tests are usually made from some mix of four subjects: English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Different areas pick different combinations. Most GL papers use multiple choice answers, and children mark their answers on a special answer sheet. Many guides say a standard score of 100 is average, and 110 or more is generally seen as good.

Where GL Assessment is used

GL papers are used in many areas, including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire and the Birmingham grammar schools. The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, for example, is made up of two GL papers. Always check your own area, because some have moved boards in recent years.

We have written more about this board in our blog: Which grammar schools use GL Assessment.

CEM 11+ exam board: What happened to it?

CEM stands for the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring. It began at Durham University and later became part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment. For many years it was the second big 11+ board after GL. Its tests mixed subjects together, and they were known for tight timing and a strong focus on vocabulary.

Here is the important update. CEM stopped supplying paper-based 11+ tests for grammar schools around 2022 to 2023, depending on the source. Areas that used it, such as Bexley, Buckinghamshire and Birmingham, moved to GL Assessment, Quest or other tests.

Cambridge still offers computer-based entrance assessments, including one called Cambridge Select Insight. It lasts about an hour and covers verbal, non-verbal and maths skills. It is mainly used by some independent schools. Cambridge's own guidance, as reported by tutoring sites, says it provides no practice or past papers and does not endorse commercial resources. If a school says it uses CEM, ask which test it means.

Read more in our blog: CEM 11 plus exam.

ISEB 11+ exam board and the Common Pre-Test

ISEB stands for the Independent Schools Examinations Board. It runs two things that parents hear about. The first is the ISEB Common Pre-Tests. The second is Common Entrance, which also has a version at 11+ and at 13+.

Read more about this board here: ISEB Common Pre-Test.

Here is what ISEB says about the Pre-Tests on its own website.

• There are four tests: English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

• They are online, adaptive, multiple-choice tests. Adaptive means the questions get easier or harder to suit each child.

• They are designed for children in Years 6 and 7. Some schools use them for Year 7 entry, and others for Year 9 entry.

• Children only need to sit them once, and the results can be shared with several senior schools.

• Tests can be taken between the beginning of October and the end of June, but only once in an academic year.

• Results are age-standardised, with an average of 100.

The English test has reading comprehension and grammar. Maths is based on the National Curriculum up to the end of Year 5. ISEB does not publish a full list of schools on its family pages, so always check each school's admissions page. We list schools that we know use it in our blog: Which schools use ISEB?.

Quest Assessments 11+ exam board

Quest Assessments is a fast-growing board. It says on its own website that it is used by more than 160 independent and grammar schools. It makes tests for many independent schools, and it also sets tests for some state grammar schools.

Quest for grammar schools

The London Borough of Bexley says Quest Assessments is the provider of the Bexley Selection Test for its four grammar schools: Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar, and Townley. Bexley's own page also says its registration ran from 1 to 31 March 2026 for children starting in September 2027. Other grammar areas that use Quest include the non-Catholic Wirral grammar schools, and reports say the Slough consortium will move to Quest from its September 2027 test.

Quest for independent schools

Many independent schools use Quest for online entrance tests. Some schools in London share one test through a group called the London 11+ Consortium. The format can differ from school to school, so read each school's guidance.

You can see a longer list in our blog: Which schools use Quest Assessments?.

CSSE 11+ exam board in Essex

CSSE stands for the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex. It sets its own papers for the grammar schools in the group. Children sit the test once, and it can be used for all the schools in the consortium.

The CSSE test is different from GL. It has two written papers, one in English and one in maths. Each lasts 60 minutes, and there is no verbal or non-verbal reasoning. The test for 2027 entry was held on Saturday 19 September 2026. 

Because the answers are written rather than ticked, children need to practise writing clearly and quickly. Our blog on the CSSE 11 plus has the full details.

FSCE 11+ exam board

FSCE stands for Future Stories Community Enterprise. It is linked to Reading School in Berkshire and launched its 11+ test in 2022 as an alternative to GL and CEM. FSCE says its papers are written by grammar schools, for grammar schools.

The test covers English and maths, and it often includes a creative writing task. The questions change from year to year, and there is no single fixed pass mark. Reading School has held its testing in the summer term of Year 5, which is earlier than many other schools. Reports in April 2026 said Gloucestershire's grammar schools plan to switch to FSCE, but its schools were still using GL for September 2027 entry, so please check with them.

Our full guide is on the FSCE 11 plus blog.

Local 11 plus tests by area

Some areas run one shared test for all their grammar schools. Here is a summary of the main ones, based on council and school pages.

School set tests and other 11+ exam boards

Not every selective school uses one of the boards above. Many independent schools write their own English and maths papers, often with an interview. Some also use CAT4, which is a reasoning test from GL Assessment, as one part of entry. Independent schools often use a mix, such as an ISEB Pre-Test first and then their own papers for children who do well.

Our advice is simple. Look at the admissions page of every school on your list, and write down exactly what each one asks for. 

How to find out which 11+ exam board your child will sit

It only takes a few minutes. Here is what we suggest.

1. Make a shortlist of schools

Write down every grammar or independent school you may apply to. Different schools can use different boards, even in the same town.

2. Read each school's admissions page

Look for the words entrance test, 11+ or selection test. Most schools name the test provider and give the dates.

3. Check your local council's page

Areas such as Kent, Bexley, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire run one shared test for many schools. The council page tells you who sets it.

4. Ask the school if you are unsure

Email the admissions team. A short, polite message usually gets a quick reply.

5. Check again every year

Boards change. Bexley moved to Quest, and the Slough consortium has said it will move to Quest from its September 2027 test. Always use this year's information.

How to prepare for each 11 plus exam board

The skills are shared across the boards. This table shows what to focus on.

How Pass 11 Plus Grammar helps children with different 11+ exam boards

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, our 11 plus tuition covers GL, CEM and ISEB formats, and we also support families preparing for newer tests such as Quest, CSSE and FSCE. Our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham teach in person, and we teach online for families across the UK.

Here is how we help.

• We find out which board your child will sit, then plan around it.

• Our 11 plus mocks let your child practise under real test conditions, with clear feedback.

• Our 11+ intensive courses give a focused boost before the tests.

• We use 11+ past papers and our 11+ free practice papers to build confidence.

No tutor can promise a place, because places depend on test results and each school's rules. What we can promise is calm, careful help that makes your child feel ready.

Final thoughts

There is no single 11+. GL Assessment is the most common board for state grammar schools, ISEB and Quest are big in the independent sector, and Essex, Reading and Northern Ireland each have their own tests. CEM has stepped away from grammar school papers, so older advice may be out of date.

Find out the exact board first, then practise in the right style and stay calm. At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we are always here to help you plan the next step.