The truth about ‘the Unpreparable Exam’

The CEM 11+ Exam has been dubbed, by some, as ‘the unpreparable exam’. Its Durham University originators have certainly devised an exam that is more difficult to prepare children for. However, the question that nobody seems to have answered is why this exam is more difficult to prepare for than other 11+ exams.

There is one simple answer – the English component of the test. If one examines the information distributed about the constituent parts of the test, English is never mentioned. The exam, we are told, comprises ‘Verbal Ability’ (which forms part of what we refer to as ‘Verbal Activity’), Numerical Reasoning and ‘Non-verbal Reasoning’. Such language, however, masks the high concentration of English content in this exam. On closer scrutiny the so-called ‘Verbal Ability’ actually consists of the testing of English skills to a very high level. In this part of the exam, children are assessed on their knowledge of antonyms, synonyms and homonyms. CLOZE exercises test their understanding of word endings, knowledge of the spellings of missing words and word meanings. Syntax exercises and comprehension skills are also extensively tested. GL Assessment style Verbal Reasoning tests do include some of these elements too, but there are also logical reasoning and coding questions that test children’s ability to accurately follow a logical process. About 40-50% of an GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning test does not rely on a child’s mastery of high level English skills but on their ability to carry out a logical task in sequence. The CEM ‘Verbal Ability’ component of the new tests has none of the logical process elements found in GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning tests. In a strict technical sense ‘Verbal Ability’ in the CEM test could be referred to simply as English.

Letters received last year by parents in Buckinghamshire informing them of the scores their child attained in the CEM test indicate that ‘Verbal Ability’ counted for 50%, ‘Numerical Reasoning’ 30% and ‘Non-verbal Reasoning’ 20%. This means that half of the test weighting was dependent on a child’s grasp of English skills.

This raises some very serious questions about the fairness of this test. One of the reasons it was adopted was to discourage parents from trying to tutor their children for the test. It was believed by many that the testing regimes set by test providers such as GL Assessment favoured children from middle-class homes whose parents could afford tuition. Apparently, many children were coached to pass tests and success was largely dependent on tuition.

However, there is a certain irony in the new situation, which few seem to have considered. If there is a very high English component in these tests, who does it favour? I would say it favours the middle-class children who are likely to be more literate and come from homes where they have been surrounded with English books from infancy. Who will, therefore, be at a disadvantage? The working class child, or children who come from homes where English is a second language, as well as the many children who just find English very difficult anyway. Will it discourage tuition? Not a bit of it! In fact the increased focus on English will encourage an even greater focus on tuition than ever before.

The new CEM style tests are definitely more difficult to prepare for, as they are more rigid and force English to the fore and, in my opinion, are less fair than GL Assessment tests. They favour those who have had a long exposure to, or who have a natural flair for English. I would prefer a more balanced approach to testing where maths (Numerical Reasoning in CEM) and Non-verbal Reasoning are given a proper weighting. It is also fairer to include logical processing as part of any ‘Verbal Ability’ test rather than just the testing of English skills.

Booking for our September 2025 courses is STILL open!

BOOK NOW

Thinking about enrolling on a course? Is there a concern that is stopping you?

I couldn't enrol on the session I wanted for my child
We understand that family schedules can be hectic so it can be challenging to find the perfect group for your child to attend their weekly sessions. We recommend enrolling in a group that best fits your current schedule. This way, you can join waiting lists for any fully booked sessions. If a place becomes available in a group you're waitlisted for, we will contact you directly to see if you would like your child to switch groups.
Courses are too expensive
We understand that paying for the course in full can be challenging. That's why we offer interest-free standing order payments, allowing you to spread the cost over monthly instalments throughout the duration of the course.
There isn't a tuition centre near me
We're delighted that parents want to enrol their child nationwide and even worldwide on our courses. This is why we offer remote courses for our pupils to login to their weekly sessions from anywhere.

It doesn't matter if a child is enrolled on a remote course or a classroom-based course, our methodology stays the same. Pupils who attend our remote-learning courses will experience the same high standard of tuition, provided by experienced, UK-qualified teachers who have also been trained to deliver AE Tuition's specialised programmes.
I'm concerned that there will be too much work for my child
We understand that parents may be concerned about their child's workload. Please be reassured we are here to support both you and your child every step of the way. We take pride in our unique partnership between pupils, parents and teachers, which ensures open communication. If you ever feel that your child is struggling, we strongly encourage you to speak with their teacher or a member of our teaching team as soon as possible so that we can address the issue immediately.
I'm confused which course I need to enrol my child on
We offer a range of courses for children aged 7 to 15 years, and we understand the importance of choosing the right one for your child. If you need assistance, please feel free to contact our Customer Service team by filling in the contact form or calling us on 020 8867 2727 (Mon-Fri, 09:00 to 14:30).
I have another reason why I haven't enrolled my child yet...

    If you would like to talk to AE Tuition directly, please feel free to contact our Customer Service team by filling in the contact form or calling us on 020 8867 2727 (Mon-Fri, 09:00 to 14:30).