How to Prepare for the CEM (Cambridge Select Insight) 11 Plus Exam
CEM is a name many parents have grown up associating with the 11+. The exam itself has been
rebranded; it is now formally called Cambridge Select Insight, run by Cambridge University Press and
Assessment. The structure has evolved with the rebrand, but the core principles, and the schools that
use it, remain similar.
If your child is applying to Haberdashers’ Boys School in Elstree (Habs Boys), or to grammar schools
in the Bucks consortium, this is the exam you are preparing for.
Here is what it tests, what it does not test, and how to prepare for it sensibly.
What CEM (Cambridge Select Insight) covers
Cambridge Select Insight tests four broad areas:
- Verbal ability (vocabulary, comprehension, word usage, language structures)
- Numerical reasoning (mathematical problem solving rooted in KS2 content)
- Non verbal reasoning (visual patterns, sequences, spatial reasoning)
- Sometimes a creative writing component (especially at Habs Boys, where it is a separate
section)
The historical reputation was that CEM was “tutor proof” because the exam mixed question styles
unpredictably and tested broader skills. In practice, this was always overstated. The papers test the
same underlying skills as other 11+ exams; they just present them in slightly less standardised ways.
How CEM differs from GL
Style of questions
GL uses the same defined question types repeatedly. CEM (Cambridge Select Insight) varies its
question wordings and formats, requiring children to read carefully and adapt. The skills underneath
are identical; the surface differs.
Emphasis on vocabulary
CEM has historically leaned heavily on vocabulary, both directly tested and embedded in
comprehension and verbal reasoning. A child with a thin vocabulary will hit a ceiling on CEM faster
than on GL.
Time pressure
CEM papers are tightly timed, with multiple short sections rather than long ones. The skill of
switching gears between sections, and not being thrown by a difficult question, matters more than on
GL.
Less predictable structure
Where GL papers can be drilled to a recognisable pattern, CEM papers do not always reveal their
exact structure in advance. Children who are prepared to encounter unfamiliar question wordings,
calmly, do better than children who freeze on novelty.
Year by year preparation for CEM
Year 4: foundations
The same as for any 11+. Reading, vocabulary, times tables, mental maths. The slight CEM specific tilt
is to over invest in vocabulary, given how heavily CEM rewards it.
Year 5 autumn: broad and balanced
Cover the standard 11+ subjects: English, maths, verbal reasoning and NVR. Within verbal reasoning,
work through the standard 21 types as you would for GL, but also expose your child to broader
vocabulary work and question types. The aim is breadth, not just GL pattern recognition.
Year 5 spring and summer
Introduce timed sections. Begin proper CEM mock exams (modelled on Cambridge Select Insight
format). Add creative writing practice if your child is targeting Habs Boys, where it is a meaningful
component.
Year 6 autumn
Habs Boys runs its Cambridge Select Insight exam in late November of Year 6, with stage 2 written
and interview rounds in early January. Final preparation should focus on:
- Pace under pressure
- Vocabulary stretch (sophisticated tier 2 words)
- Calm with unfamiliar question styles
- Creative writing fluency for Habs Boys candidates
CEM specific advice that lifts scores
1. Vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary
If you do one thing for CEM preparation that you might not do as intensively for GL, it is vocabulary.
Read widely. Learn synonyms in groups. Use Latin and Greek roots to decode unfamiliar words. The
vocabulary depth that selective independents reward is built over years, not weeks.
2. Train calm with novelty
Practise question types from a wide variety of resources, not just one publisher. Children who have
only seen Bond questions are surprised by CGP questions, and vice versa. Variety builds calm.
3. Use breadth in maths
CEM numerical reasoning includes word problems with applied reasoning. Practise problem solving
alongside procedural maths. Train the habit of reading carefully and planning steps.
4. For Habs Boys, take creative writing seriously
Habs Boys creative writing is a real differentiator. Children who can write a strong, structured piece in
25 to 30 minutes have a meaningful advantage.
What schools currently use Cambridge Select Insight?
Always check current admissions pages, but as of 2026:
- Haberdashers’ Boys School (Elstree) uses Cambridge Select Insight in late November, followed
by stage 2 papers and interviews in January - Some Bucks consortium grammar schools (Aylesbury, Sir William Borlase, Royal Latin and
others) - A small number of independent schools in various parts of the country
If your target school is not in this list, check whether they use GL Assessment, ISEB, or their own
papers. Each requires slightly different preparation.
Resources for CEM preparation
- CGP CEM specific workbooks, clearly labelled. Use these alongside more general material.
- Bond CEM range for additional practice.
- Past papers from Habs Boys if available, particularly for the creative writing element
- Mock exams from a provider that runs Cambridge Select Insight aligned mocks. Sit in person where possible, especially in summer of Year 5 and autumn of Year 6.
Frequently asked questions
Has CEM really been replaced?
The 11+ test that schools and parents knew as CEM is now formally called Cambridge Select Insight, administered by Cambridge University Press and Assessment. The schools and the type of test have remained largely consistent through the rebrand. The newer name reflects updated branding more than fundamental change.
Is CEM really tutor proof?
No. The reputation was overstated even in CEM's heyday. The exam tests the same underlying skills as other 11+ tests; it just presents them with more variation. Children who have practised calmly across a range of question wordings perform well.
How is Habs Boys different from other CEM schools?
Habs Boys uses Cambridge Select Insight at stage 1 (late November), then its own written papers and interviews at stage 2 (early January). The creative writing element is a meaningful part of selection. Children targeting Habs Boys should prepare specifically for the writing alongside the standard CEM preparation.
Can my child prepare for both GL and CEM at the same time?
Yes, easily. The underlying skills overlap by 80 percent. The difference is in question variety and emphasis, not in the core syllabus. A child preparing for both gets a slightly broader skill base than one preparing for either alone.
What if my child finds CEM's unpredictability stressful?
Address it directly. Practise from multiple resources, with different question styles, until novelty becomes familiar. Calm with the unexpected is a skill, and it is built through controlled exposure rather than avoidance.
