Yr 5 11+ preparation CEM

[MrPickles73]

So we have decided we would like DS2 to try for the local grammar school. We are not in the SE / London. There is only 1 grammar school. He is bright - good at maths and english (say top quartile at his non selective primary).

The exam would be in Year 6 September so 8 months away.

It looks like it is a CEM exam and there is comprehension, maths, VR and NVR.
DS2 has a long school day including bus trip and hence we will probably do work on weekends. There are probably 3-5 applicants to a place so not crazy and hopefully(!) achievable. We would look to do 1-2 hours per week on top of his long school day and to do work in the school holidays.

What materials would MN recommend? Bond books? Atom learning subscription?
Has anyone else done this without a tutor?

just a heads up, the CEM have stopped providing exams.
I think it was quite a sudden decision, and the schools in our area had to make a quick choice to choose a new provider for the exam in sept 2023. They have chosen GL assessment.

Iam an 11+ tutor in a similar area to you (in terms of numbers for the exam)
It is totally possible to do it all yourself.

But before you buy anything, check on that exam.

I recommend the CGP books. They have loads of 10 minute test books - NOT those (although they are good for practice later) But their A4 sized practice books.
Check it says age 10-11
Check it is the practice book.
Check it says GL or CEM or whatever on it.

Get VR, Maths and NVR

The reason I recommend these is that they cover everything you need and then have practice papers at the back. The answers all also have an explanation with them.

Also do loads of comprehension from different sources.

If it is CEM, then beware of the Bond etc books which have loads of VR stuff that you don't need. If it is GL then there is a LOT of stupid, fiddly and totally unecessary messing around with the alphabet and words that they need for the exam, all covered in the VR book. If it is GL, you alos need the English book.

The 11+ is won and lost on vocab. Take time every week to add new words (start with the new ones you come across in the VR book)

Once you have been through the books to check they know everything they need to, then do plenty of practice questions, and work on speed.

apologies for typos and spelling mistakes. Hands move too fast and I am lazy to check 🙂

steppemum many thanks for your very helpful post.

Regarding familiarisation of the test it says:
'Please note: There are no practice test papers for this assessment: resources available in bookshops or on the
internet are not genuine CEM resources. This familiarisation booklet is the only official CEM 11+ resource available
for this assessment.' And it says trademark CEM 2022. So what should I do? Do I ask the school if CEM is no longer used?

@MrPickles73 , you can try asking on the elevenplusexams.co.uk website, there will be more traffic on their forum once you approach 1st March results day.

Thankyou poppybuttons

Can you say your area?

If not go onto the 11+ forum site and look for your area.

Also, phone the school as ask directly.

I tutor for Gloucestershire schools, and as a group they put out the notification that CEM will no longer run tests for schools.

It is possible that the school has decided somehow to reuse previous tests and continue with CEM but my understanding was that CEM announced in sept 2022 that they will not be doing it in 2023.

steppemum I've asked the school directly and they said they will advise re the exams in April!

That's a bit shit to be honest.

Because the main alternative is the GL exam.
CEM is basically all school based (apart from the Non Verbal
Reasoning) So it is all stuff they do in school, and they need to practise it, fill in any gaps and do exam technique and speed.

But the GL has a load of horrible VR stuff which needs practise and time. There are 21 different types of questions, and most are not intuitive.
Even so, totally doable if you are committed.
Work on the English and Maths stuff now, introduve NVR and then add in VR in April if needed.

Loads of word play - words with 2 meanings, especially unexpected ones like 'content'
Loads of synonym and antonym work which also helps with meanings and builds vocabulary