City of London Girls 2020-21 entrance test for 2021 entry: Please share test experience and standards

[whatinname]

Hello, As 2021 entry test was the very first one with changed new format, can I ask experienced parents how was the exam? How was the first CEM test? What was taken in the second sitting? For 2022 entry they have allocated 3 different days. What to expect on each one?

I think this year's admissions procedure was a bit of an anomaly tbh. Everything was changing all the time due to Covid and they had to switch to online at the last minute for the second round. So I'm not sure how useful this year's experiences will be in prepping for next year but FWIW there was a first round online CEM test - couldn't be prepped for because it was a totally new test, they were just sent a very short online example so they could get comfortable with the format. Second round was maths and extended writing then interview. I think they tried to be as fair as possible and make it hard to prep for on the basis that kids would have had a very variable schooling experience in the past year.

For Sept 21 entry the format completely changed to what they originally planned due to Covid restrictions.

The first stage of the assessments was a CEM 1 hour computerised exam assessing numerical / VR and NVR skills. The exam was sat in November on location near the school (which allowed for social distancing).

The successful candidates who reached the required standard and passed the first stage (I would estimate around 300 of however many applied) were invited back for second stage, which due to lockdown consisted of a remote invigilated Maths and English paper assessment followed by a separate remote enhanced interview the same week. This was ordinarily planned to be done at the school over a half day.

Some of the details are still on their website under 11+ assessments. However, as mentioned these weren’t the original plans so expect will be very difficult to compare the experience with what 2022 has in store!

Saying that @whatinname I have just gone on to their website to check what they have planned for 2022 entry and it actually looks like the same format as explained above for 21 :)

Yes, they have kept the exam format same as 2021.

@whatinname and also spread over 3 different days too...

Yes, I presume, all candidates who would cross the first hurdle would be given the opportunity to attend both the written test and interview? Assessment details section has not been updated yet.

@whatinname Yes, only a number of those who perform to their required standards (highest scorers) get through and are invited back for both the second stage assessments and interview. That is how it works. Bear in mind they also look at school / head references and report.

[quote MumsRule20]@whatinname Yes, only a number of those who perform to their required standards (highest scorers) get through and are invited back for both the second stage assessments and interview. That is how it works. Bear in mind they also look at school / head references and report.[/quote]
How was the first assessment may I ask? School has a familiarisation link which says about how many ways the answers can be asked to be done. Were the questions similar to CEM tests we usually get from most prominent providers?

Any one?

@whatinname it was the CEM Select exam split into several timed sections (6 if I remember correctly) and they get a practice one to start with and they can move forwards and backwards to check or amend. My DD said the format and type of questions were as one would expect from CEM style papers / multiple-choice questions, but she never went into much detail and I didn't ask her for specifics after the exam :)

Good to know CEM select format is similar to other CEM.