The School Entrance Score Assessment (CEM Test)
What is CEM?
CEM is an exam which children take as either a standalone assessment or as an entrance exam for a specific school place. Sometimes, this can be because they or their parents want them to attend a new school, or sometimes, it is undertaken by their current school to assess ability and progress and to identify learning targets and potential outcomes.
Two main exam boards produce entrance exams for almost all the private and grammar schools across England – GL and CEM. Here, we focus on the CEM test and why it might be helpful for your child to undertake. The CEM test examines different aspects of academic ability including verbal, non-verbal and mathematical levels of achievement. It also suggests potential achievements in the future.
How do scores relate to schools?
Based on our experience and yearly data on school entrance examinations entry, we have positioned indicative pass grades for selective independent schools. Different schools, for a variety of reasons, will have different pass thresholds. Some are more academically selective than others and as such require higher pass marks.
Please note that this is not an exact science and our presented school scores are indicative and can be subject to some change.
How do CEM scores relate to schools?Ready to buy a CEM Test?
If you would like to find out your child’s current level to determine which schools are viable for application, click below to order a CEM assessment.
As the assessment is age standardised it will give a snapshot for where your child is and which areas of focus would be most appropriate. Please note that this assessment is appropriate for children intending to sit entrance examinations between Year 1 to Year 6 (7+, 8+, 9+,10+ and 11+ assessments).
Buy a CEM testHow do scores relate to schools?
Based on our experience and yearly data on school entrance examinations entry, we have positioned indicative pass grades for selective independent schools.
Different schools, for a variety of reasons, will have different pass thresholds. Some are more academically selective than others and as such require higher pass marks.
Please note that this is not an exact science and our presented school scores are indicative and can be subject to some change. You can find more information via our School Competitiveness Index via the link below.
Order a CEM Test Today
If you would like to find out your child’s current level to determine which schools are viable for application, click below to order a CEM assessment.
As the assessment is age standardised it will give a snapshot for where your child is and which areas of focus would be most appropriate. Please note that this assessment is appropriate for children intending to sit entrance examinations between Year 1 to Year 6 (7+, 8+, 9+,10+ and 11+ assessments).
What are the different parts of the School Entrance Score Assessment (CEM Test)?
Children are assessed in five areas:
- Reading
- Spelling
- Mathematics
- Arithmetic
- Developed Ability (picture vocabulary and non-verbal reasoning)
The questions are adaptive, so if your child gets a question right, they will become harder; if they make a mistake, the next question will be easier.
The questions are based on the child’s date of birth, so a 6 year old will experience a test designed for that age.
What we’re offering – and how we can help
- A full, licenced CEM test from the official provider of tests
- A professional report that details your child’s age-ranked ability and potential
- A written commentary from a qualified tutor and experienced CEM Assessor
- Identifying any support your child may need to reach their aims
- Help and support for you – demystifying the school entrance and assessment process
How do I prepare my child to take the CEM test?
The CEM test is an assessment, so no formal preparation is needed; instead it will give you an insight into what support your child may need in the future. Some children may be anxious about taking a test, but most will be familiar and comfortable with computer-based tests, as schools use them frequently to assess pupils.
If your child is anxious, you could spend some time talking about:
- How taking tests can help build resilience
- How everyone takes tests (driving tests, questionnaires)
- How this will help to find their perfect future school
You can choose to be present whilst your child is taking the CEM assessment, but remember if you help your child with the assessment it will not give useful or actionable results. Our suggestion is to be within earshot in case of technical issues.
How do scores relate to schools?
Based on our experience and yearly data on school entrance examinations entry, we have positioned indicative pass grades for selective independent schools. Different schools, for a variety of reasons, will have different pass thresholds. Some are more academically selective than others and as such require higher pass marks.
Please note that this is not an exact science and our presented school scores are indicative and can be subject to some change.
How do CEM scores relate to schools?Ready to buy a CEM Test?
If you would like to find out your child’s current level to determine which schools are viable for application, click below to order a CEM assessment.
As the assessment is age standardised it will give a snapshot for where your child is and which areas of focus would be most appropriate. Please note that this assessment is appropriate for children intending to sit entrance examinations between Year 1 to Year 6 (7+, 8+, 9+,10+ and 11+ assessments).
Buy a CEM testCEM stands for Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring. Owned by the University of Cambridge (previously University of Durham). We recommend CEM to Owl clients who want a realistic snapshot of their child’s ability and, more importantly, potential.
Tellingly, these assessments are used by over 70% of independent schools in the UK, largely as a way to track their pupils’ annual progress, due to the fact that CEM testing allows for scoring and rating against peers both in the UK and on the British curriculum overseas.
The CEM test will help you to understand where your child ranks in terms of ability, compared to thousands of others across the country and abroad.
Well, CEM does not only produce examinations but also specialises in the production of broader developmental assessments for children, based on over 30 years of education research by the Universities of both Durham and Cambridge. These tests are designed to:
– Support educational tracking to give schools a measure of individual potential and progress throughout school
– Help to inform teachers where interventions to produce outcomes might be necessary.
We pride ourselves on offering a personalised service to all our clients. We explain how things work in detail and from an unparalleled knowledge base – if we don’t know the answer, we know someone who will! Undertaking a CEM test is not about simply producing a report; it’s about the discussions and analysis that happen after the test, and the key ways this can impact your decisions about your child’s future. Please do get in touch to find out more.
Ideally, you will need a PC or laptop with a stable internet connection. However, if your internet connection is not reliable you can download a web application and complete the assessment offline, then upload it later.
The CEM assessment is delivered using HTML5, which is supported by most modern web browsers. These browsers can be run on a desktop or laptop PC and Apple computers running Windows, Linux or MacOS operating systems.
The CEM assessment has sound, so headphones would also be useful, and a quiet room in which to complete the assessment.
Your child will also need paper and a pencil and rubber for rough working out and notes. These are not part of the assessment but are useful.