If you are starting 11+ preparations for your child, you may have come across the acronym GL. GL is an abbreviation of ‘Granada Learning’, a leading provider of the 11+ assessment across the country for over 35 years.

GL believe in providing “all children the opportunity to experience sample questions across a range of question types in advance of the test”. For this reason, GL produce a range of practice papers to build skills and confidence before the transfer test.

Which regions use GL Assessment?

Whether a child sits the GL Assessment or the CEM 11+ (second leading 11+ exam provider) depends entirely on the region of the grammar school. As of 2019, regions using the GL Assessment format include:

Subjects in the GL Assessment

Past GL Assessment exams have consisted of two papers, typically 40-45 minutes each. Each paper is broken down into individually timed sections covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Awareness; although schools can choose any combination of these to suit their selection policy. GL Assessment uses 21 different Verbal Reasoning question types and can incorporate any into the exam. We recommend children familiarise themselves with each of these in advance of the test.

Format of the GL Assessment

The GL transfer test has a varying number of multiple-choice style questions and timings for each section. Once the time in each section has elapsed, children will not get the opportunity to re-visit a section. All answers are marked on a separate answer sheet.