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GL Assessment 11+

GL Assessment is the most widely used 11+ exam board in England. If your child is sitting a GL-format exam, here is what they will face and how TrueViQ prepares them for it.

GL Exam Format

A clear breakdown of what children face in a GL Assessment 11+ exam.

Format

Separate papers per subject (not mixed)

Subjects tested

Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning

Questions per paper

~50

Time per paper

~50 minutes

Answer format

Multiple choice (A-E)

Scoring

Standardised Age Score (SAS), average 100

Difficulty spread: Approximately 20% Foundation, 50% Standard, 30% Challenge. Questions progress in difficulty within each paper.

Which Areas Use GL?

GL Assessment is the exam board for the majority of grammar school regions in England.

Kent

32 grammar schools

Buckinghamshire

13 grammar schools

Sutton & Kingston

5 super-selective schools

Birmingham

8 grammar schools

Lincolnshire

15 grammar schools

Devon

3 grammar schools

Trafford

7 grammar schools

Wirral

4 grammar schools

Looking for exam dates? View full dates by region

How TrueViQ Covers GL

TrueViQ is built to match the GL exam format and structure.

GL Difficulty Distribution

Questions match GL format and difficulty distribution: 20% Foundation, 50% Standard, 30% Challenge.

GL-Structure Mock Tests

Mock tests follow GL structure: separate subject papers, timed at 50 questions in 50 minutes.

Arena Live Weekly Mocks

Arena Live weekly mocks use GL format, giving children realistic exam practice under timed conditions.

Full Subject Coverage

All four GL subjects covered in full: Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

GL vs CEM

The two main 11+ exam boards differ in format and approach. Here is a factual comparison.

AspectGLCEM
FormatSeparate subject papersMixed-subject papers
PredictabilityConsistent formatLess predictable
Content focusCurriculum-adjacentBroader vocabulary, speed

Check which board your target school uses before choosing how to prepare. Read our CEM guide

Frequently asked questions

What is GL Assessment?
GL Assessment is an exam board that provides 11+ tests used by most grammar school regions in England. GL exams use separate subject papers with a consistent, structured format that covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
How is a GL 11+ exam structured?
Each GL exam consists of separate papers per subject, with approximately 50 multiple-choice questions each and around 50 minutes per paper. Questions use an A-E answer format and progress in difficulty through each paper.
What score does my child need to pass?
Score requirements vary by area and school. Most GL regions use Standardised Age Scores (SAS), with an average of 100. A score of 111+ is competitive in many areas; super-selective schools may require 120+. Check with your target school for their specific qualifying score.
Can you prepare for GL exams?
Yes. GL exams follow a consistent format with curriculum-adjacent content. Familiarity with the format and steady practice across all four subjects helps children feel confident and perform well on exam day.
Which grammar schools use GL?
Most grammar schools in Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Lincolnshire, Trafford, Devon, and Wirral use GL Assessment. The Sutton and Kingston super-selective schools also use GL. Always check your target school directly to confirm which exam board they use.
How does TrueViQ match GL format?
TrueViQ questions match GL difficulty distribution (20% Foundation, 50% Standard, 30% Challenge) and format. Mock tests use separate timed papers per subject, mirroring the real GL exam structure at 50 questions in 50 minutes.

Start preparing for GL — it's free

GL-format questions, timed mock tests, and full coverage of all four subjects. Free unlimited practice — no credit card needed.

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