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GL vs CSSE: how the two 11+ tests differ
GL Assessment and CSSE are two of the most common 11+ test styles in England. They test similar skills but feel very different on the day.
| GL Assessment | CSSE (Essex) | |
|---|---|---|
| Used by | Many areas, including Buckinghamshire (Kent moves to a new provider from 2027) | The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex |
| Answer style | Multiple choice | Written answers |
| Subjects | Usually English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning (each area chooses) | English and maths only: no reasoning papers |
| Writing | Some areas add a writing task | A creative writing task in the English paper |
| Papers | Varies by area | English: 1 hour plus 10 minutes’ reading. Maths: 1 hour. Each marked out of 60 |
| Scoring | Age-standardised | Age-standardised; each school sets its own cut-off, and CSSE publishes past cut-offs in its Historical Guidance Sheet |
CSSE results for the 2026 test (September 2027 entry) were emailed on Monday 12 October 2026. Registration for September 2028 entry opens in May 2027, with dates published by Easter 2027. Since 2025 entry, the CSSE English paper no longer has applied reasoning questions.
Preparing for GL
- Speed and accuracy with multiple choice, including reasoning question types.
- Learn the common verbal and non-verbal reasoning formats.
Preparing for CSSE
- Clear written maths working, and multi-step word problems.
- Comprehension answers in full sentences, plus timed creative writing of around 200 to 300 words.
Practise with our GL Assessment-style or CSSE-style mock papers, or read our GL guide and CSSE guide. The CSSE 2026 test was on 19 September 2026; registration for the next test usually closes in June.
Always check the official source. Written and checked by the Exam Mocks UK team against the official sources on 5 November 2026. Official information: CSSE.