Introducing

Cambridge CEM assessments

Empowering teachers to make a difference
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Contents
“The main strength of Cambridge CEM assessments for
me is that it’s with you for the whole journey. You get What is a Cambridge CEM assessment?.......... 4
a snapsnot of where students are so you can decide
if the curriculum meets their needs. You use it in the Actionable insights designed
class for teaching and learning and then at the end for multi-academy trusts.................................... 6
you can use the data to evaluate your success.”
Sue Holt, former senior leader in international education
Benefits of using Cambridge
CEM assessments ............................................... 7

Knowledge is power. It’s possibility. ASPECTS ............................................................... 8

It unlocks doors, minds and
futures. And here at CEM we give BASE ...................................................................10
teachers more knowledge and
insight than ever before. Cambridge Primary Insight .............................12
Imagine understanding exactly
who is in your classroom from the MidYIS .................................................................14
“Cambridge CEM assessments mean that teachers first lesson – what they know and
have a set of data which is transformational. It has what skills they have yet to learn.
Yellis.....................................................................16
given them all so much information on every individual Being able to forget paperwork
child, so you can tailor the curriculum to ensure that
and focus on opening minds.
every single one of them is getting the best possible Alis ......................................................................18
educational experience.” With CEM assessments, you
Karen Fowler, Michael Faraday Primary School get school-specific insight in an
Cambridge Wellbeing Check ...........................20
instant, giving you the power to
back your intuition, understand
your learners and support greater
academic achievement. We look
forward to working with you.

Kate Bailey
Managing Director, CEM

We work in over Working for 40 Data and insights Insight in just Our adaptive
100 countries years with our sourced from one lesson technology is
school partners more than 600,000 accurate and fast
around the world assessments
every year
 4 5

What is a Cambridge CEM What is an adaptive assessment?

An adaptive assessment responds to the student,
becoming more or less challenging as they interact. This
Insight in an instant
Each CEM assessment gives you a number of

assessment?
gives students a much more motivating experience. reports that enable you to:
And for schools, our adaptive assessments mean the • save time by identifying student strengths
assessment is shorter, and provides a more accurate and weaknesses quickly – tests take
measure of a student’s skills and abilities. between 20 and 50 minutes
• predict student grades – our MidYIS,
Supporting you Yellis and Alis assessments help you
understand how your students are likely
We’re here for you when you need help. Just pick
to perform at exams such as GCSE,
up the phone or send an email to connect with our
A Level and IB
friendly customer support team. There’s also an
information-packed help centre, and local Cambridge • improve whole-school practice – robust
University Press & Assessment experts are on hand evidence to inform strategies to support
to assist. academic achievement, and demonstrate
the effectiveness of teaching, learning and
And when you are ready to take the next step and
interventions to governors and parents
explore your reports in depth, our professional
development will help you build your confidence and • benchmark your school against others
take charge of data in your school. nationally
Our wide range of reports includes individual
student reports, reports designed to share
with parents, and school group-level reports
CEM assessments are formative assessments that to support your education vision. Easily sort
provide a baseline measure of a student’s ability and By really understanding and filter our interactive reports to meet
diagnostic information during their learning. your needs, or download to integrate with
a child’s ‘baseline’ across other data systems in your school.
These assessments help you to identify how students are
doing before and during their time with you, so you can
key areas of development,
effectively plan next steps. teachers can set up every
They also allow school leaders to plan effective school student for a more successful
improvement strategies, as well as provide evidence of learning life.
student progress to parents and governors.

Baseline establishes the level the student is starting from

Explorative gives you a deeper understanding of your student’s abilities

How do CEM assessments work?

All CEM assessments are computer-based, flexible and short – there’s no marking, no paperwork and no fuss.
Organise the assessments to suit your school facilities and lesson plans.

Supporting all your students

Flexible Quick Time-saving Student-friendly Adaptive Help your second language learners make rapid progress. We have benchmarked our assessments against
test your each assessment digital our assessments are fun, all our assessments
the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) so you can see where students with
students when takes only one assessments enjoyable and engaging for challenge students at English as an additional language (EAL) might need extra support. However, our adaptive assessments are
and where you lesson and automatic all ages a level appropriate to designed to help students navigate at a level suited to them.
want to marking save you them, to discover abilities
time accurately and quickly Our practical support guides to using CEM data with EAL students give you insight to shape students’
potential.
 6 7

Actionable insights designed Benefits of using Cambridge

for multi-academy trusts CEM assessments
Give your multi-academy Identify student strengths and weaknesses to
trust a competitive target your teaching Predict
advantage and ensure Students are flourishing at your school, but how can you easily evidence student grades
student progress to parents and governors? Our MidYIS, Yellis and
the best educational Alis assessments can
Or perhaps students are joining you with gaps in their knowledge or
outcomes for your trust understanding. How can you quickly identify these and put support in help you understand
students with our adaptive place? how your students are
likely to perform at
assessments Our assessments give you confidence in your teaching and help you to
exams.
make the best decisions to support your students’ learning.
Turn comparable data across the trust into This knowledge means
They give you the power to:
action in every classroom with a picture you can monitor their
of the abilities and potential of all your • understand each student’s potential
progress over the
students. • identify areas of strength or weakness course, and make sure
We designed CEM’s suite of assessments • benchmark performance against other students in the same class, they stay on track to
for students aged 3-19. This makes them school or country achieve their goals.
perfect for your multi-academy trust’s • demonstrate the effectiveness of your school’s teaching to parents and It can also help you
primary, secondary, and post-16 academies. governors. to set realistic and
Ensure that assessment is consistent motivational targets.
This means you can target your time and resources where students need
with our Wellbeing Check, baseline and
them most, helping them to make progress and achieve their potential at
attitudinal assessments.
every stage of learning.

Why choose Cambridge CEM for your multi-academy trust Age-equivalent and standardised scores SCHOOL &
support schools with self-evaluation, YEAR GROUP
• Appeal to new academies joining your trust by offering easy-to-use baseline assessments to
support them to improve student outcomes
development planning and target Level
setting.
• Better retain your teachers and reduce their workload with quick baseline assessments with no
marking
• Support early career teachers with professional development on baseline assessments, reporting Standardised scores and age-
and interventions comparison charts help teachers plan CLASS
• Give all your students equal opportunity and support with individual reports to help plan their teaching to meet the needs of every
Level
intervention student in their classrooms.
• Compare scores in each academy with the national picture
• Export your assessment data into your Learning Management System (LMS). This provides a
holistic picture of student ability alongside other methods of assessment
Breakdown of scores and pupil progress STUDENT
charts help teachers monitor each Level
• Ensure your students are being measured reliably and objectively with independent standardised individual’s progress and ensure every
assessments student reaches their full potential.
• Quickly identify areas to focus on for academy improvement
 8 9

ASPECTS
(for 3 and 4 year olds)
ASPECTS measures
• Literacy development
• Early numeracy
• Communication
• Motor development

How does it work?

Teacher and child take
20 minutes out to work
through a fun, storybook-
style session. This includes
questions and interactive
tasks that adapt to the child’s
individual abilities – getting
harder or easier depending on
ASPECTS is a unique insight into early years development.
their level – so it’s always fun.
Using our short, fun, story-style interactive assessment, you can
There’s no paperwork, no
understand and benchmark every child’s cognitive ability (‘baseline’) ready
hassle and no fuss – ASPECTS
Why choose ASPECTS?
to create the kind of tailored learning that changes lives for the better.
feels more like a game or story Designed to support your own observations
Gain a unique insight into every child who enters your care that goes far and intuition, ASPECTS is a proven, objective
than a test.
deeper than observation and instinct. Understand where they are with process that:
It’s also flexible and teacher
their learning, so you can better tailor their activities to bring out their
led – so you can pause the • benchmarks both development and innate
strengths, build up their confidence and boost their weaker areas. And
session and come back later if abilities
gain this perspective in the crucial years before a child turns five years old
you need to. • identifies hidden strengths and areas you’ll
– a period that sets the blueprint for happiness, resilience and a lifelong
need to support
love of learning. Meeting the needs of early
• recognises the importance of those first
years educators years at school, preparing children for
ASPECTS is based on years of rigorous research long-term, future success.
and managed by experts. Developed continually
You can also use it to help monitor a child’s
by our research team since its release in 2000, it
progress over time.
meets a teacher’s need to capture learning in a
What kind of assessment is it? more reliable way. The assessment draws on well-
established research into what skills children really
need to ensure success later in life. ASPECTS focuses on the
It’s a product that’s used by schools across the areas that make the greatest
UK and internationally, plus organisations like the
difference in early years
Education Endowment Foundation in England,
which evaluates the effectiveness of early years development, so you can be
Baseline Adaptive Explorative Digital
establishes the evolves with the gives you a deeper no paperwork, interventions to support those vital years. confident that you’re building
level the student student’s abilities understanding just use a strong foundations for a lifetime
is starting from of your student’s computer
abilities For further information
of learning.
www.cem.org/aspects
 10 11

BASE
(for 4 and 5 year olds)
BASE helps teachers understand what children already know and can do BASE measures:
when they start school.
• Literacy
By really understanding a child’s ‘baseline’ – across literacy, numeracy,
• Numeracy
communication and language, as well as their personal, social and emotional
development – you can better plan their learning journey, then prove their • Communication and
progress as time passes. language

BASE is a fun, interactive assessment tool for 4 to 5 year olds designed to feel • Personal, social and
more like a game than a test. In just 20 minutes, you’ll get a clearer picture of emotional development
what a child knows and can do – without hassle, paperwork or fuss.
It’s stress-free for even the youngest students, providing a gentle child- and
teacher-friendly way to celebrate
progress, spot and act on issues
early, and make the most of
every early years development
opportunity.
BASE helps you better understand
core skills and abilities. It can be
used to help you bring learning to
life, at every child’s unique pace
Why choose BASE?
and stage. BASE focuses on areas that are
specifically important for children at this
stage, based on 30 years of research in
How does it work? childhood development. It diagnoses
just how well they’re doing, where extra
The teacher and learner take 20 minutes to work
help would make all the difference and
through a fun, story-style session which includes
how they’re progressing.
questions and interactive tasks that adapt to the
individual child – getting harder or easier depending on BASE is an adaptive assessment tool,
their abilities. which means it evolves to meet the
needs of every individual child for
It’s an enriching one-to-one activity that students really
more informative data and a feel-good
enjoy, and gives you some quality time to observe and
experience. If they’re finding it difficult,
bond as you assess. BASE is flexible and teacher led –
the interactions get easier. If they find
What kind of assessment is it? so you can pause the session and come back later to
it easy, the assessment becomes more
complete it.
difficult to stretch them.
Use it initially when children start school – it helps you
to learn as much as you can about what each child in
your class already knows and can do. Follow up with
a second assessment at the end of the year to show “BASE was really easy to set up,
Baseline Adaptive Curriculum Digital Buildable progress that’s been made.
independent
really easy to use and it was really
a ‘getting to know evolves with the no paperwork, choose the
you’ assessment child’s abilities as perfect for the just use a package that suits easy to generate the reports.”
that establishes you work through curriculum you computer or your school and Sally Hunt, Reception Teacher,
and benchmarks an interactive are following tablet budget
the child’s skill level session together For further information Snarestone Primary School, UK
www.cem.org/base
 12 13

Cambridge
Primary Insight
Empowering teachers to build a strong foundation
and unlock potential for children aged 5–11.
Cambridge Primary Insight is the next generation of Cambridge CEM’s Cambridge Primary
primary assessment, InCAS. It is developed to empower teachers to
measure and unlock their students’ potential. We have preserved
Insight measures:
the integrity and reliability of twenty years of research and insight, • Reading
while implementing a range of new features and benefits which • Spelling
make Cambridge Primary Insight even more intuitive, meaningful and • Mathematics
powerful. • Mental arithmetic
Cambridge Primary Insight focuses on five key developmental areas • Developed ability
for children aged 5 to11, so you can be confident that you are building
strong foundations for a
lifetime of learning.
See children’s strengths
and weaknesses, reveal
their hidden talents, and Why choose Cambridge
spot where they need Primary Insight?
help. Use Cambridge
Cambridge Primary Insight works
Primary Insight to
as a valuable add-on to your own
complement your
observation and insight. It empowers
experience and intuition,
you with real data, without any
tailor and transform
additional hassle or paperwork.
children’s learning, and
set them up for the Cambridge Primary Insight is based
brightest possible future.
How does it work? on years of rigorous research and
Each module takes 20 minutes – children work managed by experts. Developed
independently through questions and fun, interactive continuously by our research team
tasks. Access the tool in one session or over a number since its release in 2003. Our research
of days/weeks as you need it. team responded to the demand from
What kind of assessment is it? early educators to assess learning in a
Cambridge Primary Insight is designed to be a feel-
good, independent activity that children really enjoy, more reliable way. The product draws
and gives you some quality time to observe as the on well-established research into what
software does the hard work. It’s adaptive, getting skills children really need to ensure
harder or easier depending on the child’s ability. There’s success later in life.
no marking, no paperwork and no fuss – download the “Having the data gives us more clarity
Baseline Adaptive Explorative Digital results instantly. and helps us understand each of the
use it to establish evolves with the gives you a deeper no paperwork, pupils better and understand their
the student’s student’s abilities understanding just use a potential.”
foundation or of your student’s computer
Nicki Devon, Deputy Head,
end-of-year level abilities
For further information Eltham College Junior School, London
www.cem.org/primary-insight
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MidYIS
(for 11 to 14 year olds)
MidYIS empowers teachers to unlock MidYIS measures:
potential for students starting their
• Vocabulary
journey through secondary education.
• Maths
Benchmark your students’ baseline abilities
with an adaptive, tailored and personalised • Skills (proofreading, perceptual speed and accuracy)
assessment. • Non-verbal ability (the ability to think in a logical way
Imagine having unique insight into what your to analyse information, and solve problems using
students are good at (or what they need to reasoning, without relying on or being limited by
work on) right from the start of secondary. A language abilities)
data-powered foundation that you can build
on immediately.
One that empowers you to
fine-tune your teaching, build
confidence and strengthen
weaknesses – and see likely
future performance at GCSE.
As the perfect complement to
your intuition, instincts and
experience, MidYIS is a brilliant
boost at the beginning of the
academic year that gives you a Why choose MidYIS?
solid baseline to work from. It
Developed continually by our research
focuses on key developmental
team since its release in 2000, MidYIS
areas for children aged 11 to 14.
is based on years of rigorous research
and managed by experts. Our research
How does it work? team responded to the demand from
MidYIS is an interactive, student-led assessment that educators to assess learning in a more
students complete independently. It takes around reliable way. The product draws on
50 minutes of screen time to work through the series of well-established research into what
adaptive questions and tasks that become easier or more skills students really need to ensure
challenging, depending on students’ abilities. success later in life.
What kind of assessment is it? There’s no marking, no paperwork and no fuss – the MidYIS is designed to be used at the
bespoke software does all the hard work for you, and you start of the academic year to establish
can download the results in 48 hours. MidYIS is specifically students’ baseline starting points that
designed to fit into a lesson, so you can easily integrate the identify their potential.
assessment into your existing lesson plan.
“MidYIS is a really powerful tool because
it gives us the capacity to inspire our
Baseline Adaptive Explorative Predictive Digital young people who don’t believe that
establishes the evolves with the gives you a deeper see how students no paperwork, they are capable, we can show them the
level the student student’s abilities understanding are likely to just use a evidence that shows they are capable.”
is starting from of your student’s perform at GCSE computer Louise Moir, Mackie Academy,
abilities Aberdeenshire
For further information
www.cem.org/midyis
 16 17

Yellis
(for 14 to 16 year olds)
Yellis focuses on the areas and
skills that make a real difference
to students at this stage, setting
them up to reach their potential.
See a clear picture across:
• Vocabulary
• Mathematics
• Non-verbal ability (the ability
to think in a logical way, to
analyse information, and solve
problems using reasoning,
without relying on or being
limited by language abilities)

Why choose Yellis?

Optimise grades and performance at
your school, knowing that students are
doing their best and unlocking their full
potential.
Yellis helps you understand what
students know, to help you identify
strengths and weaknesses in the lead-
Yellis empowers teachers to unlock students’ potential as they move through their upper secondary
up to crucial exam years. By better
education.
understanding the bigger picture, you can
Yellis is a student-led, computer-based interactive assessment that takes about 45 minutes. It gives you How does it work? improve performance at an individual,
invaluable insight into students’ strengths and hidden potential, as well as areas to work on. It also predicts classroom and whole-school level.
A series of questions and interactive tasks, Yellis
potential exam performance at GCSE.
takes around 45 minutes of screen time, with As an adaptive assessment, Yellis is far
Use this insight to focus on students’ learning needs, tailor teaching and map their journey to exam success. students following audio instructions to guide them shorter than competitor products. Not
Yellis gives you the tools you need to help your students – and your school – flourish. through. The assessment is adaptive, becoming only is it more engaging, but it also shows
easier or more challenging, depending on each each student’s ability more accurately.
student’s level of ability. Yellis is based on years of rigorous
What kind of assessment is it? Yellis is flexible and free from paperwork and research and managed by experts
marking. And because multiple students can at Cambridge University Press &
complete the assessment at the same time, it’s easy Assessment.
to integrate a ‘Yellis session’ into your lesson plan.
Ideally, you should assess students at the beginning “Value-added on results day was excellent
of the academic year, so you gain the best possible this year. It was very handy to receive the
insight into how they learn – and how to get the best feedback so quickly as it allowed me to have
Baseline Adaptive Explorative Predictive Digital value-added conversations with staff and
out of them.
establishes the evolves with the helps you see how students no paperwork, governors right away.”
level the student student’s abilities understand what’s are likely to perform just use a John Maguire, Senior Deputy Headmaster,
is starting from going on at GCSE computer Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School,
For further information Hertfordshire
www.cem.org/yellis
 18 19

Alis
(for 16 to 19 year olds)
Alis focuses on the areas and skills
that make a real difference to
students at this stage, setting them
up to reach their potential and
flourish at post-16 exams. See a clear
picture across:
• Vocabulary
• Mathematics
• Non-verbal ability (the ability to
think in a logical way, to analyse
information, and solve problems
using reasoning, without relying
on or being limited by language
abilities)

Alis empowers teachers to unlock and harness potential for A Level or IB students.
The easy-to-use online tool works to provide a reliable and independent baseline for your students. Motivate
and encourage students to fulfil their potential with personalised learning plans and continually monitor Why choose Alis?
student progress at individual and cohort levels.
Alis is designed to complement your
Use this insight to identify students’ learning needs, tailor teaching and map their journey to exam success. How does it work? own intuition and observation, and
Alis helps you get them off to the best possible start for this important stage of learning. Alis is an interactive, student-led assessment that enhance the journey to exam success
they complete independently. A series of questions for you and your students.
and interactive tasks, it takes around 50 minutes of Alis brings together exam predictions
screen time. based on baseline assessments in one
What kind of assessment is it? The assessment is adaptive, becoming easier or more easy-to-use online tool, informed by
challenging, depending on each student’s level of years of research.
ability.
Alis is flexible and free from paperwork and marking.
And because multiple students can complete the “CEM data has played an important role
in recent years in identifying trends over
assessment at the same time, it’s easy to integrate an
time that have either been important in
Baseline Adaptive Explorative Informative Predictive Digital ‘Alis session’ into your lesson plan. forming developments in policies, or by
establishes evolves with helps you standardised see how students no paperwork, adding evidence to support initiatives and
the student’s the student’s understand scoring you are likely to just use a give their value credibility.”
foundation abilities what’s going on can compare perform at exams computer Gary Cousens, Examinations Officer,
level to national For further information Elizabeth College, Guernsey
averages
www.cem.org/alis
 20 www.cem.org 21

Cambridge Wellbeing Check

(for 7 to 18 year olds)
The Cambridge Wellbeing Check
focuses on four areas of wellbeing,
covering ‘feelings’ (life satisfaction
and negative emotion) and
‘functioning’ (interpersonal wellbeing
and competence wellbeing). See a
clear picture across:
• Life satisfaction: how much
students experience contentment
and overall life satisfaction
• Negative emotions: how much Why choose the
students experience anxiety, Cambridge Wellbeing
stress and/or sadness
Check?
• Interpersonal wellbeing: how
Informed by robust data and years
much students experience feeling
of experience in child wellbeing, the
connected to others in school,
Cambridge Wellbeing Check is the only
that people care about them, and
digital assessment that empowers you
that they are valued
to track and nurture wellbeing in your
From a whole-school view right down to individual students, • Competence wellbeing: how much students through their learning journey –
the Cambridge Wellbeing Check gives you a clear picture students experience competence, and gives you the tools to have a
of wellbeing. self-confidence, fulfilment and positive impact.
Help your students feel good, do well and flourish. Grounded in purpose How does it work? The Cambridge Wellbeing Check
world-leading research and delivered on an easy-to-use digital
The Cambridge Wellbeing Check is a simple, student- includes lesson plans to complement
platform, it supports you in helping students aged 7 to 18 feel
led assessment that takes about 20 minutes of your existing wellbeing or pastoral
their best.
screen time (it works on desktop, tablet and mobile care curriculum, but is equally relevant
The Cambridge Wellbeing Check enables you to monitor and devices). It’s been designed specifically to work as in other subjects or as part of wider
evaluate levels of wellbeing throughout the year – and be better part of existing wellbeing or pastoral care teaching, wellbeing initiatives.
equipped to have a positive impact along the way. complementing and enhancing what you’re already Wellbeing has a real impact on how
doing. It can be readily and easily incorporated into motivated your students are, and how
other subjects, too. well they perform. The Cambridge
The assessment is flexible and free from paperwork Wellbeing Check helps you create and
What kind of assessment is it? and marking. And because multiple students can embed a culture of wellbeing awareness
complete the assessment at the same time, it’s easy in your teaching that promotes wellbeing
to integrate a ‘Wellbeing Check’ into your lesson plan. in students who feel they’re empowered
to do better.

For further information “The lesson plans provided were detailed

Explorative Qualitative Digital Supportive Intuitive Research-based www.cem.org/wellbeing well. They were easily comprehendible
helps you gives you real, no paperwork, instantly easy to set up, based on published and pertained to what we follow at our
understand how actionable use a computer, shows you administer research by the school. The Wellbeing Check was easy
students feel in insight tablet or who needs and use, with University of The Cambridge Wellbeing Check was developed from a survey by researchers Dr
to understand. The questions were well
your school smartphone support 22 simple Cambridge Ros McLellan, Maurice Galton, Susan Steward and Charlotte Page in the University of structured and relatable to the students.”
questions Cambridge’s Faculty of Education. The original survey was created as part of a study
GEMS New Millennium School, Al Khalil, Dubai
examining the role of creative initiatives in fostering wellbeing, which was funded by
the international creative learning foundation Creativity, Culture and Education.
22 www.cem.org 23

Notes
 We’re a not-for-profit organisation
on a mission to unlock every
student’s potential with the very best
learning and research solutions.
We’re part of Cambridge University
Press & Assessment. We’ve been
helping teachers clearly see what’s
happening in the classroom for
40 years, empowering millions of
students in over 100 countries to
achieve ever-greater things.

1947996324

www.cem.org
cem@cambridge.org
+44 (0) 1223 790 122