CEM-Style Mixed Mock 6
CEM-Style Mixed Mock 6 is the final mock in this practice series for the CEM-style blended English format, working with slightly longer extracts than earlier mocks in the series and asking pupils to draw together more than one piece of evidence to support a single, developed inference about character, cause or outcome.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read a longer extract through fully at least once before attempting any question, so you understand the overall sequence of events and how details connect.
- When a question asks for an inference supported by the text as a whole rather than one sentence, look for at least two separate pieces of evidence that point in the same direction.
- Write your inference as a complete idea first, what you believe is implied, then find and quote the specific evidence that supports it, rather than starting from an unsupported guess.
- Where two details in the extract could support slightly different inferences, choose the interpretation that uses more of the evidence given, rather than the one that only explains part of it.
- Keep inference answers proportional to the marks available: a question worth several marks usually expects more than one linked point, each supported by its own piece of evidence.
- Do not introduce outside information the extract does not support, however plausible it might seem; every inference here must be traceable back to the given text.
Worked example
'Marcus had rehearsed his speech every night for a fortnight, checking his notes even as the coach pulled into the car park. Yet when his name was finally called, he simply shook his head and stayed in his seat.' What does this passage suggest about Marcus, drawing on more than one detail from the text?
- Note the first detail: Marcus rehearsed 'every night for a fortnight' and kept checking his notes right up until the last moment, showing extensive preparation.
- Note the second detail: despite all this preparation, when called upon he 'shook his head and stayed in his seat', meaning he did not go through with the speech.
- Consider what these two details together suggest: someone who prepared so thoroughly but then could not go through with it is likely to have been overcome by nerves at the final moment, rather than simply being unprepared.
- Check this fits both details: unpreparedness would not explain the extensive rehearsal, so the more consistent explanation is that his nerve failed him despite being ready.
- Final answer: the passage suggests that Marcus was extremely well prepared but was overcome by nerves or fear at the last moment, since his thorough rehearsal makes a simple lack of readiness an unlikely explanation for his refusal to speak.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1'The old clock in the hallway had stopped years ago, yet no one in the family had ever suggested throwing it away.' What might this suggest about the family's feelings towards the clock?Show answer
Answer: That the clock likely has sentimental value to the family, so it is being kept despite no longer being useful.
Q2'She read the letter twice before folding it carefully and placing it in the drawer where she kept nothing else.' What does the detail of the empty drawer suggest about the letter's importance to her?Show answer
Answer: That the letter is especially important or precious to her, since she keeps it somewhere reserved just for it.
Q3Which word is closest in meaning to 'reluctantly': (a) eagerly (b) unwillingly (c) quickly (d) confidently?Show answer
Answer: (b) unwillingly.
Q4'The team had lost their last six matches, but the manager still spoke confidently about their chances in the final.' What does this suggest about the manager?Show answer
Answer: That the manager is either genuinely optimistic despite the poor results, or is deliberately projecting confidence to reassure the team, rather than reflecting the results honestly.
Q5'Despite living next door for a decade, the two neighbours had exchanged barely a dozen words.' What does this suggest about the relationship between the two neighbours?Show answer
Answer: That they are distant or have avoided getting to know each other, despite the opportunity that living so close for so long would normally provide.
Q6Three of these words are close in meaning to 'cautious' and one is not: wary, careful, reckless, guarded. Identify the odd one out.Show answer
Answer: reckless (it means acting without care, the opposite of cautious, while the others mean careful).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
'Elena had turned down two promotions already, always citing the same reason: she preferred working directly with customers. When a third offer came, this time with no desk work at all, she accepted within the hour.' What does this passage suggest about Elena's reasons for previously refusing promotion, using more than one detail from the text?
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 5 available
'The bakery had queues out of the door every Saturday for years, until a large supermarket opened nearby; within six months, the bakery's owner had taken on a second job.' What does this passage suggest about the effect of the supermarket on the bakery, using more than one detail from the text?
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the cem-style mixed mock 6 worksheet pack - 20 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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