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About Cambridge Insight assessments

Together, we make a measurable difference

Cambridge Insight (formerly CEM) assessments help schools and groups of schools to better understand, increase and demonstrate the value they can add to students' lives.

Working with teachers, department heads and school leaders, Cambridge Insight assessments, reports and guidance reveal each student's and cohort's unique qualities. Allowing schools to make strategic decisions to improve teaching practices and allocate resources.

Our digital tools are at the forefront of educational insight, spanning across a broad range of insight assessments and using the highest-quality data to provide detailed reports and accurate exam predictions.

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Helping teachers help their students achieve success through insight was what started the Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring (CEM) 40 years ago. Now part of Cambridge, that continues to be the driver for every Cambridge Insight assessment we develop. We will always prioritise the needs of the classroom to create the innovative technologies necessary for improving future outcome for all students.

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Over 40 years of developing and delivering digital baseline and attributes assessments

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Used by schools, groups, ministries and associations in 127 countries

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Known for rigorous, evidence-based approach, analysing 43 million data points every year

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480,000 students assessed each year

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650,000 assessments used to standardise each year, ensuring our data is as reliable as possible

Over the years, I have seen time and again the impact that having the Cambridge Insight (formerly CEM) assessments has on our students. It tells you things that you just wouldn’t have known otherwise. They help you to identify potential issues early and it supports students across the whole spectrum of ability. [...] The tech support, the customer service, the quality of the data and the training have always been really good, but the new initiatives like the Cambridge Insight Networks mean that we get that additional layer of support with the data.

Karen Barker, Deputy Head at Finborough School

History of Cambridge Insight

First monitoring system established in Newcastle: COMBES (Confidential Measurement Based Self Evaluation)

1983
1987

Technical Vocational and Educational Initiative Report published

Alis project

1989
1990

Yellis piloted

Primary (PIPs) assessment begins

1992
1994

PIPS early years assessment

Relocated to Durham to pilot MidYIS

1996
1997

Value-added National Project published

Primary PIPS goes to Australia

1998
1999

CEM assessments available in New Zealand

ASPECTS introduced

2000
2001

CEM assessments in Hong Kong

InCAS, a new primary assessment, introduced in schools

2002
2005

Fully computer adaptive MidYIS assessment

Over 1 million assessments delivered

2007
2010

CEM baseline assessments introduced into primary schools in Abu Dhabi

Working with 55 Chinese tutoring schools with over 23,000 students taking InCAS

2012
2013

CEM assessments used in over 70 countries

CEM joins Cambridge

2019
2020

CEM adapts and offers home testing during the pandemic

Research into students' and teachers' wellbeing during the lockdown published

2021
2022

Cambridge Wellbeing Check released

Cambridge Primary Insight Assessment launched

2023
2024

Cambridge Personal Styles Questionnaire (CPSQ) introduced

Cambridge CEM becomes Cambridge Insight

2025