The FSCE 11+ is an entrance test written by Future Stories Community Enterprise, a not-for-profit set up by Reading School. It tests English and maths taught up to the end of Year 5, with no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers.
This guide covers which grammar schools use it, how the papers work, how it is marked and how to prepare. Each section has a short sample to try with your child, written by us and marked on the page.
- FSCE is a school-designed 11+ test from a not-for-profit linked to Reading School, not a version of GL or CEM.
- It tests English and maths up to the end of Year 5, with no standalone verbal or non-verbal reasoning.
- Around 9 grammar schools used it for 2027 entry, and 12 more join for 2028 entry (7 in Gloucestershire, 5 in Trafford).
- Each school picks its own papers, so one may set creative writing and another may not.
- Scores are age-standardised, and each school sets its own qualifying score.
What is the FSCE 11 plus?
The FSCE 11 plus is a grammar school entrance test designed by Future Stories Community Enterprise, a not-for-profit subsidiary of Reading School. Schools buy it instead of a GL Assessment or CEM paper.
It draws on the Key Stage 2 curriculum taught by the end of Year 5, so nothing on it should be new to a child who has kept up at school. FSCE also scores and age-standardises the results for the schools that use it.
Which grammar schools use the FSCE 11 plus?
For September 2027 entry, 9 grammar schools set an FSCE test, and the 7 Gloucestershire grammars and 5 Trafford consortium schools join for September 2028 entry. Schools change provider, so always check the admissions page of each school on your list.
Schools using FSCE for 2027 entry
These schools set an FSCE test in September 2026 for children starting Year 7 in September 2027.
- Reading School (Berkshire)
- Chelmsford County High School for Girls (Essex)
- Heckmondwike Grammar School (West Yorkshire)
- The Crossley Heath School (Halifax)
- The North Halifax Grammar School (Halifax)
- Skipton Girls' High School (North Yorkshire)
- Ermysted's Grammar School (North Yorkshire)
- Lancaster Girls' Grammar School (Lancashire)
- Clitheroe Royal Grammar School (Lancashire)
Older lists sometimes include Colyton Grammar School in Devon. Colyton now sets its own entrance test, so check its admissions page rather than preparing for FSCE.
Schools joining FSCE for 2028 entry
The 7 Gloucestershire grammar schools switch from GL to FSCE for September 2028 entry: Denmark Road High School, Marling School, Pate's Grammar School, Ribston Hall High School, Sir Thomas Rich's School, Stroud High School and The Crypt School. Children sit one shared test in Year 5, on Saturday 3 July 2027, with registration open from 8 February to 19 March 2027.
The 5 Trafford consortium schools also move to FSCE for September 2028 entry: Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School. Their test is sat in September of Year 6 and covers KS2 English and maths only.
From 2029 entry, Trafford moves its test to the late summer term of Year 5. Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College set their own tests, so see our Trafford 11+ changes guide for the full timeline.
Practising for an FSCE school? Pip gives your child five minutes of English and maths a day, pitched to what they can already do.
What is the format of the FSCE 11 plus?
The FSCE 11 plus is a set of short papers, and each school chooses which ones to use and in what order. Gloucestershire's published format names three of them.
- Adventure paper: English and maths, answered by multiple choice.
- Beacon paper: English and maths, answered with short written answers.
- Compass paper: questions on subjects taught at primary school, such as science, history or geography, answered by multiple choice.
Some schools add a creative writing task that asks for a longer, planned piece. Several schools play instructions from a pre-recorded audio track, so every child hears the same timings and prompts.
The FSCE test is not the same at every school
Because schools build their own mix, two FSCE schools can set quite different tests. Here is how the published arrangements compare.
| School or group | When it is sat | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Crossley Heath and North Halifax | September of Year 6 | English, maths and a creative writing task |
| Ermysted's Grammar School | September of Year 6 | Two papers, both English and maths |
| Chelmsford County High School for Girls | Early September of Year 6 | KS2 subjects and creativity |
| Gloucestershire (2028 entry) | July of Year 5 | Adventure, Beacon and Compass papers |
| Trafford (2028 entry) | September of Year 6 | KS2 English and maths only |
The school's own familiarisation paper is the best guide to its format. Most FSCE schools publish one on their admissions page, though they do not publish past papers.
What subjects does the FSCE 11 plus test?
The FSCE 11 plus tests English and maths at its core, with creative writing or wider primary subjects at some schools. There is no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper.
English: comprehension, vocabulary and missing letters
English questions ask children to read closely, know what words mean and spell them accurately. Try the three short samples below with your child, then talk about how they found each answer.
Comprehension
Read the passage, then answer. A wrong tap gives a clue pointing back to the text.
The ferry was late again. Maya pressed her forehead to the café window and watched the grey water fold over itself like a restless blanket.
Behind her, Grandad tapped his spoon against his cup, slow and steady, the way he did when he was pretending not to worry. "Twenty minutes," he said, for the third time.
Maya knew the timetable said nothing of the sort. She also knew the boat carried the letter from Mum, the one they had both been waiting for since spring.
When the horn finally sounded across the harbour, Grandad was on his feet before she was.
1. How does Grandad really feel while they wait?
2. Why does Grandad keep saying "Twenty minutes"?
3. What do we learn about the letter from Mum?
0 of 3 done
Vocabulary
Pick the word closest in meaning. If stuck, put the word into a sentence and swap each option in.
1. reluctant
2. abundant
3. conceal
0 of 3 done
Missing letters
Type the missing letters to finish each word. Say the whole word out loud first.
1. The kn_ _ _t rode across the bridge.
2. Please keep your voice down in the lib_ _ _y.
3. After an hour of searching, we were desp_ _ _te to find the keys.
0 of 3 done
Maths
FSCE maths covers number, calculation, fractions, measurement, geometry and statistics up to the end of Year 5. Questions often wrap a calculation in a short real-life problem.
Maths
Type the answer and press Check. A wrong answer gets a nudge, and a second wrong answer shows the method.
1. What is 3.6 × 40?
2. How much change do you get from £20 when you buy two cinema tickets at £7.45 each?
3. What is three fifths of 85?
0 of 3 done
Creative writing
Where a school sets creative writing, children get a prompt and write an original piece in a set time. Markers look for a clear plan, a strong opening, careful word choice and accurate punctuation.
Creative writing
Pick a time, plan with the checklist, then write here or on paper. Nothing typed here is saved or sent anywhere.
0 of 6 ticked
For more timed prompts and marked questions, try our FSCE practice questions and writing prompts.
Five minutes of FSCE-style English and maths a day
Pip sets English and maths questions at your child's level, with vocabulary and comprehension at the core. Wrong answers come with a short explanation, so your child learns the method.
How is the FSCE 11 plus marked?
FSCE marks the papers and age-standardises the scores, so younger children in the year group are not at a disadvantage. Each school then sets its own qualifying score, and reaching it does not guarantee a place.
Some schools mark creative writing only for children who reach a set standard on the other papers. A score from one school's test does not carry over to another school, so register with each school separately.
How should my child prepare for the FSCE 11 plus?
The best preparation is strong, everyday English and maths, because FSCE tests what school has already taught. Short, regular practice works better than long sessions in the final weeks.
Read every day and talk about new words
Wide reading feeds comprehension, vocabulary and writing at once. Ask your child to explain one new word from each chapter in their own words.
Keep Year 5 maths fluent
Make sure times tables, fractions and written methods are quick and accurate. Then practise word problems where your child has to choose the method themselves.
Write to time once a week
Use a prompt, 5 minutes to plan and about 25 minutes to write, like the sample above. Read it back together and pick one thing to improve next time.
Use the school's familiarisation paper, then full practice papers
Start with the familiarisation paper on your school's admissions page so the format is not a surprise. Then try our free FSCE style practice papers, which cover English, creative writing and maths with mark schemes.
For the wider picture, see our guide to every 11+ exam type and the GL Assessment guide. FSCE is an independent provider, and Pip is not affiliated with it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FSCE 11+?+
FSCE stands for Future Stories Community Enterprise, a not-for-profit set up by Reading School that writes its own 11+ entrance test. It tests English and maths taught up to the end of Year 5, and leaves out verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Does FSCE include verbal and non-verbal reasoning?+
No. FSCE has no standalone verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers.
It focuses on English and maths, with creative writing or wider primary subjects at some schools.
Which schools use the FSCE 11+?+
For 2027 entry, FSCE is used by Reading School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Heckmondwike Grammar School, The Crossley Heath School, The North Halifax Grammar School, Skipton Girls' High School, Ermysted's Grammar School, Lancaster Girls' Grammar School and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School.
The seven Gloucestershire grammars and the five Trafford consortium schools join from September 2028 entry. Always confirm with each school.
Is the FSCE test the same at every school?+
No. Each school chooses which FSCE papers to set and when, so some include creative writing and others do not.
Check each school's familiarisation paper for its exact format.
How is FSCE different from GL and CEM?+
GL and CEM tests usually include reasoning alongside English and maths. FSCE drops standalone reasoning and limits content to what is taught by the end of Year 5.
The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers.