The FSCE format vs GL format difference, and CSSE, comes down to who writes the test and how children answer. FSCE, GL and CSSE are three different 11+ tests. FSCE is a school-designed English and maths test with no standalone reasoning papers. GL is a commercial multiple-choice test whose subjects each area picks. CSSE is the Essex consortium's written English and maths test.
The biggest day-to-day difference is how your child answers. FSCE and GL mostly use shaded answers or tiny boxes. CSSE wants written sentences and written working. This guide puts all three side by side, then explains what to do if your child sits more than one.
If your child is in Year 5 now, they sit in 2027 for September 2028 entry, and Year 4 children sit in 2028. That matters here, because Gloucestershire and Trafford both switch from GL to FSCE for 2028 entry.
- FSCE has no standalone verbal or non-verbal reasoning. Content stays within the KS2 programme taught up to and including Year 5.
- GL tests one or more of English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Each area chooses the mix.
- CSSE sets two papers, English and maths, of 60 minutes each, and has no reasoning papers from 2025 entry.
- Essex families can sit two tests: Chelmsford County High School for Girls uses FSCE, and the other ten-school consortium grammars use CSSE.
- Year 5 English and maths is the shared base. Only the answer format needs separate practice.
What is the difference between FSCE, GL and CSSE?
FSCE tests application of Year 5 English and maths with no reasoning papers. GL tests whichever mix of English, maths and reasoning your area chooses, mostly by multiple choice. CSSE tests English and maths with written answers. The table below covers every point parents ask about.
| Question | FSCE | GL Assessment | CSSE (Essex) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who writes it | Future Stories Community Enterprise, a not-for-profit company owned by Reading School | GL Assessment, a commercial test publisher | The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, formed in 1993 |
| Subjects | English and maths, plus wider KS2 subjects at some schools | One or more of English, maths, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning. The area decides. | English and maths |
| Verbal and non-verbal reasoning | No standalone papers | Often included, depending on the area | No. Applied reasoning questions were removed from English from 2025 entry. |
| Papers | Reading School and CCHS: four (Adventure, Beacon, Compass, Discovery). Lancaster, Skipton Girls', Clitheroe and Ermysted's: two (Adventure, Beacon). | Set by the area, often one paper per subject | Two: English and maths |
| Time | Not published for Reading or CCHS. 45 to 60 minutes per paper in the two-paper schools. | Varies by area, often 45 to 60 minutes a paper | English: 60 minutes plus 10 minutes of reading time. Maths: 60 minutes. |
| How children answer | Shade one oval (A to D), or write one digit or capital letter per box. Black pen only. | Mostly multiple choice on a separate answer sheet, or on screen in some areas | Written answers, with working shown in maths. Pen, pencil, ruler and eraser allowed. |
| Creative writing | Discovery (Creativity) paper at Reading School and CCHS, handwritten | Not in the standard English paper | Continuous writing in the English paper |
| Content limit | Taught up to and including Year 5 | KS2 English and maths. No single year limit published. | Based on the KS2 National Curriculum |
| Marking | Optical mark recognition, age standardised. Creativity judged by comparison, only if the child reaches the qualifying standard. | Computer marked, age standardised | Each paper standardised and weighted 50%, with an age adjustment |
| Past papers | None authorised. A familiarisation guide only. | Free familiarisation materials, plus lots of published practice books | Free familiarisation papers on the CSSE website |
| Example schools | Reading School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Lancaster Girls', Ermysted's | Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham and Warwickshire grammars | Colchester Royal Grammar, Westcliff High School for Boys, King Edward VI Grammar |
Sources: the CSSE Information Guide for 2027 entry, the FSCE website, school admissions pages and the GL Assessment 11+ site. Timings and formats change, so check each school's page before test day.
Which schools use FSCE, GL and CSSE?
The latest confirmed FSCE list is ten grammar schools for 2027 entry, and twelve more join for 2028 entry. CSSE is used by ten Essex schools, and GL says its tests are used by the majority of grammar schools in the UK.
- FSCE (2027 entry, the latest confirmed list): Reading School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Heckmondwike Grammar, The Crossley Heath School, The North Halifax Grammar School, Skipton Girls' High School, Ermysted's Grammar School, Lancaster Girls' Grammar School, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith. See which schools use FSCE.
- CSSE: Colchester County High School for Girls, Colchester Royal Grammar, King Edward VI Grammar (Chelmsford), Shoeburyness High, Southend High for Boys, Southend High for Girls, St Bernard's High, St Thomas More High for Boys, Westcliff High for Boys and Westcliff High for Girls.
- GL: Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire and many other areas. Our GL Assessment guide and Kent Test guide cover the detail.
Gloucestershire is changing side. Its seven grammars move from GL to FSCE for September 2028 entry, and children sit one shared test in Year 5 on Saturday 3 July 2027.
The five schools in the Trafford consortium also move to FSCE for 2028 entry, with that test in September 2027. For 2029 entry (Year 4 now), Trafford says its test moves to the end of the summer term of Year 5.
Chelmsford County High School for Girls is in Essex but is not a CSSE member. It uses FSCE.
How do children answer in each test?
In FSCE and GL, most answers are shaded or typed as a single choice. In CSSE, children write sentences, show working and handwrite a piece of continuous writing. This is the difference that needs the most separate practice.
- FSCE: shade one oval (A to D) for multiple choice. For short written answers, write one digit or capital letter per box. Use black pen. Pencils, rulers, calculators and scrap paper are banned, and no marks are lost for wrong answers. Instructions come from a pre-recorded audio track.
- GL: mostly multiple choice. GL's guidance says to get used to the multiple-choice layout before the test. Some areas use a separate answer sheet, some use screens.
- CSSE: written answers on the paper. Children bring a pen, pencil, ruler and eraser. Calculators, highlighters, dictionaries and smart watches are not permitted.
For more on the FSCE side, see our FSCE answer sheet guide and the Adventure, Beacon, Compass and Discovery papers page.
Do FSCE, GL and CSSE include verbal and non-verbal reasoning?
FSCE has no standalone verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers, CSSE has none, and GL includes them only if your area chooses them. A family moving from GL practice to FSCE can drop reasoning books and put the time into English and maths.
The Lancaster Girls' Grammar FAQ says outright that there is no non-verbal reasoning. CSSE used to put applied reasoning questions in its English paper. From September 2024 (2025 entry), the English paper no longer has them.
GL is different. It lists English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, and says the tests vary from area to area. Your child may sit just one of these or all four. Check your local authority or school, not a general guide.
Which test has creative writing?
CSSE has continuous writing in its English paper, FSCE has a handwritten Creativity paper at Reading School and Chelmsford County High School, and the standard GL paper has none. Kent collects a writing task, but only a panel uses it, and only at the borderline.
The two are marked very differently:
- CSSE: in the 2023-entry sample paper, continuous writing was a 20-minute, 20-mark task. Children answer both questions in at least six sentences, and spelling, punctuation and grammar are marked.
- FSCE: the Discovery paper is a handwritten creative response. It is judged by comparative judgement, only for children who reach the qualifying standard on the computer-marked papers. It can't be re-marked.
We couldn't confirm the current CSSE writing layout for 2027 entry, so use the latest familiarisation paper on the CSSE site. Read more in our FSCE Creativity paper guide and which 11+ exams include creative writing.
What is the content limit for each test?
FSCE keeps content to the KS2 programme taught up to and including Year 5. CSSE is based on the KS2 National Curriculum. GL follows KS2 for English and maths, and its reasoning papers test skills rather than school content.
FSCE says its test is more focused on application than recall. That means a child who knows the Year 5 method but has never seen the question style should still cope. Reasoning papers do not work that way, which is why GL families practise question types as well as topics.
How are FSCE, GL and CSSE marked?
All three standardise for age, so a child born in August is not marked against one born in September. They differ in what happens next and who sets the pass line.
- FSCE: optical mark recognition and age standardisation. Each school sets its own qualifying standard. At Chelmsford County High School for Girls in the latest published year (2027 entry, sat in 2026), 1,119 children sat the test, 476 were eligible (a score of 92 or above plus the Creativity standard), and the school had 180 places.
- GL: computer marked and age standardised. The pass mark is set by the area, not by GL.
- CSSE: English and maths are each standardised and weighted at 50%, with a statistical age adjustment. The minimum total standardised score for offers was 303 for 2027 entry. There is no re-marking.
Pass marks aren't comparable. A 303 in CSSE and a 92 at CCHS sit on different scales. See FSCE pass marks and scores for more.
- Practise the pen. FSCE wants black pen and one digit per box, and CSSE wants clear written working. Both punish untidy handwriting, so do some timed practice in pen every week.
- Check the date order. Last year, CCHS sat on Thursday 3 September 2026 and CSSE on Saturday 19 September 2026. Expect a similar gap in 2027 once dates are out, and remember two weeks is enough to switch format, not to learn new content.
- Frankly, don't buy reasoning books for FSCE or CSSE. Use that time for Year 5 maths and wide reading, unless a GL school is also on your list.
- Ask the school, not the forum. FSCE changes subjects and format each year, so a paper described on a forum last year may not match yours.
Not sure which test your child faces? Pip gives adaptive English and maths practice, pitched to what your child can already do.
How does preparation differ for each test?
For all three, strong Year 5 English and maths is the base. After that, FSCE needs application practice and answer-box habits, GL needs question-type practice and speed, and CSSE needs written working and timed writing.
| Skill | FSCE | GL | CSSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 5 English and maths | Base | Base | Base |
| Multiple choice technique | Yes (Adventure, Compass) | Yes, main skill | Little |
| Short answers in boxes | Yes (Beacon) | Rarely | No |
| Showing written working | Little | Little | Yes, in maths |
| Timed handwritten writing | Yes at Reading and CCHS | No | Yes |
| Verbal and non-verbal reasoning | No | Where your area sets it | No |
| Wider KS2 subjects (science, history, geography) | Possible, school dependent | No | No |
Our practice-paper pages match each test: FSCE practice papers, GL practice papers and CSSE practice papers. For CSSE-style questions with writing, see CSSE practice papers and questions. For timed writing prompts, try FSCE practice questions and writing prompts and our creative writing worksheets.
What if my child sits more than one test?
Build one strong English and maths base, then add a short block for each test's answer style in the last three to four weeks. The reality is that most of the content overlaps, so don't run two separate programmes.
The clearest pairing is Chelmsford County High School for Girls (FSCE) with a CSSE school in Essex. Here is a simple plan.
- Weeks 1 to 8: shared base. Year 5 maths (fractions, decimals, written methods, word problems) and English (comprehension, vocabulary, grammar). Short daily sessions of 15 to 20 minutes.
- Weeks 9 to 12: format blocks. Two sessions a week in each style. FSCE style: multiple choice and short answers, using a black pen. CSSE style: written working and one timed piece of writing a week.
- Last 2 weeks: full papers. One timed practice paper a week per test, then review mistakes. Look at the date order. The earlier test gets the final full paper first.
- Test week: rest. A light 10-minute warm-up is enough.
If your list includes a GL school as well, add verbal and non-verbal reasoning only for that school, and keep it short. Reasoning papers reward question-type practice, whereas English and maths take months to build, so keep the balance in favour of the basics.
Check that the dates do not clash. Schools publish them early, and some offer reserve dates, so ask. For FSCE day logistics, see the FSCE test day guide. For subjects, see what FSCE tests.
For a wider look at every exam type, see 11+ exam types explained and the difference between GL and CEM. The full FSCE overview is in FSCE 11+ explained. Individual schools: Reading School and Lancaster, Skipton, Clitheroe and Ermysted's.
FSCE, GL and CSSE are independent organisations, and Pip is not affiliated with any of them.
Where do these facts come from?
Every fact above comes from the test providers or the schools themselves. Check these before you rely on a date or a format.
- CSSE: CSSE Information Guide, 2027 entry (member schools, 60-minute papers, 303 minimum score, 19 September 2026 test date) and the 2023-entry English sample paper.
- FSCE: fsce.co.uk, CCHS: Why FSCE, the CCHS Year 7 admissions page, the Reading School admissions page and the Lancaster Girls' FSCE FAQs.
- GL: the GL Assessment 11+ site. We couldn't check the Kent Test's own page, so for Kent see our guide.
We couldn't verify GL's usual paper timings or the Kent pass mark from a primary source, so treat those as a guide only. CSSE's English paper layout may also have changed since the 2023-entry sample.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the FSCE format and the GL format?+
FSCE is a school-designed test with no standalone verbal or non-verbal reasoning, which only covers content taught up to the end of Year 5. GL is a commercial test where each area chooses from English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
What is the difference between FSCE and CSSE?+
Both test English and maths and have no reasoning papers. FSCE mostly uses shaded answers and one-character boxes, while CSSE uses written answers and shown working. CSSE is for ten Essex schools. FSCE is used by Reading School, CCHS and others.
Does FSCE include verbal reasoning like GL?+
No. FSCE has no standalone verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers. GL includes them where the area chooses them.
Is CSSE harder than FSCE or GL?+
They are different rather than harder or easier. CSSE needs written working and timed writing, FSCE needs application and accurate shading, and GL needs speed on question types. Pass marks sit on different scales, so you can't compare them.
Can my child sit FSCE and CSSE in the same year?+
Yes. Chelmsford County High School for Girls uses FSCE and is not a CSSE member, so an Essex family can apply to CCHS and a CSSE school. In 2026, CCHS tested on 3 September and CSSE on 19 September, so check both sites for the 2027 dates.
Which test has creative writing?+
CSSE has continuous writing in its English paper. FSCE has a handwritten Creativity paper at Reading School and CCHS. The standard GL English paper has none.
Are there past papers for FSCE, GL and CSSE?+
FSCE does not authorise past papers or practice papers, only its guide. GL offers free familiarisation materials and CSSE publishes free familiarisation papers on csse.org.uk.
What is the CSSE pass mark?+
The minimum total standardised score for offers was 303 for 2027 entry. Individual schools often need more.
Which schools use FSCE for children sitting in 2027?+
The latest confirmed list (2027 entry) is Reading School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Heckmondwike Grammar, The Crossley Heath School, The North Halifax Grammar School, Skipton Girls' High School, Ermysted's Grammar School, Lancaster Girls' Grammar School, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith. For 2028 entry, the seven Gloucestershire grammars (test on 3 July 2027) and five Trafford grammars (test in September 2027) join too.
How do I prepare for two different 11+ tests?+
Build Year 5 English and maths first, then add a few weeks of practice in each test's answer style. Don't run two separate programmes.
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.