11+ test provider guide
What is the FSCE 11+ test? Format, subjects and familiarisation
FSCE's English, maths and creative-writing 11+ test, why it has no past papers, and the grammar school areas that use it now or from 2028 entry.
Provider guidance, not a local test specification
At a glance
Facts checked
- Subjects
- English, mathematics and creative writing. FSCE does not test non-verbal reasoning.
- Source: Future Stories Community Enterprise
- Curriculum
- Questions draw on the Key Stage 2 curriculum up to the end of Year 5.
- Source: Future Stories Community Enterprise
- Question formats
- One paper is multiple choice; the other asks for short written answers.
- Source: Future Stories Community Enterprise
- Past papers
- FSCE says there are no past papers or approved resources. Schools publish its familiarisation guide.
- Source: Future Stories Community Enterprise
- Gloucestershire from 2028 entry
- The Gloucestershire grammar schools use FSCE for the September 2028 intake.
- Source: Gloucestershire County Council
- Trafford from 2028 entry
- The Trafford Grammar School Consortium moves to FSCE for September 2028 entry.
- Source: Stretford Grammar School
Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) designs 11+ entrance tests for state grammar schools based on Key Stage 2 curriculum content up to the end of Year 5. Its overview covers English, mathematics and creative writing, and states that non-verbal reasoning is not tested because it is not part of the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum.[1]
What the papers look like
FSCE’s test overview describes two papers plus a creative-writing response:[1]
- one multiple-choice paper where children choose from several options;
- one constrained-response paper where children fill in boxes with letters or numbers; and
- a creative-writing task with dedicated thinking and planning time before writing begins.[1]
Results are age-standardised so children are compared fairly across birth months.[1] FSCE states that there are no past papers or approved commercial resources; instead, each grammar school publishes an official familiarisation guide showing the layout and answer sheets.[1]
North Halifax Grammar School notes that test content changes each year, so the familiarisation guide is not a definitive paper, and that creative writing is assessed for candidates who reach the required standard in the English and maths papers.[2] The Halifax grammar schools guide describes how that shared test runs locally.
Areas moving to FSCE for September 2028 entry
Two grammar school consortia have announced a move from GL Assessment to FSCE for September 2028 entry:
- Gloucestershire: the seven Gloucestershire grammar schools will use FSCE for the September 2028 intake.[3] See the Gloucestershire grammar schools guide.
- Trafford: the Trafford Grammar School Consortium has appointed FSCE as its admissions test provider for Year 7 entry from September 2028 onwards.[4] See the Trafford Grammar School Consortium guide.
Current GL Assessment familiarisation in those areas describes the September 2027 entry cycle, not the future FSCE tests. Check your target school’s website for the familiarisation guide that matches your child’s entry year.
Choose relevant practice without pretending it is the real test
Plusling practice uses original questions written for Plusling. It covers core English and Mathematics skills with step-by-step explanations, and it does not mark creative writing or reproduce an FSCE paper. Pair steady primary-school reading and maths fluency with your school’s official familiarisation guide.
Shared 11+ tests that use this provider
Each shared-test guide explains the subjects, official familiarisation and participating schools.
School guides that name this provider
Each school sets its own admissions process. Check the school's current page for dates and any extra assessments.
What still needs a local check
- Which papers and timings your school's FSCE test uses this year.
- How the school uses the creative-writing task.
- Registration dates, the test date and access arrangements for your child's entry year.
- Whether the familiarisation guide has changed since this page was checked.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FSCE 11+ test?
FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) writes 11+ tests for grammar schools. They cover English, mathematics and creative writing, using Key Stage 2 content up to the end of Year 5.
Does the FSCE test include non-verbal reasoning?
No. FSCE says non-verbal reasoning is not part of its test because it is not on the Key Stage 2 curriculum.
Are there FSCE past papers?
FSCE says there are no past papers or approved resources. Each school that uses FSCE publishes a familiarisation guide showing what the test looks like and how answers are recorded.
How should my child prepare for an FSCE test?
North Halifax Grammar School suggests reading widely, practising maths fluency and building calm confidence, and says specialist tutoring is not needed. Use your school's familiarisation guide to see the format.
Primary sources
- FSCE test overview Future Stories Community Enterprise
- FSCE test format and preparation advice North Halifax Grammar School
- Grammar schools | Gloucestershire County Council Gloucestershire County Council
- Trafford Consortium FSCE announcement for 2028 entry Stretford Grammar School
