FSCE 11+ Test Guide
Nineteen printable pages for parents of Year 4 and Year 5 children sitting the FSCE test: which version your school uses, what to make secure in maths and English, the other subjects and creative writing, a month by month plan and a weekly tracker.
About this guide
By the end of this guide you can prepare your child for the FSCE 11+ test with a clear, calm plan, without guessing and without piles of practice papers. It explains what the FSCE test really is, which version your school uses, and what to do each week until test day.
Nineteen printable pages for parents of children in Year 4 or Year 5, written for any grammar school that uses the FSCE test and for any entry year. Every fact about the tests was checked against the official FSCE and school documents in October 2026.
What is inside
- Which version your school uses. A table of every FSCE school, from Gloucestershire and Trafford to Reading, Chelmsford, Heckmondwike, Halifax, Skipton, Lancaster, Clitheroe and Penrith, showing whether it tests English and maths only, adds creative writing, or includes other primary subjects too, and when it holds the test.
- The papers explained. Adventure, Beacon, Compass and Discovery, how children answer on the answer sheet, and what the official sample questions are really testing.
- Maths and English checklists. The Year 5 skills to make secure, the grammar FSCE lists, and optional extension topics.
- Creative writing. How the creative task is planned, written and judged, the kinds of prompt children get, and a weekly practice routine.
- The other primary subjects. A tick-box checklist and a 15-minute activity for science, history, geography, computing, design and technology, music, art, languages and PE.
- A month by month plan and a typical week. A daily routine that builds from 20 minutes to two 40-minute sessions a day by Easter, with timed sample and example papers in the last two months, for July and September test dates.
- Test-day technique and a weekly tracker. The rules, how to answer, timed papers and a full rehearsal, help for anxious children, and a page to print and fill in every Sunday.
FSCE says children need no tutoring for this test, and I agree with more of that than you might expect. This guide is written so a parent can do it at home, and it shows you how to use the free familiarisation guides each school publishes.
Want maths lessons alongside the guide? The FSCE 11+ Maths Bundle puts 54 interactive lessons on one page, starting with the Year 5 work.
Want a teacher alongside the guide? See 11+ tuition for the Heckmondwike, Halifax and Skipton grammar schools.
This is an independent guide. It is not produced or endorsed by FSCE or any school.
Built by an experienced maths teacher with over 3,000 hours of one-to-one tutoring experience and a Master's in Education.
£4.99. Instant download, one printable PDF, 19 pages.
Refunds: this is a digital product delivered instantly, so it cannot be returned or refunded once the link has been opened. If you have any trouble getting in, email info@shlc-tutor.co.uk and we will sort it out.
Who this is for
Parents of children in Year 4 or Year 5 applying to any grammar school that uses the FSCE test, including the Gloucestershire and Trafford grammar schools, Reading School, Chelmsford County High, Heckmondwike, the Halifax schools, Ermysted's, Skipton Girls', Lancaster Girls', Clitheroe and QEGS Penrith. It is written for a parent preparing at home, and it works for any entry year.
What's included
Which version does your school use?
A table of every FSCE school, showing whether it tests English and maths only, adds creative writing, or covers every primary subject, with test dates.
The papers, explained
Adventure, Beacon, Compass and Discovery, how children answer on the answer sheet, and what the official sample questions are really testing.
Maths and English checklists
The Year 5 skills to make secure, the grammar FSCE lists, spelling for the letter boxes, and optional extension topics.
Creative writing
How the creative task is planned, written and judged, the five kinds of prompt, and a six step weekly routine.
Every other primary subject
Tick box checklists for science, history, geography, computing, design and technology, music, art, languages and PE, with a 15 minute idea for each.
The plan, the week and the tracker
Month by month to a July or September test, a daily routine that builds from 20 minutes to two 40 minute sessions by Easter, timed papers in the last two months, test day rules and a tracker to fill in every Sunday.
How it works
Find your school on page 4
It tells you which chapters apply to you, so you only read what you need.
Print your school's free FSCE guides
The guide shows you how to use them, including the sample questions and answer sheets.
Run the checklists once
Tick what your child can already do. The gaps become your first few weeks.
Start with 20 minutes every day
Or two 20 minute sessions every other day, with the same four parts every time. Build up to two 40 minute sessions a day by Easter.
Fill in the tracker every Sunday
One row, one minute. It shows what is getting quicker and how your child is feeling.
Start timed papers two months out
Two or three timed sample and example papers a week on answer sheets, then one full rehearsal with the official sample audio.
What parents say
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FAQs
Which schools is this for?
Every grammar school that uses the FSCE test: the seven Gloucestershire grammar schools, the five Trafford grammar schools, Reading School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Heckmondwike, Crossley Heath, North Halifax, Ermysted's, Skipton Girls', Lancaster Girls', Clitheroe Royal Grammar and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith.
Is this an official FSCE resource?
No. It is an independent guide, not produced or endorsed by FSCE or any school. FSCE's own familiarisation guides are free on each school's website, and this guide shows you how to use them alongside a plan.
Does it include practice papers?
No. FSCE writes new questions every year and publishes no past papers, so any paper sold as "FSCE style" is a guess. This guide focuses on the school skills the test is built on, and on how to practise the format with the official samples.
FSCE says no preparation is needed. Why buy this?
FSCE is right that the content is ordinary school work. This guide helps you check that work is secure, practise the answer format, and keep preparation short and calm. It is written so a parent can do it at home.
Which entry year is it for?
Any. The plan, the checklists, the daily routine and the test technique work whatever year your child applies. The school by school table and dates were checked in October 2026, and FSCE changes its tests every year, so the guide shows you where to check your own school's current details.
What do I get?
One printable PDF of 19 pages, downloadable straight after purchase, including a weekly tracker page to photocopy.
Ready to start?
Instant download, one printable PDF, 19 pages
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