Questions parents ask
Frequently asked questions
Which schools use the FSCE test?
21 grammar schools across 8 counties set it or have announced they will, from Cumbria to Essex, including the Trafford and Gloucestershire consortiums. The format is not identical at all of them. This site is independent of every one of them.
What is in the test?
Paper 1 is 45 minutes of multiple choice: word meanings, a reading comprehension and maths. Paper 2 is 35 minutes of written answers: missing letters, then maths in digit boxes. Paper 3 is a creative writing task with 5 minutes to plan and 15 to write.
Are these real past papers?
No, and you should be wary of any site that claims to sell them. Every question here is written from scratch to match the published format, difficulty and timings. Passages are either written for the site or out-of-copyright classics, credited beneath each one. Real papers are not released.
What level is the maths?
Key Stage 2, around Year 5 and Year 6: place value, fractions, decimals and percentages, measures and time, shape, simple sequences and multi-step word problems.
Can I use this for more than one child?
Yes. Add each child and their scores and topic breakdowns are tracked separately on one subscription.
Do I need to sit with my child?
Not for the timed papers, which mark themselves. The creative writing paper ends with a checklist meant to be gone through together, because writing is judged by a person rather than scored.
How do I cancel?
From your account page, at any time. You keep access until the end of the month you have paid for.