11 Plus Exam Format 2026: FSCE Explained for Parents

From September 2025, some grammar schools will no longer be using the familiar GL or CEM entrance tests. Instead, they have moved to the FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) exam – a format designed by grammar schools themselves to assess pupils in a broader, more skills-focused way.

For families preparing for the 11 plus, this is an important development. The exam your child faces may look different to the one taken by their siblings, neighbours, or friends just a few years ago.

At 11 Plus London, we want you to be fully informed about these changes and reassured that our tailored programmes already account for this new format.

What Is the FSCE Exam?

The FSCE exam is built around the Key Stage 2 national curriculum up to the end of Year 5. Its purpose is to assess how well children can apply their knowledge, not simply recall it.

The structure is made up of four papers:

Adventure Paper – multiple-choice questions across core curriculum subjects such as English, maths, science, geography and history.
Beacon Paper – short written responses that test precision and clarity of thought.
Compass Paper – another multiple-choice paper, but with a different structure and focus.
Discovery Paper – a creative written task designed to explore original thinking and problem-solving.

This balance of multiple-choice and written answers, along with the explicit focus on creativity, makes FSCE distinct from traditional 11 plus formats.

Which Schools Are Using FSCE?

The following grammar schools are currently using FSCE for Year 7 entry:

Reading School (Berkshire)
Chelmsford County High School for Girls (Essex)
Colyton Grammar School (Devon)
Heckmondwike Grammar School (West Yorkshire)
The North Halifax Grammar School (West Yorkshire)
The Crossley Heath School (West Yorkshire)
Skipton Girls’ High School (North Yorkshire)
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School (Lancashire)

With several joining in the past two years alone, it is likely that more grammar schools, including in London and the South East, may follow this path.

How Does FSCE Differ From GL and CEM?

GL Assessment – the most common provider, with separate subject papers in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Practice materials are widely available.
CEM (Durham University) – known for mixed papers with a strong vocabulary focus, but now largely withdrawn from paper-based grammar school exams.
FSCE – combines English and maths in integrated papers, adds short written responses, and uniquely includes a creative writing element. No past papers are published, and the format is designed to change each year.

The result is an exam that rewards adaptability, clear thinking, and creativity — qualities that grammar schools value highly.

Why the Change?

Grammar schools adopting FSCE have spoken openly about their reasons. They want to:

Reduce the effect of intensive tutoring and drilling.
Ensure fairness by only testing material taught by Year 5.
Select pupils who show not only knowledge, but also the ability to apply it in new situations.

This is why FSCE deliberately feels less predictable. The aim is to identify children who can think critically, problem-solve, and express themselves clearly — all qualities that will help them flourish in secondary school and beyond.

Our Approach at 11 Plus London

At 11 Plus London, we take changes like this seriously. We are already:

Training our tutors in the FSCE format.
Developing a dedicated FSCE preparation programme for 2026 entry onwards.
Tailoring resources to cover each of the four papers, including the creative Discovery Paper.

Our philosophy is bespoke yet holistic. We prepare each child individually, but with a focus on developing the broader skills — confidence, adaptability, creativity — that FSCE is designed to test.

We don’t believe preparation should be stressful. With the right support, children can approach this new format calmly, equipped with both knowledge and the mindset to succeed.