The seven Gloucestershire grammar schools move to the FSCE test for entry in September 2028, with the test on Saturday 3 July 2027 (Year 5). There are three papers of 45 to 60 minutes, all machine marked: Adventure (English and maths, multiple choice), Beacon (English and maths, short answers written one letter or digit to a box) and Compass (multiple choice questions on the other Key Stage 2 subjects, which every child sits; Prism does not practise this paper). Children applying for September 2027 sat the earlier GL test. FSCE publishes no past papers and no paper lengths, so Prism practises the English and maths at the core of the test in papers of our own length. There is no non-verbal reasoning.
At a glance
Subjects
Maths and English
Answers
Multiple choice and written answers
Usually held
July of Year 5
Set by
FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise)
Schools
7
The papers
Stage
Paper
How it is answered
Prism practice paper
Test day
Adventure (multiple choice)
Multiple choice
40 questions, 50 minutes
Test day
Beacon (short answers)
Multiple choice and written answers
30 questions, 50 minutes
Test setters rarely publish how many questions a paper has, so the question counts are the length of Prism’s practice papers; timings follow the setter’s published guidance where there is any. Arrangements change from year to year: always check them with the school or local authority.
How to prepare for the FSCE Glos
The FSCE test (Gloucestershire, July of Year 5) covers maths and English. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in July.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
Some answers are written, not chosen, so practise without options to fall back on: write the number or the words yourself, show the working where the paper asks for it, and check each answer against the question.
In 2,002,183, what is the value of the digit in position 4 from the left?
The digit is 2.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, 2,000
How to work it out
Count the columns from the right: the 2 sits in the 1,000s column, so it is worth 2,000.
Why the other options are wrong
B (200): Ten times too small: this is the value one column to the right of the 2.
C (1,999): This is 1 less than the correct answer, so the last step of the working is out by one.
D (2): This is only the digit itself; its worth depends on the column it sits in.
E (20,000): Ten times too big: you counted one column too far to the left.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Rearrange the words to make a sentence. Which word is not needed?
a on the beach sandcastle the children cooked built
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, cooked
How to work it out
The sentence is: “The children built a sandcastle on the beach.” “cooked” has no place in it.
Why the other options are wrong
A (children): The sentence needs “children”. Without it you would be left with “The built a sandcastle on the beach.”
B (built): The sentence needs “built”. Without it you would be left with “The children a sandcastle on the beach.”
C (beach): The sentence needs “beach”. Without it you would be left with “The children built a sandcastle on the.”
D (sandcastle): The sentence needs “sandcastle”. Without it you would be left with “The children built a on the beach.”
Questions parents ask
What subjects are in the FSCE Glos?
The FSCE Glos tests maths and English.
When is the FSCE Glos?
The main test usually takes place in July of Year 5. Dates change each year, so always confirm them with the school or local authority.
How should my child prepare for the FSCE Glos?
Build the core skills in Year 4 and 5, learn each question type, then practise timed papers in the FSCE Glos format. Prism builds this plan automatically from a free starting assessment.
Find out where your child stands today
Practise straight away at your child’s school year in maths and English, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning for the 11 Plus, and every answer explained. A free check, whenever you like, shows what to practise next and builds a weekly plan, for their year or for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.