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A clear start to the CSSE test in Year 5

Choose your school, check the test your child needs and get a manageable plan for this term. This page is for September 2028 entry. Published dates and previous-cycle dates are labelled separately.

Get our four-week planCheck the official dates

Your child's entry year

This page

Year 5 now

September 2028 entry. Tests take place in 2027, with timing set by each school or area.

Year 6 now

September 2027 entry. See your results, application deadline and any remaining invited stage.

CSSE results and applications →

About the CSSE test

Preparing for CSSE? Start with the consortium's own material

Open the official papers and familiarisation guidance, then use our original practice for the skills you missed. Our questions are independent practice, not released CSSE papers.

Chelmsford County High is a separate test

Chelmsford County High School for Girls runs its own FSCE test with its own registration. It is not the CSSE test, and FSCE authorises no commercial practice papers.

Choose the right route

Schools near each other can use different tests. Pick the one your child will sit.

Dates

September 2028 entry Publication date announced

CSSE says dates for September 2028 entry will be published by Easter 2027.

Registration opens next year.

CSSE homepage
Last cycle's dates, for reference only
September 2027 entryDate
Registration12 May to 19 June 2026 last cycle
Test19 September 2026 last cycle
Results12 October 2026, after close of business last cycle

What the test covers

  • English: 60 minutes, plus 10 minutes' reading.

  • Maths: 60 minutes.

  • Mostly written answers. Applied Reasoning was removed from English from the September 2024 test.

Start free

Four weeks, one clear next step

An hour a week: two 15-minute skill sessions, two 10-minute reading sessions and a 10-minute review. Change the time to 30 or 90 minutes in the planner.

  • Skill, 15 min
  • Reading and words, 10 min
  • Parent review
  • Written answer, 10 min

  1. Week 160 min

    1. Skill · 15 minStarting check and first teaching stepTry a short set of questions together, then learn the first step of reading comprehension.CSSE (Essex): free first lesson →
    2. Skill · 15 minPractise the first stepA few more reading comprehension questions on the step you just learned.This week's reading session →
    3. Reading and words · 10 minRead togetherRead a short passage together and record unfamiliar words.Reading session 1 →
    4. Reading and words · 10 minRead together, second goRead a short passage together and record unfamiliar words.Reading session 2 →
    5. Parent review · 10 minPick one topicChoose the one topic to work on for the next three weeks.

  2. Week 260 min

    1. Skill · 15 minWorked practice on that topicWork through reading comprehension examples together. Say each step out loud.This week's reading session →
    2. Skill · 15 minMore worked practiceAnother worked example, then one your child leads.This week's reading session →
    3. Reading and words · 10 minUse five words in contextPut five new words into sentences of your child's own.Reading session 3 →
    4. Reading and words · 10 minUse five words in context, second goPut five new words into sentences of your child's own.Reading session 4 →
    5. Parent review · 10 minIdentify the method still needing helpFind the one step that still goes wrong.

  3. Week 360 min

    1. Skill · 15 minFresh questions on the skillNew reading comprehension questions your child has not seen. Let them try first.This week's reading session →
    2. Skill · 15 minA second fresh setMore new reading comprehension questions. Note any that still go wrong.This week's reading session →
    3. Reading and words · 10 minPassage and evidence questionAnswer a question, then point to the evidence in the passage.Reading session 5 →
    4. Written answer · 10 minModel answer and checklistWrite one short answer, then compare it with a model. Check three things: it answers the question, uses evidence and explains the point.See what a stronger written answer does →
    5. Parent review · 10 minReview the explanationAsk your child to explain the method back to you.

  4. Week 460 min

    1. Skill · 15 minShort mixed check and next lessonA short mixed set in English and maths, then the next lesson.This week's reading session →
    2. Skill · 15 minThe next lessonStart the next lesson, or revisit the step that went wrong.This week's reading session →
    3. Reading and words · 10 minRevisit words and passageRedo an earlier session. Which of its words does your child still remember?Reading session 1 again →
    4. Reading and words · 10 minRevisit words and passage, second goRedo an earlier session. Which of its words does your child still remember?Reading session 2 again →
    5. Parent review · 10 minChoose the next focusKeep the topic, or choose the next one.
Make it fit your week

The full course

What the course holds

  • 13 interactive lessons
  • 200 practice questions with worked methods
  • 2 full mocks

Essex Pro

List price: £249Offer price: £149

One payment, VAT included. Access until 31 December 2029.

See exactly what is included