To provide a phenol resin composition for shell molding having mold strength practically free from troubles even if hexamethylenetetramine as a curing agent is reduced for reducing the emitting amount of formaldehyde in order to improve working environment and whose curing speed is high, and to provide a resin-coated sand for shell molding.

The novolac type phenol resin composition for shell molding contains a novolac type phenol resin, an aromatic carboxylic acid and a polyethylene glycol, wherein the aromatic carboxylic acid is contained by 0.1 to 8 pts.wt. and the polyethylene glycol is contained by 0.5 to 8 pts.wt. based on 100 pts.wt. of the novolac type phenol resin. The resin-coated sand for shell molding is obtained by kneading a refractory granular material and the above resin composition.