Sutton SET 11+ Guide for Parents

What Is the Sutton SET?

The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test is a shared first-stage selection test used by six Sutton schools.

The SET is not the final admissions test for most Sutton selective grammar schools. For five of the schools, passing the SET means the child is eligible to sit a second-stage entrance examination. Greenshaw High School uses the SET outcome for its ability-place route and does not hold a second-stage entrance examination.

Passing the SET, or passing a second-stage test, does not automatically guarantee a school place. Parents must still complete the normal Local Authority Common Application Form and each school’s admissions and oversubscription criteria still apply.

Which Schools Use the Sutton SET?

The six participating schools in the Sutton SET group are:

SET Registration and School Applications

Parents only need to complete one online SET registration form, even if they are interested in more than one participating school.

The SET registration form also serves as the supplementary form for schools in the SET group. Parents must register within the official registration window for the relevant admissions year. Late registrations are not accepted.

Test registration is separate from the Local Authority Common Application Form. To be considered for a school place, parents must also name the relevant school on the Common Application Form in their true order of preference.

The school where a child sits the SET is only a test venue. It does not determine school preference and does not affect the final school allocation.

What Does the Sutton SET Assess?

The SET is made up of two multiple-choice papers:

• English
• Mathematics

The SET does not include Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning papers.

In practical preparation terms, pupils should build confidence across:

• English comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Careful reading of instructions
• Maths arithmetic
• Maths word problems
• Key Stage 2 number, measurement, geometry and data
• Multi-step problem solving
• Checking calculations
• Multiple-choice answer-sheet technique
• Working accurately under time pressure

Sutton SET Format

Each SET paper usually takes between 40 and 50 minutes, with a rest and toilet break between the two papers.

Candidates record their answers on a separate answer sheet. They normally fill in a lozenge-shaped answer option such as A, B, C, D or E, or a combination of options where instructed.

There is no negative marking in the SET papers. However, pupils still need to follow instructions carefully, especially for questions where more than one answer may be required.

Rough paper is not provided. Candidates may use additional space on the SET question papers for working out.

SET Scores and Results

SET scores are age-standardised. Age standardisation is used in selective entrance testing to take account of a child’s age within the school-year group.

It is the total SET score that determines whether the child has met the required standard. A stronger performance in one paper can compensate for a weaker performance in the other paper.

Each school may determine its own pass mark. If a child meets the required standard for any participating school, parents are normally told that the child has met the standard and, where applicable, is invited to second-stage testing. Detailed scores are not usually provided to children who meet the standard.

Second Stage for Boys’ Grammar Schools

Boys who pass the SET for Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School or Wilson’s School are invited to sit a shared second-stage entrance examination.

The shared boys’ second-stage test is common to all three schools, but each school applies its own criteria to determine whether a candidate is of selective ability.

The boys’ second-stage entrance examination consists of:

• English
• Mathematics

The papers are not multiple choice. They do not include Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning. Each paper is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour in length and is broadly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum.

The SET score may count towards the final entrance-test outcome, but each school can use its own admissions criteria and score-combination method. This means a boy may pass for one of the three schools but not another.

Second Stage for Girls’ Grammar Schools

Girls who pass the SET for Nonsuch High School for Girls or Wallington High School for Girls are invited to sit the Nonsuch and Wallington Second Stage Entrance Examination, commonly called the NWSSEE.

The NWSSEE is common to both girls’ grammar schools. Both the test and the criteria applied to be of selective ability are common to the two schools.

The NWSSEE consists of:

• English
• Mathematics

The NWSSEE papers are not multiple choice. Each paper lasts between 40 and 50 minutes. The NWSSEE does not include Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning, and current school information states that there is no English comprehension paper in the NWSSEE.

For girls’ second-stage preparation, pupils should practise written English accuracy, responding to the exact task set, Maths problem solving and clear working under timed conditions.

Greenshaw High School Ability Places

Greenshaw High School is different from the five Sutton grammar schools. It admits boys and girls and uses the SET outcome to determine which children may be eligible for its ability-place route.

Greenshaw High School does not hold a second-stage entrance examination. A child may still be eligible for a place at Greenshaw under other admissions criteria even if they do not meet the SET standard for an ability place.

Parents interested in Greenshaw should read the current Greenshaw admissions policy carefully and should still name the school on the Common Application Form if they wish to apply.

Access Arrangements, Pupil Premium and Test-Day Rules

If a child has special educational needs, a disability, medical needs or usual classroom test arrangements, parents must follow the SET access-arrangement process and provide evidence by the official deadline for the relevant admissions year.

There is no overseas provision for the SET. Children must be present at one of the participating school test centres to sit the test.

Pupil Premium and Free School Meals may form part of the oversubscription or testing arrangements for some SET schools. Parents should check each school’s admissions policy and complete any required Pupil Premium evidence process during registration.

Alternative test dates are limited. If a child is not fit to sit the test on the day, medical or other evidence is normally required.

Scholars Tutorial Preparation Route for Sutton SET

On the Scholars Tutorial platform, Sutton SET preparation should prioritise English, Maths, Maths word problems, SPAG, vocabulary and timed multiple-choice practice.

The Scholars Tutorial 11+ SET (Sutton) mock exams are the key mock route for Sutton SET preparation. They are designed for Sutton-style practice and should be prioritised before broader mixed 11+ mock sets when Sutton is the main target.

The Scholars Tutorial 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets can be useful if a child is preparing for several 11+ areas. For Sutton SET alone, the dedicated 11+ SET (Sutton) mocks, English, Maths, Maths Word Problems and SPAG should remain the priority.

Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning should be added only if the child is also preparing for another 11+ exam area that tests those subjects.

Scholars Tutorial Online Categories

Scholars Tutorial organises 11+ preparation into clear categories. For Sutton, the most relevant areas are English, Maths, Maths Word Problems, SPAG, Foundation and selected Advanced practice.

11+ Core Subjects

• 11+ English
• 11+ Maths
• 11+ Maths : Word Problems

11+ Mock Exams

• 11+ SET (Sutton) — the key Sutton-specific mock exam route for SET preparation.
• 11+ SPAG — useful for English accuracy, vocabulary and language confidence.
• 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE — useful only if the child is also preparing for broader mixed 11+ exam areas.

11+ Foundation

• 11+ Foundation English
• 11+ Foundation Maths

11+ Advanced

• 11+ Advanced English
• 11+ Advanced Maths
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB
• 11+ Advanced SPAG
• Creative Writing, especially for second-stage written English preparation where relevant

English Preparation for Sutton SET

The SET English paper is multiple choice and broadly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Strong reading accuracy, vocabulary and SPAG are essential.

Your child should practise:

• reading comprehension
• retrieving information from a passage
• inference
• vocabulary in context
• synonyms and antonyms
• spelling accuracy
• grammar and punctuation
• sentence structure
• proofreading
• careful reading of question wording
• multiple-choice answer selection

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:

• 11+ English
• 11+ SPAG
• 11+ Foundation English
• 11+ Advanced English
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB
• 11+ Advanced SPAG

Maths Preparation for Sutton SET

The SET Maths paper is multiple choice and broadly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Pupils need both fluency and problem-solving confidence.

Your child should practise:

• times tables and mental maths
• written addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• fractions
• decimals
• percentages
• ratio and proportion
• measurement and units
• area, perimeter and volume
• geometry and angles
• statistics and data handling
• number patterns
• word problems
• multi-step problem solving
• checking calculations carefully

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:

• 11+ Maths
• 11+ Maths : Word Problems
• 11+ Foundation Maths
• 11+ Advanced Maths

Second-Stage English Preparation

Second-stage English is different from the multiple-choice SET. The boys’ shared second-stage test and the girls’ NWSSEE use written English papers rather than multiple-choice papers.

Pupils should practise:

• responding directly to the exact task set
• writing clearly under time pressure
• planning quickly
• using accurate punctuation
• using varied sentence structure
• choosing precise vocabulary
• checking spelling and grammar
• avoiding memorised answers that do not fit the question

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include 11+ English, Creative Writing, 11+ SPAG, Advanced English, Advanced VOCAB and Advanced SPAG.

Second-Stage Maths Preparation

Second-stage Maths is not multiple choice. Pupils should practise setting out working clearly and solving multi-step problems under time pressure.

Pupils should practise:

• showing working methodically
• checking final answers
• multi-step word problems
• interpreting diagrams and tables
• using written calculations accurately
• working without relying on answer options
• handling unfamiliar problem-solving questions

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include 11+ Maths, 11+ Maths : Word Problems, Foundation Maths and Advanced Maths.

Should Sutton Pupils Practise VR or NVR?

For Sutton SET and the Sutton second-stage tests, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not core test areas in the current official descriptions.

VR and NVR practice may still be useful if the child is also preparing for another 11+ area such as Buckinghamshire, Bexley, Kent, Medway, Slough, West Midlands, Redbridge, Trafford or Wirral.

If Sutton is the only target area, preparation time is usually better spent on English, Maths, word problems, vocabulary, SPAG, written English and timed paper discipline.

Key Sutton Mock Sets on Scholars Tutorial

The most important mock-exam category for this route is 11+ Mock Exams → 11+ SET (Sutton).

These Sutton-specific mock sets should be used to build confidence with the style, timing and pressure of the Selective Eligibility Test. They are especially useful after the child has built foundations in English, Maths, Maths Word Problems and SPAG.

Sutton mock practice should be used alongside focused topic work:

• 11+ SET (Sutton) mock exams for Sutton-style exam practice
• 11+ English for comprehension, vocabulary and careful reading
• 11+ Maths for core calculation and problem-solving skills
• 11+ Maths : Word Problems for multi-step reasoning
• 11+ SPAG for spelling, punctuation, grammar and language accuracy
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB for stronger vocabulary development

Broader mixed mock sets can be useful for families preparing for several exam regions, but Sutton-focused preparation should not miss the dedicated 11+ SET (Sutton) mock exam category.

Printed Paper Sets for Sutton SET Preparation

Printed paper sets are useful because they help pupils practise concentration, timing, answer selection and full-paper discipline.

Useful Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets include:

• 11+ Sutton Style English Practice Papers
• 11+ English Practice Papers
• 11+ Maths Practice Papers
• 11+ Maths : Word Problems Practice Papers
• 11+ SPAG Practice Papers
• 11+ Foundation English Practice Papers
• 11+ Foundation Maths Practice Papers
• 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers
• 11+ Advanced Maths Practice Papers
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers
• 11+ Advanced SPAG Practice Papers
• Creative Writing practice, especially for second-stage preparation

11+ Sutton Style English Practice Papers are especially useful for Sutton preparation because Sutton-style English practice includes two reading passages, questions on both passages and comparison-style questions.

For Sutton preparation, prioritise 11+ SET (Sutton) mock exams, Sutton Style English, English, Maths, Maths Word Problems and SPAG. Add mixed, VR or NVR papers only if the child is also preparing for other 11+ routes.

Multiple Choice Format and Answer Technique

The SET first stage is multiple choice, so answer-sheet technique matters.

Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets support Multiple Choice Format practice.

This helps pupils learn how to:

• read each question carefully
• identify key information
• use question-paper space for rough working
• eliminate incorrect options where appropriate
• avoid rushing
• check calculations and reading choices
• fill in answer options accurately
• rub out changed answers fully
• manage time across English and Maths papers

Suggested Weekly Sutton SET Preparation Plan

A balanced weekly SET preparation plan could include:

• 2 days per week: English comprehension, vocabulary or SPAG
• 2 days per week: Maths arithmetic or topic practice
• 1 day per week: Maths word problems
• 1 day per week: printed multiple-choice English or Maths practice
• 1 day per week: mistake review and weak-topic revision

If the child is likely to sit a second-stage test, gradually add written English and non-multiple-choice Maths practice.

Common Sutton SET Preparation Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes:

• assuming the SET includes Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning
• preparing only for multiple choice and forgetting second-stage written papers
• ignoring vocabulary, SPAG and careful reading
• practising Maths arithmetic but not word problems
• doing papers without reviewing mistakes
• not practising answer-sheet technique for the SET
• starting timed work before the child understands the question types
• focusing only on speed instead of accuracy
• missing the SET registration window or access-arrangement deadline
• thinking the SET venue is linked to school preference
• forgetting that CAF application is separate from SET registration
• assuming passing a test guarantees a place

How Parents Can Support at Home

Parents can make Sutton SET preparation more effective by keeping it focused on the correct subjects and by understanding the two-stage structure.

Helpful habits include:

• check the latest SET registration and admissions information
• register once for the SET during the official window
• complete the Local Authority Common Application Form separately
• read each target school’s admissions policy
• build English accuracy through reading, vocabulary and SPAG
• build Maths fluency through regular practice
• practise word problems every week
• use printed papers for timed discipline
• review mistakes carefully after each test
• add written English and non-multiple-choice Maths for second-stage preparation
• check access-arrangement needs early
• focus on confidence as well as scores

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Advice

Sutton SET preparation should focus on the actual first-stage test areas: English and Mathematics.

Pupils should build strong reading comprehension, vocabulary, SPAG, Maths, word-problem and multiple-choice answer-sheet skills, supported by regular mistake review.

Parents should also understand the second-stage routes. Greenshaw High School uses SET for ability places and has no second stage. The five Sutton grammar schools require candidates who pass the SET to sit a second-stage test in English and Maths.

The Scholars Tutorial online platform helps pupils strengthen the key test areas through organised subject categories, while the dedicated 11+ SET (Sutton) mock exams and printed paper sets help children practise with realistic exam discipline.

By combining online practice, printed paper sets, timed English and Maths work, written second-stage practice where needed, careful mistake review and up-to-date admissions checking, pupils can build the confidence and accuracy needed for the Sutton SET and Sutton second-stage tests.