Table of contents
- What is the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET)?
- Practice tests for 2026 SET exams
- Dates and application information 2026
- Useful links
- The Sutton SET format
- Sutton Stage Two Test
- Practice tests for 2026 Stage Two Sutton exams
- Sutton SET top tips for your child
- How to prepare for the 2026 SET exam
What is the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET)?
The Selective Eligibility Test (SET) is the first-round entrance test used by the following schools in the Sutton area:
- Sutton Grammar School
- Wallington County Grammar School
- Wallington High School for Girls
- Greenshaw High School
- Wilson’s School
- Nonsuch High School for Girls
The test consists of a Maths and English paper, both lasting between 40 – 50 minutes. Both are multiple-choice, and candidates must mark answers on separate answer sheets. The Maths and English skills and topics your child needs to practise are similar to other 11+ exams, but the SET has a unique style and structure which you should familiarise your child with if you plan on applying to one of the six schools above. These schools are highly competitive, so your child will need to score highly in the SET to get through to the second stage.
If your child passes the SET, they will be invited to sit a second-round exam a couple weeks after the first exam. The exception to this is Greenshaw High School which does not have a second-round exam this year, so they will offer places based solely on children’s results in the SET. Make sure you check individual schools’ websites for the dates of their second-round exams and their admissions criteria.
Practice tests for 2026 SET exams
Dates and application information 2026
Year 6 students sit the test in September. Registration opens earlier in the year, so make sure you check the websites of your schools of choice so that you do not miss the deadline.
Application process:
- Register for the SET
- Sit the SET
- If successful in the SET, sit a second-round exam (with the exception of Greenshaw High School)
- Complete a CAF (Common Application Form) for secondary schools and submit it via your local authority
Dates for 2027 entry
Registration for testing opens via school’s website: early May 2026
Registration closes: early August 2026
Selective Eligibility Test: September 2026
Second-Stage Test: October 2026
National offer day: early March 2027
Useful links
Free sample questions
Free sample questions and multiple choice sheet examples are available from individual school websites or from our page here: Free 11+ Selective Eligibility Test (SET) Sample Papers (PDF)
The Sutton SET format
The Selective Eligibility Test (SET) is made up of two papers: Mathematics and English.
The two papers both last about 40 – 50 minutes. They are multiple-choice and have a separate answer sheet where candidates must mark their answers.
Mathematics
The Mathematics test contains about 50 multiple-choice questions. The test covers key aspects of the KS2 maths National Curriculum.
A rough guide to topics covered:
- Arithmetic – operations, number properties, decimals, BIDMAS
- Algebra, simple linear equations
- Fractions and Percentages
- Measurements – unit conversions, area and volume
- Graphs – Venn diagrams, line graphs, pie charts, pictograms
- Statistics – mean, median, mode, range
- Geometry – 2D shapes, angles, coordinates
- Word questions
English
This test is divided into sections:
- Spelling
- Comprehension on text A
- Comprehension on test B
- Comprehension comparison on texts A and B
These comprehension questions will test your child’s understanding of the passages, ability to make inferences, understanding of a writer’s style and tone, knowledge of literary devices, vocabulary knowledge, and grammar.
Sutton Stage Two Test
All grammar schools in Sutton except for Greenshaw High School hold a second-stage test.
Because the admissions criteria differ between schools, children may be considered for the second-stage test at certain schools but not others.
What's on the Stage Two test?
The second-stage test will consist of two papers as follows:
- English (1 hour): this paper will be an extended writing task, usually based on a prompt
- Maths (45 minutes): this will be a standard maths paper.
The tests will not include verbal or non-verbal reasoning, and are not multiple choice.
Practice tests for 2026 Stage Two Sutton exams
Sutton SET top tips for your child
- For Maths, make sure you are familiar and confident with the KS2 Maths syllabus, as this is what the questions will be based on.
- This is especially important for the SET since the SET is a challenging entrance exam. You will need to apply your knowledge of KS2 Maths to unfamiliar situations.
- Read the questions carefully! Just because the questions are multiple-choice, it doesn’t mean they are easy.
- In the comprehension section, there is often more than one option which looks as though it could be correct, OR you may have to select more than one answer. Make sure you follow the instructions and don’t fall for red herrings!
- Pay attention to the time! As with any exam, time management is key, but it is especially important in the SET English paper since this is made up of multiple sections.
- Read and listen to any instructions about timings carefully.
- Don’t leave any blanks! It is always worth filling in an answer, even if you are unsure.
- Move on if you are stuck. The SET paper is time-pressured, so it is important not to spend too long on one question. You should aim to answer every question, but don’t worry if you have to guess a couple.
How to prepare for the 2026 SET exam
The most useful way to prepare is to do practice papers. This will help to familiarise your child with the style of the exam and the sorts of questions which appear, and also give them practice at completing the papers under time pressure.
For expert practice papers updated to reflect the latest version of the SET format, have a look at the papers in our shop. We include answers for all of our papers and step-by-step explanations for the Maths questions.
Free GL Assessment style Maths paper
Get a full free Maths paper, written in the GL style by our in-house team, with answers included. We'll email it straight to you.
More to explore
Not sure which papers match your child's school?
Find your school's papers