Sutton SET 11+ Guide: Exam Format, Dates and Preparation
Last reviewed: 29 July 2026
For families considering a selective school in Sutton, the admissions process can initially feel like an obstacle course of registrations, tests, results and deadlines. The Selective Eligibility Test—usually shortened to the SET—is the first important step.
This guide explains which schools use the Sutton SET, what the test contains, the key dates for September 2027 entry and how families can approach preparation in a structured and sustainable way.
Important: Test arrangements and admissions policies can change from year to year. Always check the participating schools’ official websites before registering or making application decisions.
What is the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test?
The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test is a shared entrance test used by six state secondary schools in the London Borough of Sutton.
The participating schools are:
Greenshaw High School
Nonsuch High School for Girls
Sutton Grammar School
Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington High School for Girls
Wilson’s School
Children take the SET while they are in Year 6 as part of the admissions process for entry to Year 7 the following September.
For five of the participating schools, passing the SET allows a child to progress to a second-stage entrance examination. Greenshaw High School uses the SET result when determining eligibility for its 60 ability places and does not hold a second-stage entrance examination.
Sutton SET key dates for September 2027 entry
Applying for September 2027 entry? SET registration closes at midnight on 31 July 2026.
The published dates for the current admissions cycle are:
1 May 2026 — SET registration opened
12 June 2026 — Access arrangements request deadline
31 July 2026 at midnight — SET registration deadline
15 September 2026 — Selective Eligibility Test
26 September 2026 — Girls’ second-stage examination
3 October 2026 — Boys’ shared second-stage examination
31 October 2026 — Common Application Form deadline
1 March 2027 — National Offer Day
Parents only need to complete the shared SET registration form once, even if they are considering more than one participating school.
However, registering for the SET is not the same as applying for a secondary-school place. Families must also complete their home local authority’s Common Application Form, known as the CAF, by the relevant deadline.
The participating schools state that late SET registrations will not be accepted. Families requiring access arrangements must follow the separate process and earlier evidence deadline.
Full current information is available from the participating schools’ official SET guidance and Year 7 application information.
Which children can take the SET?
For September 2027 entry, the SET is intended for children who will be in Year 6 when the test takes place in September 2026. The expected date-of-birth range is 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016.
A child cannot take the SET early as a practice exercise, and candidates may only sit the test once.
Families whose child is being educated outside their usual chronological year group should contact the SET administrator and consult the individual schools’ admissions policies before registering.
What is in the Sutton SET?
The SET consists of two multiple-choice papers:
English
Mathematics
Each paper lasts approximately 40 to 50 minutes, with a rest and toilet break between the two tests.
Both papers are broadly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. The SET does not include separate verbal-reasoning or non-verbal-reasoning papers.
Candidates record their responses on a separate answer sheet. This means that preparation should cover not only academic knowledge, but also careful answer-sheet technique, time management and the ability to maintain concentration under timed conditions.
The participating schools provide examples of the types of English and mathematics questions that may appear, but they do not publish complete specimen papers. See the schools’ official SET frequently asked questions for the latest format information and sample-question links.
Is there negative marking?
There is no negative marking in the SET papers.
Nevertheless, children should read each instruction carefully. Some English questions may require more than one answer, and marks can depend on selecting the correct combination of options.
Practising the habit of pausing to check exactly what a question requires can therefore be just as important as working quickly.
Are calculators permitted?
No. Calculators and calculator watches are not permitted in the Sutton SET.
Candidates must rely on secure number knowledge, written methods, estimation and efficient mental arithmetic. Rough paper is not supplied, although children may use available space in their question papers for working.
The official guidance also prohibits mobile phones, smartwatches, dictionaries and stationery displaying times tables or other reference information.
What happens after the SET?
The next step depends on the school and the child’s SET outcome.
Sutton grammar schools for boys
Boys who meet the required SET standard may be invited to a shared second-stage examination used by:
Sutton Grammar School
Wallington County Grammar School
Wilson’s School
For September 2027 entry, this examination is scheduled for Saturday 3 October 2026.
The shared second-stage examination contains English and mathematics papers. These are not multiple choice and each paper lasts approximately 45 minutes to one hour.
Although the boys sit one shared examination, each school applies its own admissions criteria and method of combining the SET and second-stage results. A candidate may therefore meet the required standard for one school but not another.
Sutton grammar schools for girls
Girls who meet the required SET standard may be invited to the joint second-stage examination used by:
Nonsuch High School for Girls
Wallington High School for Girls
For September 2027 entry, this examination is scheduled for Saturday 26 September 2026.
Families should check the two schools’ current admissions arrangements for the detailed examination and scoring requirements.
Greenshaw High School
Greenshaw High School uses the SET to determine which children may be eligible for one of its 60 ability places. It does not require a second-stage entrance examination.
Children who do not meet the SET standard for an ability place may still be considered for Greenshaw under the school’s other admissions criteria.
Does passing the Sutton SET guarantee a school place?
No. Passing the SET—or a subsequent second-stage examination—does not guarantee that a child will receive an offer.
The SET determines whether a child meets the required academic standard for consideration under the relevant school’s admissions arrangements. Final offers also depend on factors including:
The individual school’s admissions criteria
The child’s examination outcome or rank
The number of available places
Other applicable priority criteria
The order of schools listed on the CAF
Parents should read each target school’s admissions policy carefully and list schools on the CAF in their genuine order of preference.
How are Sutton SET results calculated?
The English and mathematics scores are combined, and it is the total score that determines whether a child has met the required SET standard. A stronger performance in one paper may therefore compensate for a weaker performance in the other.
Scores are also age-standardised. This is intended to account for differences in age between children born at different points in the academic year.
Pass marks cannot be confirmed before the examination. Each participating school may determine its own pass mark after the papers have been marked, so meeting the standard for one school does not necessarily mean meeting it for every participating school.
For schools requiring a second-stage examination, the SET score may also contribute to the final assessment. The precise calculation varies by school and should be checked in the relevant admissions policy.
When should Sutton SET preparation begin?
There is no single starting date that suits every child.
A strong preparation plan should reflect the child’s:
Current English and mathematics level
Year group
Confidence and learning habits
Target schools
Available preparation time
Areas of strength and difficulty
For children in Years 3 and 4, the priority is usually to establish secure foundations: confident arithmetic, mathematical reasoning, reading comprehension, vocabulary and careful working habits.
As children move through Year 5, preparation can become more closely aligned with the SET format. Timed exercises, multiple-choice technique and focused practice can be introduced gradually once the underlying knowledge is sufficiently secure.
Beginning earlier does not need to mean completing full examination papers every week. Consistent, age-appropriate practice is generally more valuable than an intense burst of last-minute preparation.
What should an effective preparation plan include?
1. Secure the underlying knowledge
Timed practice is unlikely to solve gaps in basic understanding. Children should first become confident with the relevant English and mathematics concepts before being expected to apply them quickly.
2. Develop calculation fluency
Because calculators are not permitted, children need reliable written methods and efficient mental strategies. Regular short practice can help build accuracy without making every session feel like a miniature exam.
3. Build reading stamina
Children should become comfortable reading unfamiliar material, identifying important details and distinguishing between plausible answer choices.
Regular independent reading can also support vocabulary, comprehension and familiarity with different writing styles.
4. Introduce multiple-choice technique
Children should practise:
Reading instructions precisely
Eliminating clearly incorrect answers
Transferring answers accurately
Correcting an answer cleanly
Avoiding accidental unanswered questions
Moving on when a question is taking too long
5. Review mistakes properly
A completed practice paper is only the beginning. Children should understand why an answer was incorrect and identify whether the difficulty came from:
A knowledge gap
A misunderstood question
A calculation error
Rushing
Poor time management
Incorrect answer-sheet technique
This turns mistakes into useful information rather than another discouraging score.
6. Build timed practice gradually
Timed work should be introduced progressively. Starting with shorter activities allows children to develop pace and concentration before attempting full-length papers.
7. Protect confidence and wellbeing
Preparation should be challenging, but it should not make a child feel that every worksheet predicts their future.
A calm routine, achievable goals and regular encouragement help children approach the examination with greater independence and resilience.
Not sure where your child should begin?
Asterclass offers a short 11+ Readiness Check to help families consider their child’s current stage and identify a suitable starting point.
Complete the 11+ Readiness Check
The result is intended as general guidance rather than a formal academic assessment or prediction of examination performance.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sutton SET the same as the 11+?
The term “11+” describes selective entrance examinations more generally. The Sutton SET is the shared first-stage entrance test used by the six participating Sutton schools.
Other regions and schools may use different examination formats, subjects and admissions procedures.
Do children sit the SET at their preferred school?
Not necessarily. Candidates are allocated a test centre, and families cannot request a particular venue or session.
The allocated test centre does not affect which participating schools a family may later choose to place on the CAF.
Can my child sit the SET as a practice test?
No. The participating schools state that the SET is only for children in the relevant Year 6 cohort and can be taken only once.
Do we need to register separately for every Sutton school?
No. One shared SET registration is sufficient, regardless of how many participating schools a family is considering.
Each school must still be considered separately when completing the CAF and reviewing admissions criteria.
Are verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning tested?
The published SET format contains multiple-choice English and mathematics papers. It does not include separate verbal-reasoning or non-verbal-reasoning tests.
Are independent schools covered by the Sutton SET?
No. Independent schools set their own admissions and assessment arrangements. Families considering both selective state schools and independent schools should check the requirements and timelines for each individual school.
A structured starting point for 11+ preparation
The most effective preparation is rarely about doing the greatest possible number of papers. It is about understanding a child’s current position, strengthening the right foundations and gradually building the accuracy, confidence and stamina required by the examination.
Asterclass provides three possible preparation routes:
Self-guided online learning
Live online small-group teaching
Individually tailored one-to-one preparation
Official information sources
Asterclass Academy is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of any school named in this guide or any examination authority. Information is provided for general guidance and should be checked against the relevant schools’ current admissions policies.
