Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) 11 plus guide

What is the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test?

The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) is an 11 plus entrance exam used by the grammar schools in Sutton. All children applying for a place at any of these schools need to take the SET to qualify for a place.

The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) takes place in September in Year 6. If you would like your child to be considered for a place at a Sutton grammar school, you’ll need to register them to take the test. Registration opens on the individual grammar school websites on Wednesday 1st May 2024 and closes on Friday 2nd August 2024. You only need to complete one registration form, regardless of how many participating schools you’re interested in.

Your child will be invited to take the test at one of the participating Sutton grammar schools. The exam will take place on Tuesday 17th September 2024.

Greenshaw High School uses the outcome of the Sutton SET to decide which children are eligible for a selective place. The other five grammar schools use the outcome of the Sutton SET to decide which children to shortlist for second-stage exams.

The boys’ schools (Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School and Wilson’s School) have a shared second-stage test. This will take place on Saturday 5th October 2024. The girls’ schools (Nonsuch High School and Wallington High School for Girls) have their own shared second-stage test. This will take place on Saturday 28th September 2024.

What's on the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test?

The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test consists of two multiple-choice papers. One paper tests English and the other tests maths. The Sutton SET does not test verbal or non-verbal reasoning.

Each paper takes about 40–50 minutes to complete, with a rest and toilet break between the two papers. Children record their answers in a separate answer book.

The content of the Sutton SET is broadly based on the Key Stage 2 national curriculum.

Sutton SET: English

The English paper covers four sections:

• Spelling

• Comprehension based on text A

• Comprehension based on text B

• Comprehension based on a comparison of texts A and B

The format of the questions is more varied than standard 11 plus exams, which usually require only one answer. In the Sutton SET, question types might include:

• Select one answer

• Select the two most accurate answers

• Select all that are correct

• Pick the most accurate explanation

Sutton SET: maths

The Sutton SET maths paper is also multiple-choice. There are five answer options for each question. Your child will need to choose one correct answer and mark their choice on the answer sheet provided. The topics covered include:

• Number and place value

• The four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and subtraction)

• Fractions, decimals and percentages

• Measurement

• Geometry (properties of shapes, position and direction)

• Statistics

How is the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test scored?

The Sutton SET answer sheets are marked twice – first by machine, and then by hand. Your child receives a mark for every correct answer. The total mark is then age-standardised to ensure children born later in the school year aren’t disadvantaged. Because your child’s scores are combined as a total, a good performance in one paper can compensate for a lower performance in the other.

After the shared second stage entrance exam, each school combines these scores with the SET scores. Each of the five grammar schools has its own scoring system.

What's the pass mark for the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test?

Each of the schools in Sutton decide their own pass mark for the Sutton SET. If your child has passed the SET, you won’t be given their scores, but you will be told that they have met the required standard and been invited to the second-stage entrance exam. You’ll be given this information in the week after the Sutton SET takes place.

In general, UK grammar schools tend to consider the top 25% highest-scoring children for a place. This still doesn't guarantee a place at the school of your choice, as schools in many areas are oversubscribed with qualified candidates.

We always recommend researching the admission policies for your target schools. Pay close attention to their oversubscription criteria and their catchment area (if they have one).

What's the pass mark for the second stage exam?

There is no set pass mark for the second stage exam in Sutton. Each grammar school has its own process for using the second-stage scores.

For example, children applying to Sutton Grammar School will be given four standardised scores:

1. A standardised score for the Sutton SET English paper

2. A standardised score for the Sutton SET maths paper

3. A standardised score for the second-stage English paper

4. A standardised score for the second-stage maths paper

The four standardised scores are weighted in a ratio of 2:2:3:3 and an age allowance is added. The total is then rounded to the nearest four marks to give the final score. This is the score which places are then based on.

How to apply to Sutton grammar schools

If you're considering a grammar school in Sutton for your child, it's a good idea to speak to your child's teacher first.

Grammar schools are academically-selective and select children working towards the top of their year group. Your child's teacher will be able to indicate whether they think your child will be able to keep up with the pace in a grammar school.

1. Sutton Selective Eligibility Test

If you would like your child to be considered for a place at a selective school in Sutton, you’ll need to register them to take the Sutton SET. Registration will be available on the six school websites from Wednesday 1st May 2024. You’ll need to complete your child’s registration before Friday 2nd August 2024.

Your child will take the Sutton SET at one of the six schools:

• Girls will be allocated to take the test at Nonsuch High School, Wallington High School for Girls or Greenshaw High School

• Boys will be allocated to take the test at Sutton Grammar School, Wallington Grammar School, Wilson’s School or Greenshaw High School

• Twins (boy/girl) will be allocated to take the test at Greenshaw High School

2. Sutton second stage entrance exam

If your child has met the qualifying standard in the Sutton SET, they’ll be invited to the second stage entrance exam. This takes place at the end of September.

You’ll then find out if your child has achieved the pass mark in the second stage entrance exam in October. You can use the results to decide which schools to include on your secondary school common application form. Before listing a school on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 5pm on Tuesday 31st October 2024.

3. National school offer day

On 3rd March 2025, you will find out which school your child has been allocated a place at. They will be allocated a place at your highest-preferred school for which they meet the entry criteria and which has places available.