Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) process

How to Register for the SET

To register for the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET), there are links on the website of all the participating schools (Greenshaw High School, Nonsuch High School for Girls, Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School, Wallington High School for Girls and Wilson’s School). This is a link to the registration portal, and is only open during the registration period (usually May to August).  Parents or guardians complete an online form, providing information: the applicant’s details, contact information and any SEN. Late applications are not allowed, so check the dates for the registration period carefully. If your child requires access arrangements they must apply slightly earlier, with a deadline of June.

When is the SET Exam?

The first stage of the SET exam is held in mid-September every year. Children take the test at the start of Year 6, the year before they want to join their new school in Year 7. The test is sat at an allocated centre depending on gender. Girls are allocated either Nonsuch High School for Girls, Wallington High School for Girls or Greenshaw High School. Boys are allocated either Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School or Wilson’s School. Boy/Girl twins or siblings are allocated Sutton Grammar School.

When do SET Results Come Out?

First stage SET results are released the week after the exam, by the end of September. Children who are successful in this first stage must then sit the second stage entrance test, taking place in the first week of October.

Who Writes the SET Exam?

The SET exam is formulated by the SET consortium of selective schools in Sutton.

How Long is the SET?

The first stage of the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) lasts around two hours. The exam is divided into two 45-minute sections of English and Maths with a short toilet and rest break in between. The second stage papers are slightly longer, lasting around one hour each.

What Subjects are Assessed in the SET?

Both stages of the SET exam consist of English and Mathematics only. There is no assessment of verbal or non-verbal reasoning. The first stage is multiple choice and the second stage is longer answers. The English section assesses reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary, while the Mathematics section covers Key Stage 2 curriculum topics, plus some extension tasks.

How Many Questions are in the SET?

The number of questions in the first stage SET varies rom year to year, but candidates can generally expect around 50 questions in each section, with around one minute per mark. The second stage will have fewer questions but the expected answers are longer in length, so expect around two or three minutes per mark.

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