Greenshaw High School fills its selective places from the Sutton SET alone: a multiple choice English paper and a multiple choice maths paper, each about 40 to 50 minutes, in September of Year 6. There is no second stage.
At a glance
Subjects
Maths and English
Answers
Multiple choice
Usually held
September
Set by
The schools themselves
Schools
1
The papers
Stage
Paper
How it is answered
Prism practice paper
SET
English
Multiple choice
30 questions, 45 minutes
SET
Maths
Multiple choice
45 questions, 45 minutes
Test setters rarely publish how many questions a paper has, so the question counts are the length of Prism’s practice papers; timings follow the setter’s published guidance where there is any. Arrangements change from year to year: always check them with the school or local authority.
How to prepare for the SET Sutton
The Sutton SET (first stage only) covers maths and English. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
Line up the decimal points and fill the gap with a zero: 5.27 is 5.270.
Then 5.270 − 4.302 = 0.968.
Why the other options are wrong
A (9.572): This adds the numbers instead of subtracting.
B (4.84): This lines up the last digits instead of the decimal points.
C (1.068): This forgets an exchange in the tenths column.
E (0.958): This takes one hundredth too many: check the hundredths column.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which word completes the sentence with the correct spelling?
Did you _____ the invitation to Maya’s party?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, receive
How to work it out
Did you receive the invitation to Maya’s party? i before e except after c: re-c-ei-ve.
Why the other options are wrong
A (receeve): The wrong vowel is used: “receive” has “i” in “eiv”, but this writes “e”.
B (resieve): This writes “esiev” where “receive” has “eceiv”.
D (recieve): The i and e are the wrong way round: “receive” has “ei”, not “ie”.
Questions parents ask
What subjects are in the SET Sutton?
The SET Sutton tests maths and English.
When is the SET Sutton?
The main test usually takes place in September of Year 6. Dates change each year, so always confirm them with the school or local authority.
How should my child prepare for the SET Sutton?
Build the core skills in Year 4 and 5, learn each question type, then practise timed papers in the SET Sutton format. Prism builds this plan automatically from a free starting assessment.
Find out where your child stands today
Practise straight away at your child’s school year in maths and English, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning for the 11 Plus, and every answer explained. A free check, whenever you like, shows what to practise next and builds a weekly plan, for their year or for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.