Sutton SET practice at a glance
Short answer: The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test is the shared first stage for participating grammar schools and focuses on multiple-choice English and maths. Schools then apply their own second-stage arrangements, so check every target school.
- Stage 1
- Shared Selective Eligibility Test
- Stage 1 subjects
- Multiple-choice English and maths
- Stage 2
- School-specific written assessments
- Important
- Passing Stage 1 does not itself secure a place
These are original Pip materials, not official exam questions. Arrangements can change.
Confirm the current format and dates with the participating Sutton grammar schools.
Try four free Sutton SET practice questions
SET Stage 1 is English and maths. These examples check inference, word choice and two-step number work without adding reasoning subjects that are outside this stage.
“Ivo checked the platform clock again. In his pocket, the concert ticket had become damp and creased.” Which inference is best supported?
Checking the clock again and handling the ticket suggest anxious waiting. The other claims are not supported.
The mean of four numbers is 18. Three of them are 12, 17 and 21. What is the fourth?
The total must be 4 × 18 = 72. The three known numbers total 50, so the missing number is 22.
Choose the sentence in which “their” is used correctly.
Their shows possession: the lunches belong to the children. The other sentences need they’re or there.
A rectangle is 9 cm long and 4 cm wide. A 3 cm by 2 cm rectangle is cut from one corner. What area remains?
The whole area is 9 × 4 = 36 cm². The removed piece is 3 × 2 = 6 cm².
The remaining area is 30 cm².
Answer the four starter tasks. This score is not an admissions prediction.
Fresh questions, instant explanations and a clear next step
After these tasks, choose one missed skill to practise in Pip. Ask your child to explain the new answer before moving on; remembering the answer here is not the same as learning the method.
- Free daily English, maths and reasoning practice
- No ads or child data collection
- Optional timed mock papers and progress reporting
Free Sutton SET practice papers by subject
Choose English and maths papers for Stage 1. Then switch response style if your child is invited to a written second stage; practising answer selection alone will not cover that change.
What should Sutton SET practice cover?
| Practice area | What to work on | Good first step |
|---|---|---|
| English comprehension | Inference, vocabulary and authorial technique | Support each answer with evidence from the text |
| Grammar and vocabulary | Precise word meaning and sentence control | Keep a vocabulary notebook with examples |
| Maths fluency | Fast, accurate KS2 arithmetic | Use short mixed sets after securing each method |
| Maths problem solving | Multi-step interpretation | Underline the required quantity before calculating |
How to use Sutton SET practice papers effectively
- Keep SET preparation centred on English and maths. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning packs are not substitutes for these two papers.
- Ask for the evidence behind an English choice. A convincing explanation should point to words in the passage rather than invent extra events.
- For maths, cover the options briefly and ask for an estimate or method first. Options can help check an answer, but should not supply the whole approach.
- After Stage 1, check the next test for each school. The shared boys’ second stage and the Nonsuch/Wallington girls’ second stage are different sittings.
Turn paper practice into a five-minute daily habit
Note the skill behind a missed answer, such as inference, unit conversion or rotation. Choose that topic for the next practice session, then return to a fresh paper question.
Sutton SET practice questions: FAQs
Are these official Sutton SET questions?+
No. These are original Pip practice questions covering the relevant broad skills.
Pip is not affiliated with the participating Sutton grammar schools. Use the official familiarisation material for the exact current instructions.
What should my child practise for the Sutton SET?+
The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test is the shared first stage for participating grammar schools and focuses on multiple-choice English and maths. Schools then apply their own second-stage arrangements, so check every target school.
How should we use Sutton SET practice papers?+
Keep SET preparation centred on English and maths. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning packs are not substitutes for these two papers.
Ask for the evidence behind an English choice. A convincing explanation should point to words in the passage rather than invent extra events.
Does passing the Sutton SET guarantee a grammar-school place?+
No. Test qualification and school allocation are separate.
Each school applies its published admissions and oversubscription rules, and parents must complete the required school application.