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Sutton Stage 2 English: boys’ test and girls’ NWSSEE
Sutton’s second stages are written English and maths, not another SET multiple-choice paper. The girls’ NWSSEE English paper is composition, with no comprehension paper. The boys’ public guidance does not fix an exact composition/comprehension split. Prepare for your child’s route rather than buying an undifferentiated “Sutton Stage 2” paper.
Source: Joint NWSSEE FAQ for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24) · Sutton Grammar second-stage FAQs (accessed 2026-09-24)
Which second stage?
Source: Joint NWSSEE FAQ for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24) · Sutton Grammar second-stage FAQs (accessed 2026-09-24) · Nonsuch: shared 2027-entry dates (accessed 2026-09-24)
| Schools | Route | Published boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton Grammar, Wilson’s, Wallington County | Shared boys’ second stage | Written English and maths, roughly 45 to 60 minutes each. No official samples in the reviewed guidance. |
| Nonsuch and Wallington Girls | Joint NWSSEE | English composition and maths, roughly 40 to 50 minutes each. Both papers must be passed. No specimen papers. |
An original composition task
Write about a time when a character has to change a plan. It can be invented. Keep the main event small enough to describe clearly. Before writing, choose what the character wants, what interrupts the plan and what the character does next. This is our teaching prompt, not a released NWSSEE question.
Worked example Make the change visible
Original teaching example. A first draft says: “We were going to the park but it rained so we stayed in. It was fun.” How could the writer develop the turning point?
Why this works: Show one decision: “Mum put the picnic basket by the door. I pulled the blanket into the living room and spread it beneath the table.” The actions explain how the plan changes without needing several extra events.
Why the tempting route fails: Adding “very, very fun” repeats an opinion. A concrete action gives the reader something to picture.
- Check that the response follows the exact prompt.
- Give the scene a clear sequence and a controlled ending.
- Use paragraph breaks when the focus changes.
- Check sentence boundaries and tense after the meaning is clear.
Our review checklist is not an official rubric. Do not turn it into a predicted school mark.
Final answers and practice review
Source: Joint NWSSEE FAQ for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24)
The NWSSEE FAQ says maths marks are awarded for final answers, not working. Practise writing a clear final answer while keeping enough working to check your method. The FAQ also explains that successful candidates do not receive numerical scores.
For parents choosing help
If written English is the difficulty, ask a tutor or provider to demonstrate feedback on one paragraph: what is unclear, why it is unclear and what revision would improve it. A score alone does not teach the next attempt. Keep our lessons as a starting point and compare feedback before committing to a package.
Sources and independence
Sources
Joint NWSSEE FAQ for 2027 entry. Official guidance. Accessed 2026-09-24. Read the official sourcehttps://www.nonsuchschool.org/_site/data/files/information/admissions/set2027/A591D2C1E6F8BD03BBA671E854E30FF5.pdf
Sutton Grammar second-stage FAQs. Official guidance. Accessed 2026-09-24. Read the official sourcehttps://www.suttongrammar.sutton.sch.uk/admissions/selective-eligibility-test-faqs/
Nonsuch: shared 2027-entry dates. Official guidance. Accessed 2026-09-24. Read the official sourcehttps://www.nonsuchschool.org/page/?pid=281&title=September+2027+Entry+Dates
Accessed 2026-09-24. Independent preparation, not affiliated with or endorsed by the school or test provider. Activities and routines are our suggestions, not official questions, marking schemes or promises of admission. Check the entry year before using a policy.