Understanding the Prompt

Welcome to the first lesson in your SET 11+ Extended Writing course! The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) is a two-stage exam used to select students for five prestigious grammar schools in the London Borough of Sutton: Sutton Grammar School, Wilson's School, Wallington County Grammar School, Nonsuch High School for Girls, and Wallington High School for Girls. If you pass the Stage 1 multiple-choice screening, you will be invited back for Stage 2 — a one-hour extended writing task. This is the single highest-stakes component of the entire SET process, and it all begins with understanding the prompt.

What Is Stage 2?

In Stage 2, you will be given a writing prompt and asked to produce a sustained piece of writing in one hour. The prompt may ask you to write a narrative (story), a descriptive piece, or a persuasive piece. Unlike Stage 1, there are no multiple-choice answers here — just you, a pen, and a blank page. The examiners want to see how well you can:

Interpret a prompt and respond to it thoughtfully
Organise your ideas into a well-structured piece
Write with imagination, accuracy, and flair
Sustain your writing over a full hour

This is your chance to show the grammar schools who you really are as a writer.

Why Is Understanding the Prompt So Important?

Every year, students lose marks not because they are poor writers, but because they misread or ignore the prompt. If the prompt asks you to write about "a time when something unexpected happened" and you write a story where nothing unexpected happens, you will not score well — no matter how beautiful your sentences are.

Common mistake	What goes wrong	How to avoid it
Ignoring the key words	The story does not match the prompt	Underline every important word in the prompt
Writing a prepared story	The examiner can tell it was not written for this prompt	Always write a fresh response that fits the exact wording
Rushing past the prompt	You miss important instructions or choices	Spend at least 2 minutes reading and thinking before you plan
Choosing the wrong form	You write a story when the prompt asks for a letter	Read the prompt twice and check what type of writing is required

How to Break Down a Prompt

Step 1: Read it twice

Read the prompt slowly, then read it again. Do not start writing or even planning until you have read it at least twice.

Step 2: Underline the key words

Look for topic words, form words, and feeling words.

Example prompt: Write a story about a journey that changed someone forever.

Topic words: journey, changed
Form words: story (so you know it must be a narrative)
Feeling words: forever (this tells you the change must be significant)

Step 3: Ask yourself questions

Once you have found the key words, ask yourself:

Who is my main character?
What is the journey? (It does not have to be a physical journey — it could be emotional.)
How does the character change?
What is the moment of change?

These questions will form the backbone of your plan.

Types of Prompt You May See in Stage 2

The SET Stage 2 writing task may take several forms. Here are the most common:

Prompt type	Example	What to do
Title prompt	"The Key"	Write a story or description inspired by the title
Opening line prompt	"The letter arrived on a Tuesday..." — Continue this story.	Continue from the given line, matching its tone and style
Picture prompt	An image of a deserted fairground	Describe the scene or write a story set in the location
Statement prompt	"Everyone deserves a second chance." Do you agree?	Write a persuasive or discursive piece
Choice prompt	Choose ONE of the following titles...	Pick the one that gives you the strongest ideas — do not waste time deciding

Model Example: Breaking Down a Prompt

Prompt: "The door had not been opened for a hundred years." Continue this story.

Step 1 — Read twice. Done.

Step 2 — Underline key words:

"door" — this is the central object
"not been opened for a hundred years" — mystery, age, secrets
"Continue this story" — I must write a narrative, and I must use this as my opening

Step 3 — Ask questions:

Who finds the door? A child exploring an old building.
Why has it been closed? Something is hidden behind it.
What happens when it is opened? A discovery that changes the character.
How does the story end? The character must make a choice about what to do with the discovery.

Now you have a story ready to plan.

Before and After: Prompt Responses

Prompt: Write about a time when you felt completely alone.

Weaker response (ignores the prompt):

Tom went to school on Monday. He had lunch with his friends and they played football. Then he went home and watched TV. It was a normal day.

This response ignores the key word "alone." Nothing in the story connects to the prompt.

Stronger response (engages with the prompt):

The playground emptied in seconds. One moment it was full of noise — shouts, laughter, the thud of a football — and the next, silence. Tom stood by the gate, his rucksack hanging from one shoulder, watching the last car pull away. No one had waited. He checked his phone. No messages. The wind pushed an empty crisp packet across the tarmac and he thought: so this is what invisible feels like.

This response is built entirely around the idea of being alone. Every detail — the empty playground, the silence, the crisp packet — supports the prompt.

SET-Specific Tips for Understanding Prompts

You have one hour total. Spend the first 2-3 minutes reading and understanding the prompt. This is not wasted time — it is the most important 2-3 minutes of the whole exam.
Do not bring a pre-prepared story. SET examiners are experienced and they can spot a recycled story immediately. Your writing must respond directly to the prompt you are given.
If there is a choice, choose quickly. Pick the prompt that sparks the most ideas in the first 30 seconds. Do not spend five minutes going back and forth.
Check the form. If the prompt asks for a letter, write a letter. If it asks for a story, write a story. If it asks for your opinion, write persuasively.
Every sentence should connect to the prompt. If you find yourself drifting away from the topic, stop and steer back.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning
Prompt	The title, question, image, or opening you are given to write about
Narrative	A piece of writing that tells a story
Descriptive	A piece of writing that creates vivid pictures using sensory detail
Persuasive	A piece of writing that aims to convince the reader of a point of view
Form	The type of writing required (story, letter, speech, article, description)

Summary

The SET Stage 2 extended writing task is the most important part of the Sutton grammar school selection process. It all starts with understanding the prompt. Read it twice, underline the key words, ask yourself questions, and make sure every sentence in your writing connects back to what the prompt is asking. A brilliant story that ignores the prompt will always score lower than a good story that answers it perfectly.