8 Plus (8+) Exam – Dulwich Prep London – Key Admissions Details
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Dulwich Prep London (DPL) is an independent preparatory school in Dulwich, south London. The largest boys’ prep school in the UK, it has educated a large number of notable alumni, including ambassadors, politicians and esteemed musicians. [1]
The school aims to cultivate a growth mindset through a rigorous and stimulating curriculum, helping children maximise their potential. By encouraging effort, providing appropriate challenges and helping students build their academic skills, Dulwich Prep ensures that they thrive across a multitude of areas, including languages, science and humanities. [2]
Understanding learning as an exciting journey, pupils at DPL benefit from a rich range of opportunities and experiences that inspire hard work and strong outcomes. As a result, many boys access prestigious senior schools such as Dulwich College, Westminster, St Paul’s, Eton, Harrow, Tonbridge and Radley, to name but a few.
Dulwich Prep London 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: 42 Alleyn Park SE21 7AA
County: Greater London
Admissions info: admissions@dulwichpreplondon.org or 020 8766 5500
School type: Independent preparatory school for boys
Open days: Each term
8+ Exam date: January of Year 3
Pass mark: Aim for 70%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Dulwich Prep London 8 Plus (8+) Open Days
Each term, Dulwich Prep London invites visitors to join a tour of the school and learn about its educational philosophy. Providing families with the opportunity to get to know staff and explore facilities, these tours can be booked using an online form. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
Dulwich Prep London 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
Dulwich Prep London receives registrations by the deadline in November of the year prior to entry. Once the registration form has been processed, your child will be invited to the school to sit a formal entrance exam.
DPL assesses boys in January of the year of entry. Exams are combined with activities on the same day, which include games and fun singing. The assessment takes place over a half-day period. Each boy also gets the chance to meet the Head of the Lower School for an informal chat. Other staff will meet the boys in different situations during the session.
Please note that, throughout the admissions process, the school will also look into the quality of your child’s current-school reports and references. If successful, he will receive an offer of a place in February, which you will be asked to reserve with a payment of a £1,850 deposit.
Dulwich Prep London 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Dulwich Prep London offers a small number of means-tested bursaries at 8+ for academically gifted boys who show aptitude and promise. Applications should be made by the deadline in November of the year prior to entry.
The evaluation procedure includes an assessment and interview for the pupils, as well as a review of the confidential statement of financial circumstances, which should include details about your household’s income and capital resources. All bursaries will be subject to annual review and could change should your financial situation improve or deteriorate.
Dulwich Prep London 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Dulwich Prep London 8+ entrance exam consists of the following tests:
- English (paper)
- Mathematics (paper)
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning (online)
The English assessment examines comprehension and writing skills, including inference, vocabulary and punctuation.
The Maths exam assesses problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including your child’s knowledge of times tables.
The Verbal Reasoning section of the online Reasoning test is designed to assess logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary.
The Non-Verbal Reasoning section of the online Reasoning test measures the ability to understand, interpret and problem-solve, testing logic and intelligence rather than knowledge.
The normal minimum standard for admission is above the average standard level of attainment for the age group, based on the National Curriculum. Past papers are not available.
Dulwich Prep London 8 Plus (8+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Pupils who are able to score 70%+ consistently in our 8+ practice tests should be on track to pass the Dulwich Prep 8+ assessment.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Dulwich Prep London 8 plus exam.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
Dulwich Prep London 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
English
We highly recommend the following practice papers to help your child prepare for the Dulwich Prep London 8+ English exam. They cover everything your child needs to know about comprehension and writing:
Full Practice Tests
Comprehension Skills
8+ English: Comprehension Pack 1
8+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
Comprehension Guide
This guide covers all the key comprehension question types in a clear, step-by-step manner so that both you and your child know exactly what to expect on exam day.
The Complete Guide to 8+ Comprehension
Writing Skills
Writing Guide
Starting from the foundational basics, this guide works its way through all the key skills your child needs to develop to become an excellent writer within the framework of what’s expected at the 8+ level.
The Complete Guide to 8+ Writing
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
Mathematics
The following 8+ packs will help your child develop the key skills needed to do well in the mathematics section of the Dulwich Prep London entrance exam:
Full Practice Tests
Targeted Skill Development
8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
Reasoning
To help your child master Reasoning skills ahead of the Dulwich Prep London 8+ exam, we highly recommend the following resources:
Listening
Dulwich Prep London is keen to find students who can listen to instructions, process information and respond accurately. This pack will help develop these key skills:
Dulwich Prep London 8+ Bundle – Save 35%!
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended practice resources for the Dulwich Prep London 8+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
8+ Dulwich Prep London Bundle
Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.
Dulwich Prep London: Destination Schools
Recently, DPL boys gained scholarships in the following destination schools:
| Alleyn’s School | 5 | King’s College School, Wimbledon | 2 |
| Bradfield College | 1 | Marlborough College | 1 |
| Bryanston School | 1 | Radley College | 2 |
| City of London School | 3 | Royal Russell School | 3 |
| Dulwich College | 31 | St Paul’s School | 1 |
| Eastbourne College | 1 | Tonbridge School | 8 |
| Eltham College | 1 | Trinity School | 1 |
| Emanuel School | 1 | Wellington College | 1 |
| Epsom College | 1 | Westminster School | 8 |
| Eton College | 2 | Whitgift School | 3 |
| Harrow School | 1 | Winchester College | 3 |
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Dulwich Prep London 8+ past papers. The information provided about Dulwich Prep London was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
Other entry points for Dulwich Prep London:
Click here to learn about Year 1 entry via the 5 Plus (5+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam
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