Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Exam 2026, Year 7 Entry – Key Details

Introduction

 

Dulwich College is an independent day and boarding school for boys in Dulwich, London. Founded in 1619, it is a member of the Eton Group and maintains an excellent reputation for its wealth of sporting activities and successes. [1]

 

Considered one of the nation’s most prestigious educational institutions, Dulwich offers a broad yet cohesive curriculum, interconnecting various disciplines into an intellectually stimulating learning programme. Subjects range from Critical Thinking, art and science to economics, DT and MFL, encompassing a spectrum of areas that facilitate cognitive development and inspire strong achievements.

 

Co-curricular activities are understood as an integral part of the school’s offering. Participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award is at the heart of the rounded education, alongside charitable fundraising and other types of community service. Over 50 clubs and societies are also considered fundamental to school life, integrating into an exhaustive whole a rich range of opportunities, such as coding, debating, engineering, politics and Race Activism. [2] 

 

Considered an academically competitive yet socially responsible school, Dulwich provides a relevant education that corresponds with its distinguished tradition. Leavers frequently join prestigious universities at home and abroad and proceed to excel at professions of their choice, which often feature Medicine, Engineering and the Law.

 

Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

 

Address: Dulwich Common London SE21 7LD 

County: Greater London

Admissions info: the.registrar@dulwich.org.uk or 020 8299 9263

School type: Independent day and boarding school for boys

Number of students: 1820 (approx.)

11+ Open day: September, October, May

11+ Exam date: December 2026

11+ Exam type / Board: Bespoke test & essay

Pass mark (Online Bespoke Test): Aim for 75%+ in our online practice tests.

Pass mark (Papers): Aim for 75%+ in our paper-based practice tests.

 

Open Events for Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Entry

 

Dulwich College hosts Open Mornings in the Autumn and Spring terms. These include departmental displays and guided tours of the campus, as well as in-depth discussions with staff and current pupils.

 

Besides Open Morning, you will be able to visit the school during the tours scheduled to take place in September and October. Please click here to learn more. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:

 

 

Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

 

To proceed with the admission process, you should register your son by the deadline in late October (of Year 6). The exam will take place the following December. If he is successful, he will be invited back to the school to attend an interview (in January).

 

During the interview, he will have the opportunity to provide further evidence of his academic strengths, as well as details about his interests and abilities, according to which his capacity to make a contribution to the general life of the school will be determined.

 

An offer is made on the basis of his performance in the examinations and interview. Please note that acceptance of a place includes a payment of a deposit.

 

Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Scholarships and Bursaries

 

Your son will receive an Academic Scholarship if he scores the highest grades in his examination and interview. All boys who sit the entrance examinations are automatically considered for an academic scholarship, which has a range in value from 10% to one-third of tuition fees.

 

Bursaries provide support in cases when boys pass entrance examinations and interview and are offered a place, but who cannot afford to pay the school fees, in full or in part, due to financial circumstances.

 

Bursaries are means tested, and are awarded after the College’s bursary committee takes into account family income and assets. The amount of the Bursary award is reviewed each year. 

 

They range from 10% to 100% of fees, with the majority of awards being between 75% and 100%. Means-tested support may be available for trips and other enrichment activities, as well.

 

Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format

 

The entrance assessment for candidates applying to join Year 7 (11+) consists of :

 

• Bespoke online tests
• Creative writing paper

 

The online tests consist of adaptive and non-adaptive sections:

 

a) Adaptive Section: Spanning one hour, it features questions that adapt in difficulty according to the student’s responses. This part of the online test evaluates Maths, English & Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills.

 

• The Maths questions assess skills in topics like arithmetic and problem-solving, including diagrams/charts.

 

• The English questions are multiple-choice, assessing Reading Comprehension, grammar and punctuation skills, followed by a Verbal Reasoning section that evaluates vocabulary and understanding of meaning in context.

 

• The Non-Verbal Reasoning sections evaluate the ability to reason using shapes, space, diagrams and images. They include multiple-choice questions on 2D Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.

 

b) Non-Adaptive Section: Lasting 40 minutes, it comprises questions with a predetermined difficulty level. It consists of the following modules:

 

• The Puzzles & Problem Solving module includes interactive puzzles accompanied by questions that require typed answers.

 

• The Creative Comprehension section features multiple-choice questions based on various sources like text, maps, diagrams, timetables and charts.

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The English Creative Writing paper is 20 minutes long, with 5 minutes for planning and 15 minutes for writing. Marks are awarded for imagination, creativity, form, style, use of imagery, ambitious vocabulary, cohesion, punctuation and sentence structure.

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Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Dulwich College 11+ entrance examinations.

 

How to Prepare for the Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Exam

 

Our practice tests help students become familiar with the style and layout of the Dulwich College exams, which can help boost their confidence in the lead up to the big day.

 

They cover all the question types that could be asked in the entrance exam and can be used to identify any weaker areas that require additional work.

 

Once you devise a specific study schedule and a structured approach towards 11+ exam preparation, you will be able to remove unnecessary stress from the preparation process and make it more manageable for your child.

 

We highly recommend that students take our practice tests under timed conditions to get used to answering questions quickly and under time pressure.

 

Our practice tests are age-appropriate, yet still challenging, corresponding perfectly with the demands of a competitive independent school’s 11+ entrance exam.

 

Dulwich College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

 

Pupils who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our online practice tests should be on track to pass the Dulwich College 11+ online bespoke test.

 

Pupils who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our practice papers should be on track to pass the written sections of the Dulwich College 11+ exam.

 

Whilst there are no guarantees, this is a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Dulwich 11 Plus examinations.

 

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 College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Practice Tests and Papers

 

Pre-11+ Online Bespoke Test: Full Practice Tests

 

If you want your child to be familiar with the format and style of the exam ahead of time, our Pre-11+ Practice Tests are the ideal starting point. Tailored for students in Years 4 and  5, these tests are specifically designed to familiarise your child with the types of questions they will encounter in the actual exam. These practice tests offers a gentle yet comprehensive introduction to the exam format, boosting your child’s skills and confidence through accurate and effective practice.

 

Pre-11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 1

 

Pre-11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 2

 

Pre-11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 3

 

Pre-11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 4

 

Pre-11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 5

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended Pre-11+ full practice resources for the Dulwich College online bespoke test at a large discount. These are available on our other site, Pretest Plus. Click the button below to learn more:

 

Pre-11+ Dulwich College Tests 1-5 Bundle - Save 25%

 

11+ Online Bespoke Test: Full Practice Tests

 

Dulwich College use an online test as part of their 11+ entry process for Year 7 entry. These practice tests are specifically designed to familiarise your child with the online format, style and content of the new online test.

 

The types of questions, level of difficulty, instructions, and layouts are all created to align with those of the real exam. Upon completion of these practice tests, your child will feel more confident and prepared for the actual assessment.

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 1

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 2

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 3

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 4

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 5

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 6

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 7

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 8

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 9

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 10

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 11

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 12

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 13

 

11+ Dulwich College Practice Test 14

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended 11+ full practice resources for the Dulwich College online bespoke test at a large discount. These are available on our other site, Pretest Plus. Click the button below to learn more:

 

11+ Dulwich Tests 1-14 Bundle - Save 33%

 

✅ Alternatively, click the buttons below to purchase our Dulwich College 11+ Practice Test Bundles. Each bundle offers a huge discount compared to buying the products individually.

 

11+ Dulwich Tests 1-5 Bundle - Save 25%

 

11+ Dulwich Tests 6-10 Bundle - Save 25%

 

11+ Dulwich Tests 11-14 Bundle - Save 20%

 

 

11+ Dulwich College Mathematics

 

11+ Dulwich College Creative Comprehension Pack 1

 

11+ Dulwich College Creative Comprehension Pack 2

 

11+ Dulwich College Puzzles & Problem Solving Pack 1

 

11+ Dulwich College Puzzles & Problem Solving Pack 2

 

 

Don’t forget to use the code ppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £80 and 20% off orders over £200 if you don’t buy a bundle.

 

English: Creative Writing Paper

 

The following practice papers are highly recommended for successful preparation for the Dulwich College 11+ English paper. They will help improve your child’s writing skills, including spelling, vocabulary and punctuation:

 

11+ Complete Writing Guide

 

11+ Writing Prompts

 

11+ Rewrite & Improve

 

11+ Spelling Pack 1

 

11+ Spelling Pack 2

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Dulwich College 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

11+ Dulwich English Bundle - Save 15%

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Dulwich College 11+ past papers. The information provided about Dulwich College is 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 article.

 

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dulwich College.

 

Other entry points for Dulwich College:

 

Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam

Click here to learn about Year 4 entry via the 8 Plus (8+) Exam

Click here to learn about Year 5 entry via the 9 Plus (9+) Exam

Click here to learn about Year 9 entry via the 13 Plus (13+) Exam

Click here to learn about Year 12 entry via the 16 Plus (16+) Exam