Dulwich College is one of the UK's most prestigious independent boys' schools — a school with exceptional facilities, remarkable breadth and strong academic results. Entry is available at Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+ via Common Entrance), with the 11+ being the primary route for local families. For South London families in Dulwich, Herne Hill, West Norwood, Sydenham and beyond, a place at Dulwich College is a major aspiration.
About Dulwich College
Dulwich College is set on a magnificent 70-acre campus at College Road, Dulwich, SE21. It educates around 1,600 boys from Year 7 to the Sixth Form, with world-class facilities for sport, music, science and the arts. The college has strong academic results across all subjects, and its alumni list includes novelists, scientists, sports stars and public figures. Raymond Chandler, PG Wodehouse and Ernest Shackleton are among former pupils.
The college is also notable for its own Dulwich College Prep School (DCPS), which provides a natural feeder pathway at 11+. Boys from DCPS and other South London prep schools compete alongside external candidates for Year 7 places.
The 11+ process at Dulwich College
Registration for the 11+ typically opens in October of Year 5 and closes in November. The process runs as follows:
- Entrance papers in January of Year 6 — candidates sit Mathematics and English papers set by the college. The Maths paper includes multi-step problem-solving and reasoning. The English paper includes comprehension and a writing component. Verbal reasoning may also be included as a separate paper.
- Interview for shortlisted candidates — Dulwich College interviews are designed to assess a boy's personality, curiosity and breadth of interests as well as his academic ability. The college values boys who are enthusiastic and engaged, not just high scorers on papers.
- Offers in February of Year 6. Scholarship assessments run alongside the admissions process for boys who are genuinely exceptional across academics, arts or sport.
What the papers test
- Mathematics — arithmetic, fractions, percentages, ratio, geometry and problem-solving. Boys should be confident with multi-step problems and with some material beyond the Year 6 curriculum. The Dulwich Maths paper is challenging but not as extreme as the very top London schools.
- English comprehension — reading an unseen passage and answering structured questions. Boys should be able to write in full, well-constructed sentences, identify key information and make reasonable inferences from the text.
- Writing — a written task, which may be creative or discursive. Dulwich College values expression and ideas — boys who write with confidence and some originality do well.
How selective is it?
Dulwich College is selective but not impossibly so for a well-prepared boy with strong natural ability. It is less extreme than St Paul's, Haberdashers' or Dulwich's more famous academic rivals, while still being genuinely demanding. The college looks for boys who will thrive across its broad programme — the most purely academic candidates are valued, but so are boys with outstanding contributions to make in sport, music or other areas.
13+ entry as an alternative route
Dulwich College also admits boys at 13+ via Common Entrance from prep schools. For boys who are not ready for the 11+ or who attend a prep school that goes to Year 8, the CE route is a genuine alternative. The 13+ entry is competitive but provides more preparation time.
When to start preparation
For the January Year 6 papers, preparation should begin in September of Year 5 at the latest. Boys from DCPS and similar prep schools will have been building towards the 11+ throughout their prep school career. For those from maintained schools or other backgrounds, September Year 5 gives 16 months of structured preparation — typically sufficient for a strong candidate.
Preparation strategy
- Mathematics at Year 7 level. Multi-step problems, ratio, proportion and early algebra should be in the preparation programme by the spring of Year 5. Past papers from Dulwich College and similar schools provide accurate guidance on the level required.
- English — reading, comprehension and writing. Wide reading builds vocabulary and analytical instinct. Regular timed comprehension practice, combined with writing with feedback, covers the paper requirements.
- Interview preparation. Encourage a boy to develop and articulate genuine interests — science, history, sport, fiction, current events. The Dulwich interview rewards enthusiasm and personality.
- Scholarship consideration. Boys with exceptional ability in any area — Maths, science, music, sport — should investigate the scholarship process alongside the admissions route.
Finding a tutor for Dulwich College
South London has a strong pool of tutors experienced with the Dulwich College admissions process and the specific style of its papers. Look for someone with a track record at Dulwich or similar South London schools and who can deliver both academic preparation and interview coaching.
Browse tutors experienced with Dulwich College preparation in South London, or search the parent portal for tutors matched to the 11+ and your son's requirements.