Expert1:1PreparationforDulwich

The Dulwich College Year 7 (11+) entrance examinations for entry in September 2027 are sat on Friday 4 December 2026. Registration closes Monday 2 November 2026, 12pm. Candidates who do well are invited back to interview between Wednesday 20 to Wednesday 27 January 2027.

The assessment comes in two parts and takes about three hours in total. Part 1 is a 105-minute online test across six sections: Mathematics (20 minutes), English (30 minutes), Non-verbal Reasoning (10 minutes), Verbal Reasoning (10 minutes), Puzzles and Problem Solving (15 minutes), Creative Comprehension (20 minutes). Part 2 is a 20-minute creative writing task, five minutes planning and fifteen minutes writing, which candidates handwrite or type. About 3 hours, including breaks between the tests.

Mathematics, Non-verbal Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning adapt to your child's answers: the questions get harder or easier depending on what has been submitted, and candidates cannot go back and change an answer. English, Puzzles and Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension are not adaptive, so answers in those sections can be revisited before the section ends. That difference matters more than any individual topic, because it changes how a child should pace themselves across the paper.

No. Dulwich sets its own bespoke tests, and the College states plainly that it does not use the ISEB pre-test for Deferred Entry applicants at 13+. Preparation aimed at the ISEB pre-test is preparation for a different exam.

There are two, sat two years apart, and they are different assessments on different timetables. Deferred Entry is sat in Year 6 for a place in Year 9 three years later, and uses the same two-part format as the 11+ — six online sections then the creative writing task. Its examinations fall on Tuesday 1 December 2026, registration closes Friday 2 October 2026, 12pm, and about 120 candidates are invited to interview between Monday 11 to Friday 15 January 2027. Standard Year 9 entry is sat in Year 8 for entry the following September, and uses written papers in English and Mathematics alongside online reasoning assessments; its examinations fall on Saturday 9 January 2027, registration closes Monday 2 November 2026, 12pm, and about 40 candidates are interviewed on Tuesday 19 January 2027.

Junior School entry runs in two stages. Stage 1, on Saturday 28 November 2026, is a set of adaptive digital assessments in maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning taken in small groups, plus short written assessments in creative writing and maths. Applicants who show enough promise are invited back for Stage 2 in January: a one-to-one literacy and numeracy assessment with a member of Junior School staff, plus collaborative activities. Year 3 is the main point of entry with about 30 places.

65 points at GCSE, counted by adding the grades achieved, with a grade 8 or above in English Language, Mathematics and in every subject chosen for A Level. Applicants sit written examinations in each of the three A Level subjects they have chosen, with exceptions for Art and Design & Technology (a portfolio), Computer Science (strong mathematics plus programming experience shown at interview) and Physical Education (a group interview). Registration closes Friday 16 October 2026, 12pm, with UK examinations on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

Most families start around eighteen months out, which for the 11+ means the spring or summer of Year 5. That leaves room to build the underlying maths and English first and to spend the autumn of Year 6 on timed practice across all six online sections. Starting later is common and workable — it changes the plan rather than ruling anything out — but the two sections most preparation leaves out, Puzzles and Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension, are the ones that need the run-up.

Yes, alongside online lessons anywhere in the UK. Our tutors are based in Dulwich and nearby South London, and every one of them is a Dulwich College alumnus who sat the assessment your son is preparing for. For in-person lessons you travel to your tutor or meet somewhere convenient to them — we do not run a tuition centre and tutors do not teach in your home. We prepare candidates specifically for Dulwich College entry rather than offering general tutoring.

Not one run by us. We are not a tuition centre and have no premises in East Dulwich or anywhere else — we are a 1-to-1 tutoring service, so there is no classroom, no group teaching and no fixed timetable. What we do have is tutors living in and around Dulwich, East Dulwich and West Dulwich who teach in person by arrangement, and online lessons for families who would rather not travel at all. If you specifically want a centre with drop-in classes, we are not it, and it is quicker to hear that now.

Tutoring is charged per hour from £60, with no contracts and no packages to buy up front. The first lesson is no commitment and you can stop at any time. A free 20-minute consultation comes first, so we can tell you honestly whether we are the right fit before anyone books anything.