Year 9 entry (13+)

Entry Procedures Overview
Age of applicant	For boys born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015
Number of places available	60 (30 additional places will be offered to boys who sit the entrance examinations in 2028 when they are in Year 8)
Applicants eligible	Boys at 13+ Prep Schools in the UK only Boys who are at school outside the UK sit the College examination papers when they are in Year 8
Academic, Art, Music and Sport Scholarships	Available Boys who accept a Deferred Entry place will be invited to apply for scholarships when they are in Year 8
Bursaries - Free and Subsidised Places	Available
Closing date for Registration	Registration closed on Friday 26 September 2025, midday
Entrance Examinations	Tuesday 2 December 2025, at Dulwich College
Number of boys invited for interview	120
Interview Dates	Monday 12 January - Friday 16 January 2026
Offer Date	Posted on Thursday 12 February by first class post and emailed on Friday 13 February 2026
Deadline for acceptance	Wednesday 4 March 2026, midday

Entry Procedures Overview
Age of applicant	For boys born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013
Number of places available	30
Academic, Art, Music and Sport Scholarships	Available
Music audition	Saturday 17 January 2026
Sport scholarship day	Friday 23 January 2026
Art scholarship day	Saturday 24 January 2026
Bursaries - Free and Subsidised Places	Available
Closing Date for Registration	Registration closed on Monday 27 October 2025, midday
Entrance Examinations Written papers in English and Mathematics and online Reasoning tests *	Saturday 10 January 2026
Number of boys invited for interview	40
Interview Date	Tuesday 20 January 2026
Offer Date	Posted on Thursday 12 February by first class post and emailed on Friday 13 February 2026
Deadline for acceptance	Friday 27 February 2026, midday

* Candidates sitting the examinations overseas may be asked to sit a paper based reasoning test.

Entrance Examinations

The admissions test is in two parts, which will last, in total, about 3 hours, including breaks during the tests.  

Part 1: Online tests 

• 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  

Maths and English questions will cover the range of topics as set out in Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum.  

Most questions are multiple choice with only a few requiring a typed word or number.

The Maths, Non-Verbal and Verbal Reasoning are adaptive which means that questions get harder or easier depending on answers submitted.  Candidates are therefore not able to go back and change their answers.

The English, Puzzles and Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension are non-adaptive which means all candidates have the same questions and are able to move backward and forward through the questions changing their answers should they wish.

During the online test there will be a clock on the screen showing how long the candidate has left for each section. If candidates are eligible for extra time (please see Access Arrangements in Entrance Examinations), the extra time will automatically be added to the clock.

We will provide paper and pencils for any working out during the assessment. Pencil cases are not required. Dictionaries, calculators, mobile devices may not be used.  

There is a familiarisation test in the Practice Test section. These questions are intended to demonstrate the style of question, not the content given the adaptive nature of some of the tests.   

Part 2: Creative Writing   

Part 2 is a creative writing task which candidates will handwrite (or type if appropriate).  A specimen paper can be found in the Practice Test section.  It is a 20 minute test of which 5 minutes is planning and 15 minutes is writing.

Selection

The offer of a place at the College is made on the basis of

• the candidate’s performance in the appropriate examination
• an interview
• a reference from the Head of the candidate’s present school
• and for Deferred Entry is also conditional on boys remaining at their current 13+ UK prep school until the end of Year 8

and is subject to the College’s Standard Terms and Conditions.

The Interview

Candidates who show promise in the entrance examinations are invited to attend an interview in January. Our aim is to provide a friendly atmosphere for the interview during which the candidate will be allowed the opportunity to give further evidence of his academic strengths and some indication of interests and abilities with which he might make a contribution to the general life of the College.

Entrance Examinations

Written papers in English and Mathematics and online Reasoning tests. Candidates sitting the examinations overseas may be asked to sit a paper based reasoning test.

Selection

The offer of a place at the College is made on the basis of

• the candidate’s performance in the appropriate examination
• an interview
• a report from the Head of the candidate’s present school

and is subject to the College’s Standard Terms and Conditions.

The Interview

Candidates who show promise in the written papers are invited to attend for an interview shortly after the examination. Our aim is to provide a friendly atmosphere for the interview during which the candidate will be allowed the opportunity to give further evidence of his academic strengths and some indication of interests and abilities with which he might make a contribution to the general life of the College.