Year 9 entry (13+)

Entry Procedures Overview
Age of applicant	For boys born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016
Number of places available	50  (30 additional places will be offered to boys who sit the entrance examinations in 2029 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, Design & Technology, 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	Friday 2 October 2026, midday
Entrance Examinations	Tuesday 1 December 2026, at Dulwich College
Number of boys invited for interview	120
Interview Dates	Monday 11 January - Friday 15 January 2027
Results Date	Posted on Thursday 11 February by first class post and emailed on Friday 12 February 2027
Deadline for acceptance	TBC - Wednesday 3 March 2027, midday

Entry Procedures Overview
Age of applicant	For boys born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014
Number of places available	30
Academic, Art, Music and Sport Scholarships	Available
Music audition	Saturday 16 January 2027
Sport scholarship day	Friday 22 January 2027
Art scholarship day	Saturday 23 January 2027
Design & Technology scholarship day	Saturday 23 January 2027
Bursaries - Free and Subsidised Places	Available
Closing Date for Registration	Monday 2 November 2026, midday
Entrance Examinations Written papers in English and Mathematics and online Reasoning tests *	Saturday 9 January 2027
Number of boys invited for interview	40
Interview Date	Tuesday 19 January 2027
Results Date	Posted on Thursday 11 February by first class post and emailed on Friday 12 February 2027
Deadline for acceptance	Friday 26 February 2027, 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.  

In the exceptional circumstance of a network outage during the entrance examinations which would prevent pupils sitting the online tests, pupils will be given paper copies of Maths and English examinations.   

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.