Dulwich College 11+ Test & Preparation Guide
Dulwich College publishes a two-part 11+ entrance assessment: online tests followed by a creative writing task.
The online assessment covers Mathematics, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Puzzles and Problem Solving, and Creative Comprehension; the writing task is separate and should be prepared for directly.
Confirmed 11+ Assessment Route
| Assessment area | What parents should prepare for |
|---|---|
| Online tests | Mathematics, English, non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, puzzles and problem solving, and creative comprehension. |
| Question format | Most online questions are multiple choice, with a few requiring a typed word or number. |
| Adaptive sections | Maths, NVR and VR are adaptive; English, Puzzles and Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension are non-adaptive. |
| Creative writing | A separate creative writing task with planning and writing time; candidates handwrite unless access arrangements allow typing. |
How Scholars Tutorial Covers the Required Preparation
The most useful preparation plan is to match Scholars Tutorial practice directly to the published assessment areas, rather than using a generic grammar-school 11+ plan.
| Required skill | Scholars Tutorial online categories | Printed paper support | Preparation emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths and numerical problem solving | 11+ Maths, 11+ Maths : Word Problems, 11+ Advanced Maths | 11+ Maths Practice Papers, 11+ Maths : Word Problems Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced Maths Practice Papers | Build KS2 mastery, faster arithmetic, multi-step problem solving and harder independent-school questions. |
| English and creative comprehension | 11+ English, 11+ SPAG, 11+ Advanced English, 11+ Advanced VOCAB | 11+ English Practice Papers, 11+ SPAG Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers | Focus on inference, synthesis, vocabulary and careful reading under time pressure. |
| Reasoning and puzzles | 11+ VR, 11+ NVR, 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE | 11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers, 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers, 11+ Mixed Practice Papers | Prepare for adaptive reasoning, spatial pattern work and unfamiliar logic tasks. |
| Creative writing | Creative Writing, 11+ Advanced English, 11+ Advanced SPAG | Creative Writing practice, 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced SPAG Practice Papers | Practise short, original responses with clear structure, precise vocabulary and accurate punctuation. |
Suggested Scholars Tutorial Preparation Route
1. Start with core online subjects
Use 11+ English, 11+ Maths, 11+ VR and 11+ NVR to cover the main online assessment areas.
2. Add problem-solving depth
Use 11+ Maths : Word Problems, 11+ Advanced Maths and 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE for puzzles, logic and harder Maths.
3. Prepare creative comprehension
Use 11+ Advanced English and 11+ Advanced VOCAB to improve inference, comparison, synthesis and vocabulary precision.
4. Prepare creative writing separately
Use Creative Writing practice so the pupil can plan quickly and write accurately within a short writing window.
What Not to Over-Prepare
FAQ
Should pupils prepare VR and NVR?
Yes. Dulwich publishes both Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning as online assessment components.
Is Creative Writing core preparation?
Yes. Dulwich publishes a separate creative writing task, so Creative Writing practice should be included.
How to Use This Guide
Use this page as a preparation guide, then check the school’s latest official admissions page before applying. Independent schools can change assessment providers, paper lengths, shortlist rules and interview arrangements. This guide deliberately avoids fixed calendar dates and wider admissions-policy detail so that parents can focus on the test preparation that matters.