St. Dunstan's College 11+ Entrance Exam: A Guide for Parents

St Dunstan's College sets its 11+ entrance exam in two parts for Year 7 entry, pairing a computer-based test with the school's own written papers, a taught lesson and an interview. Part One is sat in early December of Year 6, covering English, Mathematics and Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning through GL Assessment's computer-based tests, and Part Two follows in January with written papers and an observed lesson at the school. Exact dates for each stage appear in the key facts table on this page.

About St. Dunstan's College

St Dunstan's is a co-educational independent school in Catford, South London, taking pupils from age 3 to 18. Its Church of England foundation admits children from all backgrounds and faiths, and the school has around 1,162 pupils across the age range.

The entrance exam

Part One of the assessment is set and marked by GL Assessment, an external assessment provider, and takes the form of computer-based tests covering English, Mathematics, and Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Part Two is set by St Dunstan's itself and brings candidates into school for written papers, a taught lesson and an interview, giving staff a fuller picture of how a child thinks and learns beyond a single sitting. Alongside the standard Year 7 entry route, the school also runs a separate interview route for academic scholarship candidates. The components assessed are set out below.

• English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning: sat as computer-based GL Assessment tests during Part One, in early December of Year 6.
• Taught lesson: an observed approach to learning, forming part of Part Two in January.
• English: a written assessment in Part Two, comprising comprehension and a persuasive writing task.
• Mathematics: a written paper assessment forming part of Part Two.

Registration and key dates

Registration for the assessment usually closes in November, ahead of the child's Year 6 academic year, and the school publishes its exact registration deadline and process on its admissions pages each cycle. Part One is typically held on a Saturday in early December, with Part Two, including the written papers, taught lesson and interview, following in January. The school usually confirms offers in February, ahead of entry into Year 7 the following September.

• Registration closes: November of Year 6
• Part One (computer-based tests): early December of Year 6
• Part Two (written papers, taught lesson and interview): January of Year 6
• Offers confirmed: February of Year 6
• Entry into Year 7: the following September

Current dates are in the key facts table at the top of this page, taken from the school's own admissions pages below, which remain the reference for each round.

• Entry at 11+
• Admissions

Past papers and familiarisation

St Dunstan's does not publish downloadable past or sample papers for its 11+ assessment on its admissions pages, so families cannot rehearse against the school's own materials directly. The school instead runs an optional Assessment Preparation Programme, held over two days in the autumn term, which introduces candidates to the format of the assessment and interview ahead of Part One. Families preparing for this format more generally often draw on standard practice materials for verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics, alongside familiarisation with comprehension, persuasive writing and interview technique.

Preparing with Taylor Tuition

Preparation for the St Dunstan's 11+ tends to go best when it starts early and stays steady, and most families who work with us begin between twelve and eighteen months out. Our tutors, who have prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, plan the work backwards from the school's own assessment format and registration deadline.

The tutors we match to 11+ preparation are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.