Are you seeking the perfect exam preparation material for Dulwich College 11+ entrance exams?
This essential resource includes four bespoke comprehension papers designed to mirror the school's unique exam style. Accompanied by model answers and thorough explanations, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the skills necessary to excel in these critical assessments.
Accolade Press equips students with the tools and strategies required to secure top marks in the competitive environment of Dulwich College 11+ exams. Accolade Press ensures students have every tool at their disposal to emulate these point-scoring techniques and tactics.
- Four comprehension papers crafted to reflect the distinctive style of Dulwich College, ensuring thorough preparation for exams in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
- A diverse range of extracts to ensure a range of skills are tested.
- Comprehensive model answers provided for every question, frequently accompanied by alternative solutions to illustrate how students can achieve high marks through various approaches.
- Detailed explanations accompany each model answer, not only clarifying how the responses fulfil examiners' expectations but also guiding students through complex concepts and vocabulary found in the answers.
- Authored by a skilled tutor with an exceptional history of success in 11+ admissions.
Sample Extract:
Paper One
In this excerpt from the humorous novel, "The Hounds of Justice," Ike and Lester, two friends and aspiring criminals, have encountered a unique situation: they are attempting to interrogate a dog named Percy, in hopes of evading the law.
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"Look at him! Just sitting there, wagging his tail, that mischievous glint in his eye. He knows something," muttered Ike, as he stared intently at the dog.
"What could a dog possibly know?" Lester replied with a weary sigh, rubbing his temples as the stress threatened to devour his sanity. "Come on Ike, we've become unhinged."
Ike, however, was undeterred and, in a burst of alacrity, approached the dog with an air of determination. Poor Percy, an old Yorkshire terrier, could merely tilt his head, the picture of canine innocence and confusion. Even the worn and frayed edges of his dog collar seemed to question Ike's actions. However, Ike was adamant about gleaning some sort of information from the unlikely informant.
"Now, Percy," Ike began, feigning geniality, "You've seen the Peelers patrolling the area, haven't you? We just need to know their schedule, that's all."
Lester, leaning against the crumbling brick wall of their hideout, arched an eyebrow at his friend's antics. "He's a dog, Ike, not a confederate. You've lost your marbles!"
"It's worth a shot, Lester! The walls have ears, and I reckon, so do dogs," Ike retorted, not taking his eyes off Percy.
Ike then tried a different tactic. Clearing his throat and lowering his voice to an authoritative tone, he tapped into the bravado of a man backed into a corner, a performance both desperate and fearless in equal measures. "Now, you listen here, Percy. We aren't playing games. We're in deep trouble if we don't stay one step ahead of the law, and you're going to help us!"
Percy, in response to Ike's histrionics, simply wagged his tail, gave a little yawn, and licked Ike's outstretched hand.
Ike threw his hands up in frustration. "Curse the dog's impudence; it'll be the death of us!" he shouted, the palpable tension in his voice a cacophony of the absurd and the frantic.
Lester, witnessing Ike's growing frustration, tried to console his friend. "Maybe we're thinking about this the wrong way, Ike. Perhaps we need to focus on pulling ourselves together, rather than relying on a dog's knowledge of—"
But Lester was interrupted by a sudden bark from Percy. The dog, now standing at the entrance of their hideout, directed his gaze towards something unseen in the distance, his ears perked alert.
Ike's eyes widened, and his voice dropped to a hasty whisper. "What's he trying to tell us, Lester?"
Their hearts pounded in their ears as they exchanged nervous glances, the absurdity of the moment forgotten in the face of potential danger. In this desperate hour, for better or worse, Ike and Lester decided to heed the inscrutable message of their canine companion.
Extract from "The Hounds of Justice" by B.I. O'Brien
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QUESTIONS
1. The following is a comprehension question. As such, only short answers are required.
1a. What type of dog is Percy? [1]
1b. What do you think Ike is referring to when he uses the word 'Peelers'? [1]
1c. Where are Ike and Lester hiding?
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In a cave
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In an abandoned warehouse
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At a hideout with a crumbling brick wall
Circle the answer that appears most correct: [1]
1d. How does Lester react to Ike's belief that the dog can provide useful information? [1]
1e. Why do you think the author uses an exclamation mark in the phrase: 'You've lost your marbles!'? [1]
2. This question tests your ability to discuss language. Your ability to discuss the meanings of individual words and to identify literary techniques (such as metaphors or similes) will be rewarded.
2a. How does the following quote convey Lester's frustration? "Lester replied with a weary sigh, rubbing his temples as the stress threatened to devour his sanity." [3]
2b. How does the following quote convey the absurdity of Ike's behaviour? "Even the worn and frayed edges of his dog collar seemed to question Ike's actions." [3]
2c. How does the following quote convey Ike's desperation? "...he tapped into the bravado of a man backed into a corner, a performance both desperate and fearless in equal measures." [3]
2d. Look back at paragraphs 1-5. What is your overall impression of Lester and Ike's friendship? Using quotations NOT used in the exam so far, write your answer below. [3 marks; 12 marks total for this question]
3. This question tests your understanding of character. In your own words, explain what the following two quotations show about Ike's personality:
3a. 'Ike threw his hands up in frustration. "Curse the dog's impudence; it'll be the death of us!"' [2]
3b. 'Ike's eyes widened, and his voice dropped to a hasty whisper. ' [2]
4. This question tests your ability to explain the meanings of words as they appear in the passage. Work out the meanings of the following words based on their meaning in the passage:
a. Mischievous (paragraph 1) [1]
b. Unhinged (paragraph 2) [1]
c. Gleaning (paragraph 3) [1]
d. Geniality (paragraph 4) [1]
5. This question tests your ability to find a quotation and explain its meaning. Find a quote that demonstrates the humorous and absurd nature of the passage, and explain how it does so.
Quotation [1]:
Explanation [4]:
6. This question tests your ability to explain the meanings of quotations. In your own words, and based on the context of the passage, explain why the writer has written the following:
6a. "The walls have ears, and I reckon, so do dogs." [3]
6b. "He's a dog, Ike, not a confederate." [3]
6c. "But Lester was interrupted by a sudden bark from Percy." [2]
End of Sample
