By Truemaths Tech, Last Updated 30 Oct, 2026 5 min read
The Doon School admits boys into Class VII and Class VIII through a three-stage process: a written test, a group discussion and a personal interview. For 2026-27, registration closed on 10 July 2026 and the test was held on 9 August 2026. This page explains the eligibility rules, fees, exam pattern and selection process, so families can plan early for the next cycle.
The Doon School admission process is a three-stage selection for boys entering Class VII or Class VIII. It begins with an online registration and a written test, followed by a group discussion with four boys and a personal interview. The school looks at how a boy thinks, not only at what he has memorised.
The school admits boys into Class VII and Class VIII only. Age is counted as of September of the year of the test.
| Entry class | Age requirement (as of September) |
| Class VII | Over 11 and under 12 |
| Class VIII | Over 12 and under 13 |
The school also looks for boys with strong academic ability, good character, and talent in areas such as sports, music, culture, and leadership.
| Item | 2026-27 cycle |
| Registration deadline | 10 July 2026 (closed) |
| Admission test | 9 August 2026 (held) |
| 2027-28 cycle | Not yet announced |
The 2026-27 cycle is complete. Families planning for 2027-28 should check with the school’s admissions office for the next schedule. In the last cycle, the school advised parents to register early because the registration fee follows a sliding scale.
For academic year 2026-27, The Doon School charges ₹14,54,000 per year for ICSE/ISC and ₹16,54,000 for IB (Indian residents). The fees below are as published by the school.
| Fee | Indian residents | NRI |
| School fee per year (ICSE/ISC) | ₹14,54,000 | ₹18,17,500 |
| School fee per year (IB) | ₹16,54,000 | ₹20,17,500 |
| Admission fee (one-time, non-refundable) | ₹5,00,000 | ₹9,08,750 |
| Security deposit (one-time, refundable) | ₹7,00,000 | ₹9,08,750 |
| Imprest advance (per year) | ₹50,000 | ₹50,000 |
What does the first year cost? Adding the school fee, admission fee and imprest advance gives about ₹20,04,000 for an Indian resident on the ICSE/ISC track. This is our own calculation from the published figures. Including the refundable security deposit, the amount paid up front is about ₹27,04,000. It excludes the registration fee and personal expenses.
Fees are revised every year. Confirm the current figures with the school’s admissions office before paying.
Registration is online. The school’s process has five steps:
Registration does not guarantee admission.
The written test covers three areas. The school describes what each one looks for, and the focus is on thinking rather than recall.
| Section | What the school looks for |
| English | Can he follow instructions, express himself clearly, show a sense of logic and cause and effect, and engage with what he reads? |
| Mathematics | Does he understand numbers, angles, proportion and shape, spot patterns, and interpret data? |
| Reasoning and Case Study | Given a real article or scenario, can he follow the order of events, separate fact from opinion, and justify his own view? |
The Case Study section is the most distinctive part of the test, and it rewards boys who are curious about the world around them.
No. There is no Hindi test in the entrance exam. A Hindi placement assessment is conducted only after a boy joins the school, to understand his level.
Selection happens in three stages. The written test and school reports together carry 70% of the weighting, and the group discussion carries 30%.
| Stage | What happens |
| Stage 1: Written test | English, Mathematics, and Reasoning and Case Study, plus a review of school reports |
| Stage 2: Group discussion | A conversation with a group of four boys, observing how he listens, reasons and responds to other views |
| Stage 3: Personal interview | An interview with shortlisted boys |
Supporting documents the school reviews:
Representational certificates: district, state or national level achievements only, not participation certificates.
School reports: evidence of engagement in class and improvement over time.
The school is not looking for a boy who has been drilled. It is looking for a boy who reads widely, thinks independently and is comfortable with an unfamiliar problem. Preparation works best when it starts early and builds these habits:
Doon does not release past papers, so practice material is built from the school’s published description of the test. You can see our Doon School entrance exam sample papers.Truemaths is the place to be.
Truemaths prepares boys for the Doon entrance with a focus on the three areas the school tests: English, Mathematics, and Reasoning and Case Study. Our sessions work on understanding, not memorising. Boys practise reading and responding to unfamiliar passages, solving reasoning problems, discussing a case study aloud, and answering interview-style questions with confidence. Parents who want to know where their son stands today can start with a short diagnostic conversation. See our page on Doon School entrance exam coaching in Dehradun.
The annual school fee is ₹14,54,000 for ICSE/ISC and ₹16,54,000 for IB (Indian residents). There is also a one-time admission fee of ₹5,00,000, a refundable security deposit of ₹7,00,000 and a ₹50,000 annual imprest advance. Fees are revised every year.
The Doon School admits boys into Class VII and Class VIII only.
English, Mathematics, and Reasoning and Case Study. There is no Hindi test.
For Class VII, a boy must be over 11 and under 12 as of September of the test year. For Class VIII, he must be over 12 and under 13.
The 2026-27 test was held on 9 August 2026, and registration closed on 10 July 2026. The school has not yet announced 2027-28 dates.
No. The school does not release official past papers.
Planning for the next Doon School admission cycle? Talk to the Truemaths team on WhatsApp or through our contact page.
Got some doubts or queries?
Schedule a one-on-one session with our Experts.