Private secondary school interviews and entrance exams can be a daunting experience for many children.
In these interviews, prospective students are typically asked a range of interview questions designed to assess their suitability for the school.
It’s important to be well-prepared and confident in your child’s responses during private school interviews.
This blog provides tips and guidance on independent secondary school interviews. We’ll go over the most common interview questions, and how to go about answering them.
By following these tips, you can increase your child’s chances of success in private school interviews and demonstrate their potential as a student.
Tell Me About Yourself
This question is often one of the first people encounter in private secondary school interviews. It’s a chance to make a strong first impression. The interviewer wants to get to know the prospective student beyond what’s on their application.
It’s important to prepare a thoughtful and engaging introduction. When crafting a personal introduction at independent secondary school interviews, focus should be on highlighting the unique qualities and experiences that make your child stand out.
Consider including information about background, interests, and goals. They might also want to mention any achievements or awards they’ve earned that demonstrate their strengths and potential.
Why Do You Want to Attend this School?
This type of question are an opportunity to demonstrate a genuine interest in the school and convince the interviewer that your child is a good fit. Here are some tips to help prepare a strong answer.
Research the School Thoroughly
Learn about the school’s values, mission, history, academic programmes, extracurricular activities, and any notable achievements. Visit the school’s website, read the prospectus, and talk to current or former students if possible.
Identify Your Reasons
Think about why your child is drawn to the school and what sets it apart from other institutions. Some possible reasons might include the school’s reputation, a particular academic programme, a club or activity that they’re interested in, or the school’s location.
Being able to show that they know the school well will help them in independent secondary school interviews.
Be Authentic
The answer should reflect your child’s own interests and goals, not what you think the interviewer wants to hear. They should be honest and enthusiastic about why they’re excited to attend this school.
Show How You Can Contribute
Explain how attending this school will help your child achieve their goals and contribute to the school community. They might mention any relevant experiences, skills, or qualities that they could bring to the school.
Connect Your Answer to Your Personal Story
Tie the answer back to your child’s own experiences or aspirations. For example, they might talk about how the school’s values align with their own, or how a particular academic programme relates to your future career goals.
What Are Your Academic Strengths?
In independent secondary school interviews, your child may be asked to discuss their academic strengths. This is an opportunity to showcase their achievements and goals, and convince the interviewer that they’re a capable and motivated student. Here are some tips to help you and your child prepare a strong answer to these interview questions:
Be specific
Focus on strengths
Discuss goals
Be enthusiastic
By showcasing their achievements, goals, and passion for learning, your child can convince the interviewer that they’re a strong candidate for admission. Remember to keep the answers short and focused, and provide concrete examples to back up anu claims.
What Are Your Areas for Improvement?
In private secondary school interviews, it’s common to be asked about areas for improvement. While this can be a challenging question to answer, it’s important to approach it with honesty and self-reflection.
One approach to answering these types of 11 Plus independent school interview questions is to identify an area where your child has struggled in the past but is actively working to improve. For example, they might mention that they sometimes struggle with time management, but have been working on developing a schedule to help them stay organised and meet deadlines.
Another approach is to focus on a skill or subject area that they’re not as confident in, but are willing to put in extra effort to improve. For instance, they might mention that they find public speaking challenging, but are taking steps to improve their skills by joining a drama school, debate club or practicing in front of friends and family.
It’s important to avoid making excuses or minimising any weaknesses. Instead, they should demonstrate self-awareness and commitment to growth by discussing specific steps they’re taking to address these areas for improvement.
How Do You Manage Your Time?
11-plus Independent school interview questions may be asked about how your child manages their time. This is an opportunity to showcase their organisational skills and time-management strategies.
One approach is to discuss specific methods used to stay organised. They could also discuss how they prioritise tasks and manage distractions, such as not watching telly or limiting the use of their tablets during the week.
By demonstrating their ability to manage your time effectively, your child can show the interviewer that they’re a responsible and dedicated student. Be sure to provide concrete examples and avoid vague or general answers.
Describe a Challenge You Overcame
These types of interview questions are an opportunity to showcase your child’s resilience and problem-solving skills. It’s also a chance to demonstrate that they have the ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
They should be sure to explain how they approached the challenge. Mention what specific actions they took to overcome it. Wrap up by saying what they learned from the experience.
By sharing a story of resilience and perseverance, your child can show the interviewer that they have the ability to handle difficult situations and emerge stronger from them.
Remember when in private school interviews to stay positive and avoid dwelling on negative aspects of the experience. Focus on the lessons learned and the positive outcomes that came from the challenge.
Get Your Child Ready for Their Private Secondary School Interviews
In conclusion, private secondary school interviews and interview questions can be challenging. But with the right preparation, your child can demonstrate their strengths, abilities, and genuine interest in the school.
It’s important to approach private school interviews with confidence and authenticity.
Need a little help getting your child prepped to face those 11 Plus independent school interview questions? Ant Learning understands. Contact us today to see how we can help your child excel.
