For many schools in the UK, the 11+ interview is an important aspect of the admissions process. It allows a school to assess whether a student would be a good “fit” and gives you the opportunity to display your personality, interests, and potential. This article discusses the importance of 11+ interview preparation and considers some of the questions you might be asked.
Why Is It Important to Prepare for Your Interview?
Schools might hold individual or group interviews, panel interviews, or even use interactive activities designed to evaluate teamwork and problem-solving skills, so it is crucial to be aware of the format your chosen school uses.
Interviews help schools distinguish between candidates with similar academic records.
They provide an opportunity for students to display their potential, interests, and enthusiasm for learning.
The process allows schools to assess a candidate's suitability for a place and gives you the opportunity to discuss your extra-curricular activities.
Interview Questions
The questions will vary depending on the school and the interviewer's style, but could include:
Personal questions:
Tell me about yourself.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Describe a challenging situation you've faced and how you handled it.
Academic questions:
What is your favourite subject, and why?
Can you share an interesting project or book you've recently worked on or read?
How do you handle subjects or topics you find difficult?
School-related questions:
Why do you want to attend this school?
What extra-curricular activities are you interested in?
How could you contribute to our school community?
Literacy questions
Interviews may involve discussing a literary passage, sharing your favourite book, or talking about your writing experiences.
You could be asked to read an article and given comprehension style questions about it.
Speak clearly, express your thoughts coherently, and support your opinions with evidence from the text or personal experiences.
Be prepared to discuss literary concepts, such as plot, character development, symbolism, genre and themes.
Use specific examples from books or texts you have read to demonstrate your understanding and analytical skills.
Maths/Science questions
Some schools use science and math questions to assess a student's problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and interest in STEM subjects.
Brush up on fundamental scientific concepts, such as the states of matter, the water cycle, or the basic principles of electricity and magnetism.
For maths, revise essential topics such as arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, and basic algebra.
Mention any STEM projects you have worked on to showcase your enthusiasm.Top of Form
Ethical questions:
What does 'integrity' mean to you?
Can you describe a situation where you had to make a difficult ethical decision?
Creative thinking questions:
If you were given a million paper clips, what would you do with them?
Which item have I removed from the table?
What emotion does this picture evoke?
What do you see in this picture?
How does the artist make it seem as if the subject is moving?
Practising for Interviews:
Conduct mock interviews with tutors, parents or teachers.
Practise answering common questions confidently.
Some schools ask you to give a presentation about something that interests you. Practise this at home. Can you convey your enthusiasm?
Display Your Interests:
Be ready to discuss your hobbies, interests, and any relevant achievements.
Show enthusiasm for extracurricular activities and what you would like to do in the future.
Consider Ethics and Values:
Think about your own values and how they align with the school's values.
Be prepared to discuss ethical dilemmas and your approach to them. You should expect range of questions about your interests, hobbies, academic pursuits, and personal experiences.
Presenting Yourself on the Day
Be friendly and polite to everyone you meet during the day.
Maintain eye contact and speak clearly and confidently.
Ask Questions:
Prepare some thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the school to display your interest and engagement.
Research the website to make them relevant to the school, for example: “I saw that chess and swimming club are both on Tuesday lunchtime; is it possible to alternate between the two? Why do you think your school…?”
Try to Enjoy It!
Effective preparation can significantly enhance your chances of success. By understanding the importance of the interview and practising common questions, you can approach the 11+ interview with confidence and increase your chances of securing a place at your chosen school. The interview is not only about your academic abilities; it is about your character and how you could contribute to the school community.
Hyde Tutoring provides one-to-one interview support and mock interviews for students. Contact us for further information.
Written by Hayley Rainsforth.
