Interview practice

[roula]

Could someone pls recommend tutors for interview practice?
DS is due to have St Paul's interview soon for entry at 13.
He is academically v good without any help but he is not very organised when answering questions and can't present himself effectively.

[muffinmonster]

I didn't know tutors existed who do interview practice. Have you thought of just getting some family friends or colleagues (not too familiar to your DS) who would be willing to do mock interviews? We did this for my DD for sixth-form entry - my boss and a couple of my husband's colleagues were willing to help.

As regards being organised about questions, when preparing for independent school interviews at 11+ I got my son to do a mind map of all his interests and activities and other things that might come up - it just helped him to think through what would be worth mentioning.

And I practiced with him to elicit more detailed answers; e.g. not 'Do you like music? Yes', but 'Do you like music? Yes, I have been playing the xx since I was 7 and I've done grade x. I also like to compose music on the computer...' etc.

[roula]

Thanks. Really helpful

[happygardening]

My DS was interviewed for St Pauls he said it was a hard interview he came stating he wouldn't get a place. At his prep he'd done interview practice but the interview was very different from anything he'd practiced and also different from what his friend experienced at Eton Harrow etc.
He needs to have interests and firm views on his interests and be articulate enough and be able to think quickly enough to justify his views in the face of an interviewer who's going to oppose them.

[happygardening]

My DS was interviewed for St Pauls he said it was a hard interview he came stating he wouldn't get a place. At his prep he'd done interview practice but the interview was very different from anything he'd practiced and also different from what his friend experienced at Eton Harrow etc.
He needs to have interests and firm views on his interests and be articulate enough and be able to think quickly enough to justify his views in the face of an interviewer who's going to oppose them.

[racingheart]

I practised with DS. Tutor gave us a list of subjects that might get asked. And some did. DS pointed out he hated it if we pretended to be the interviewer, so preferred to be asked: What would you say if you were asked which is your first choice school? (Guess St Paul's don't ask that.)

DS prepared by learning to answer in an honest but positive way, and by being asked some outlandish questions, so he learned to think on his feet.

They get asked things like: what is the last show you saw/book you read? Which is your favourite country that you've visited. But these were 11+ so probably more gentle and far less academic than 13+.

Interview technique is the same though, however old they are. Make eye contact, be polite, positive, and confident but not brash. Be honest if you don't know, but have an opinion if that's what's being sought (rather than a fact.) Show deep and proven enthusiasm for academic and extra curricular things. Be able to say what he's done that he's proud of - achievements or overcoming difficulties etc. Have some aspirations for the future - both at the school (learning new languages for example, or joining certain clubs) and beyond. DS was asked, aged 10, where he'd like to go to uni and what he wants to study there.

[happygardening]

St Paul's did ask my DS where else he'd applied to and what he thought the difference was. He stated that St Paul's would make him work harder!!

[happygardening]

Definitely have an opinion be proud of it and be prepared for a question that challenges your opinion.