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Original poster

What questions was your DC asked at 11+ interview? Did you practice?

35 replies

Fluffyhamster · 23/09/2010 13:53

DS1 will likely have a couple of interviews with Head Teacher/ senior school staff as part of his 11+ (independent school) application process.

Am just wondering what your DC were asked if they've been through this?

I don't want to 'over-rehearse' things, but I would like him to think about how he might answer certain types of questions.

I think the obvious ones are:

  • why would you like to come here?
  • what are your hobbies?

What else?

OP posts:
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Lara53 · 30/11/2018 20:02

What activities do you enjoy outside school?

What is your favourite sport?

What kind of animal would you be and why?

brisklady · 30/11/2018 17:32

My friend does interviewing for an indie and says they're always really put off by a chestful of badges - suggests that either parents or child or both are show-offy.

KanikaMarwaha · 30/11/2018 17:25

thatis fuuny

Tabliope · 24/09/2010 19:04

Wozzzzz, you made me and my DS laugh out loud - Argos catalogue!

SandyThumb · 24/09/2010 15:35

? Wolf

pagwatch · 24/09/2010 15:32

Don't coach him.Don't interfere
Tell him thatthe people he meets will wantto know about him and he should answer their questions honestly
DS1 was asked about his family which led to autism which led to MMR and science = god.
He also said his fav thing was gamecube. At other schools he was asked about news story, poverty in Africa etc etc
He got in to all of them because they were looking for nice interesting smart kid. Not odd sealed up boy

I suspect teachers and interviewers are deeply suspicious of children who love to read Treasure Island and enjoy reading and walks and macrame.

One friend of DS1 was asked about his hobbies and ddutifully answered in uber 'correct' way. Next teacher asked him if Playstation was better than gamecube and what platform FiFa game worked best on...

Grin
wolfbrother · 24/09/2010 15:23

Grin SandyThumb, lol

SandyThumb · 24/09/2010 15:14

With DD we did practice interviews and videoed them, and then we watched them together and I got her to talk about what she thought.
She noticed things about her eye contact, body language, and her voice which she decided she didn't like, and wanted to change...

I also had a style/colour consultant come and give her advice about hair and colour of clothing etc.

It all helped.

Wozzzzzz · 24/09/2010 15:08

We didn't prep DS (for 10+, not 11+) because I didn't wnat him to be trying to remember what he was supposed to say and then losing track of what he was actually being asked. He was asked what was his favourite book. He answered (truthfully) the Argos catalogue [bicuit] (He was offerd a place, but we did get him reading a bit more widely after that....)

Original poster
Fluffyhamster · 24/09/2010 13:47

Hmm, yes... eating/TV/fighting with siblings... not good!

OP posts:
PollyTechnique · 24/09/2010 09:56

Dd was asked about any involvement she had with charity work which was fairly easy to talk about as her primary school did a lot and we also sponsor a child in India.

alexw · 24/09/2010 09:39

No real horror stories, but some children have said their favourite activity is watching tv or fighting with siblings (doesn't go down well). Also One girl who told me she wanted to come to sschool because of the facilities and the school's place in the league tables and how it would try to get the best out of her (obviously parents' answers). Main thing is enthusiasm.

yoyo · 23/09/2010 21:50

"How would you describe a window?"

Also asked to take something in and discuss it.

Favourite author.

"What did you read in the newspaper last week?"

singersgirl · 23/09/2010 21:42

DS1 got asked at one school what period in history he'd like to go back to and why. We did tell him that if he didn't know the answer to a question or didn't understand it, it was much better to ask them to repeat it or to rephrase it than just to say 'dunno'.

stubbornhubby · 23/09/2010 17:45

what would you do with a million pounds is a great question - most 11 yr olds must have thought about that before.

hitmouse · 23/09/2010 17:32

Oh yes the badges! At one school my DD was about the only girl there without one. I'm going to have to go and buy a load for my next.

stillfeel18inside · 23/09/2010 17:08

My DS was asked (he did quite a few interviews):

  • what would you do with a million pounds?
  • where would you most like to go in the world and why? (you weren't allowed to say Disneyland!!)
  • why do you want to come to this school?
  • what's your favourite subject, why do you like it?
and he had to talk about sports he played, musical instruments etc. Also he had a "Vice-president" badge on, which he had in yr 6 at his state primary, and was asked what duties he had as Vice-president. (I hadn't prepped him on that one, so he said "er nothing much, I think we help at sports day"!)
Original poster
Fluffyhamster · 23/09/2010 16:45

Yes - he DOES want to go, and I think could be quite animated about it, with good reasons etc, so I'm not too worried.

He would probably say things like "liked the boys who showed him round" "had a good feel to the school" "wants to join the jazz band, and the pyromaniacs club..."

All good stuff really!

OP posts:
stubbornhubby · 23/09/2010 16:33

make sure DD understands there aren't really right or wrong answers. they want to hear him talk, to have opinions, to be interesting and interested.

5 mins analysis of harry potter or dr who or whatever - with the child coming alive and saying something interesting is going to be much more impressive than claiming 'Oliver Twist' but then being monosyllabic about it.

DOES he want to go to the school?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 23/09/2010 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Litchick · 23/09/2010 15:59

DD was asked what she was involved in at school apart form lessons - choir, sports teams etc
What she did outside school.
What book she was reading at the moment.
Which subjects she liked best and why. Dotto the worst.
And I think one school asked her if she could think of any recent news stories and discuss them.

dinosaur · 23/09/2010 15:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
Fluffyhamster · 23/09/2010 14:41

Some really good advice here!

Alex - do you have any 'horror' stories?

The head of one school we looked at told the story of a boy who came for interview and was very reticent to communicate..

Head: "so, what are your hobbies then?"

Boy: "erm, dunno, er, nothing really.."

Head: "Oh, I'm sure there's something you like doing after school?"

Boy: (ponders, then face lights up..)
"Oh yes!"

Head: (relieved..) : "Great, so what's that then? what do you like doing after school?"

Boy: "Eating..."

Biscuit
OP posts:
sue52 · 23/09/2010 14:29

DD was called in for a scholarship interview after the entrance exam for an independent school. She was asked about her favourite author, why she was keen on her after school activities (piano and ballet),some general knowledge questions and a bit about current affairs. Good luck.

Doodlez · 23/09/2010 14:19

I know of one child who was asked what he could offer/bring to the school!

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