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Help! 10+ interview at City of London tomorrow

14 replies

justone · 13/02/2011 10:05

Any tips / words of wisdom / horror stories for 10+ or 11+ interviews at City or similar schools.

Its tomorrow, DS seems calm and I am in bits!

Just looking for some advice and a bit of hand holding really Smile

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singersgirl · 13/02/2011 15:10

Don't know anything about CoL specifically but DS1 did 11+ interviews, and DS2 has just done 1 10+ interview, for similar schools.

Things to have an answer to: favourite book/book reading at the moment, favourite subject, what's happening in the news, holidays they've been on, what they'd do with £1 million, what period in history they'd like to go back to, what they do in their spare time, why they'd like to go that school and (from DS2 this week) a funny joke. (He couldn't think of one and as of now I don't know whether he's got in or not).

General advice: look the interviewer in the eye and don't say 'I dunno' to any questions.

I told my boys to remember the interviewers are on their side - they're not trying to catch them out, they just want them to be relaxed.

justone · 13/02/2011 16:07

I don't think many people could come up with a funny joke on demand, my DS could spend £1 million in a minute though Grin
Thanks so much and good luck to your DS2

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mummummummy · 13/02/2011 16:23

My dd at her 11+ exams was asked things like what does she do as a hobby and why does she like it, if she's in any clubs/teams at school, they asked her about the badges on her school jumper (school council, hall monitor badges, she described her roles),
maybe talk about a recent piece of work eg. a poem written at school or something, one place asked her what she was doing at the weekend, she said she was going to the airport straight from the interview to see her grandparents in Spain for a few days for a "much needed break" (ha!) - not a lie, she was, that got a few laughs from the interviewers.

One school got her to do a few Maths game type things because her maths was a weak spot in the examination she had taken for the school and although she admittedly didnt have a clue what to do (she'd never seen/used that particular type of "Game" before) she just tried her best but explained she hadn't done that maths game before and but that it "seemed fun" (haha). It was really a very very selective, academic school and she got a place through Reserve list so she must have come off OK despite floudnering over it - so if they are polite, chatty etc I think it goes a long way.

just tell him to be himself, if he's really into Xbox, then don't lie and pretend he reads Shakespeare after school for fun, say why he likes Xbox, try and expand a little bit on his answers - I like playing Rugby BECAUSE I like being part of a team AND I enjoy being with all my friends - that's what we worked on with dd, expanding a little, just give him a few examples and then get him to come up with his own.

Most of all, make it fun, make sure he's dressed nice and smart so he feels smart, say you'll go to McDonalds/A museum/let him have a friend round for tea that night/whatever's a treat for him, and it's a little incentive.
Make sure YOU stay calm, are relaxed and make it seem like a breeze - pressure does NOT help 10 year old boys!!!

Good luck!!!

justone · 13/02/2011 16:53

thanks mum I had already said don't mention the xbox so had better lighten up on that!
noted expand on the answers.
but how the hell do I stay calm??Grin

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mummummummy · 13/02/2011 17:10

Haha well obviously don't make out like Xbox is his entire life's achievement - but if they ask what he does for fun after school, he can say he likes to play this or that game on Xbox because he likes how it is challenging and he likes to be able to play with friends and have competition and he finds them very interesting so that's why he plays them - or something, I don't know, my nephew is obsessed!

As for the staying calm - just remember it REALLY isn't the end of the world - just put it in perspective - how lucky are we that we have healthy, clever kids and are in a position to put them through a school like CoL or the schools my dd was interviewing for - and at the end of the day, he'll get in somewhere, and he'll most likely do very well and turn out absolutely fine!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 13/02/2011 18:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

justone · 14/02/2011 18:24

Grin "my pencil case"

Inetrview complete, not sure how it went, he said 5 minute chat and 15 minute grilling in maths and english! He seemed fairly happy when he came out ...........we'll see.

Thanks all

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pippop1 · 14/02/2011 18:30

Just brought it all back for me. My DS2 said a few days after the interview, "Oh Yeah, the headmaster said that he very much hoped to see me in September".

Ask you DS if he remembers anything else in a couple of days time and you might get a good surprise.

justone · 14/02/2011 18:33

what a lovely headmaster!

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mummummummy · 15/02/2011 00:44

Well done to your son! Hope it was a not-too-stressful day for everyone! Grilling in Maths and English - eek - but i'm sure he handled it very well. Best of luck !

justone · 16/02/2011 12:41

Please excuse my boasting Blush but I just had to tell you all - he got a place!! woohoo

We are over the moon and for once can't wait for him to finish school today Grin

Thanks for all your advice and hoping you too get good news singersgirl

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CrosswordAddict · 16/02/2011 14:59

justone Congrats! Don't know you from Adam (or EVe) but just enjoy this moment.

singersgirl · 25/02/2011 18:22

Just remembered this thread (we were on holiday last week) and, in case Justone remembers, we did get good news!

koss · 03/02/2013 10:53

Hello, I am new to this site. Please can anyone help me? My DS got shortlisted for the CLSB 10+interview. Any suggestions ( pertiulaly from that school) woul be much appriciated!

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