Outlier - Personally, I don’t believe in this notion of the “x-factor” or the idea of a stranger spotting “potential” in a child or young person - except for in very exceptional circumstances. Yes, you can obviously assess if a student seems engaged and articulate to a reasonable degree. But those with “potential” may not shine at interviews and vice versa. It’s massively subjective.
I bet if you sat the same student with 10 different tutors they would come out with 10 different interview scores. They don’t even attempt to standardise the questions asked - some have two interviews and are sent by 4 tutors; others just one.
That is NOT to disrespect any candidate who has a place because if they do it is very well deserved. That is a given.
My DS was diagnosed with dyspraxia when he was 6 and this manifested in him not being able to hold a pen, among other things. “Oh don’t worry about that,” said the nightmare hothouse of the pre-prep we were stupid enough to have put him in (thinking it would be all nurturing and supportive because if the small class sizes) .. “Colet Court and Kings College Juniors are experts in spotting POTENTIAL, you know. Yes they know it when they see it - you must give him a go... “ Well what bcks that was because they evidently saw not a lot and DS for 5 rejection letters at the age of 6 (obviously he didn’t know at the time). He went to a non-selective school for Years 3-6 which was the makings of him. Then at 11 plus, he got into those schools (though he chose a different one in the end). So clearly he had the “potential” but they didn’t spot it three years earlier! And when he did get in, I do not for one second think he got in because he had “something special” that the teachers just “saw.” It’s a lottery really and he got lucky. This is why they all have to sit sit 5+ schools - it’s hedging your bets. My DD was much more switched in than DS at 11, but she didn’t get in to his school, although she got into others which are supposedly more “prestigious.” Also, of the 1,400 or whatever who sit for these schools, 400 are interviewed for about 100 places, but of course any one of the 400 would have coped in those schools just as well if not better than mine. In fact, my experience shows this to be true as they have many many friends in other schools who have done just that. So DS is nothing special, he’s reasonably able, but mainly he’s very, very fortunate to have had certain opportunities available to him. Sometimes you put yourself out there and it pays off, but oftentimes it doesn’t and you just have to roll with it really. But also, success or knockback, you can’t let these things define you.