Any advice for Latymer Upper Interviews?

[Chelseatina]

Hi! I am helping a pupil prepare for an interview at Latymer Upper this Saturday for an 11+ entry. Does anyone have any info on the type of questions they usually ask and/or what the format of the interview will be like?

Is there anyone out there that has had a child interview at Latymer??

Any help would be appreciated.

I guess there are a lot of people preparing and not too many willing to share advice! We are still waiting to hear if DS will even have one...

DS did an interview there a few years ago and as far as I recall they were pretty straightforward - a general chat and possibly a few maths questions and a passage to read and answer questions on. The thing I really remember is that it's incredibly busy, like an airport, with 6th formers taking parents and children to tables to wait for different teachers, and loads of interviews going on at the same time.

Thanks singersgirl, I hope its of use to Chelseatina, DS won't be able to put the advice to use unfortunately :(

It's very much as singersgirl describes - so being prepared for a lot of people helps. The actual interview seems to be a bit of maths, a bit of reading and comprehension and a bit of chat about personal stuff. My DD liked it - and got in - despite saying she didn't know how to do one of the maths questions.
I think they're looking for confidence and personality as well as ability - you have to be pretty 'up' at Latymer so I think they're trying to make sure they take children who will fit the personality of the school as well as cope with the academic side. I know my DD talked a fair amount about her interests in drama and singing as well so maybe that helped - she'd just done the Arts Ed audition so could talk about that

Personal chat: what they enjoy doing in their spare time, being to talk easily to a grown-up! Having an awareness of news, current affairs, and a view on these things.

ie if you talk a bout a film they might have seen, not just "it was good, I liked it" but being able to elucidate why. And using words like elucidate!

Thanks Everyone - this has been very helpful! Appreciate it!

Sorry to hear your DS didn't get an interview toutelemonde. Was Latymer his/your 1st choice or do you prefer other schools? My DS didn't get ain interview there either 2 years ago but he still got into his favoured school. And with so many hundreds applying, Latymer is quite a lottery.

Thanks toomanyjobs, appreciate it. I'm sure it wasn't first choice yesterday but now I know it is out of the question, it feels like the best school - I think I must be a glass half empty sort of person!