PGCE interview on Tuesday! Help!!

[pinksnowflake]

Making a very odd change from being a nurse, to being a teacher. I'm a single mum in my late 30s.

Secondary, Geography.

My interview at my chosen university is on Tuesday. I've got a written exercise about DoE document, a group exercise about current issues, a ten minute teaching session and an interview.

Please tell me all you know!!

Hi,

All PGCE interviews are a bit different, but from the three I went to, they seem to all be looking for potential rather than you to be the finished article.

For the teaching session/presentation, I'd say confidence and preparedness are key. You may be asked to reflect on what went well/badly in your individual interview. I don't think the actual content matters that much, but one of the biggest problems I saw at my interviews was pitching the content too high- if your target audience is, say KS3, think about what they may/may not already know and how to make the subject accessible to them.

The written exercise is mostly to check your written English as far as I could tell- so I guess clear communication and good spelling, punctuation and grammar are key. Readable handwriting is also good!

I only had a group exercise at one interview, but I think it's about showing good communication skills, as well as what you know- so drawing in those who aren't speaking as much, and letting others have their say while still putting your point across is good, I think.

The individual interviews were all really different, some were definitely more formal than others. You're likely to be asked to reflect on other parts of the day. You might be asked some subject knowledge questions. You might be asked some "tell me about a time when" type questions or about your resilience and time management skills. You're likely to be asked about your school experience and obviously your motivations for becoming a teacher (and why this age/subject).

I hope this helps a bit, and good luck!

Did you get a place, from the three you were interviewed for?

What do you think was key in getting a place?

I did get three offers when I interviewed.

I'm not 100% sure what helped me get the offers- the place I ended up accepting, I was pretty sure were going to reject me after interview!

In general, I got the impression that if you were interviewing for a shortage subject, unis wanted to make you offers, and it was about being good enough, rather than perfect! I think the standards are maybe a bit lower if the uni/country is struggling to recruit for your subject!

I do have experience (nearly 2 years when I interviewed) of working with young people, which I think helped in the individual interview. I was also quite realistic about my current strengths and weaknesses which may have helped. I'm a reasonably confident speaker and comfortable speaking in groups. I think having good subject knowledge also helps.

But it's really hard to say what was key. I saw other people interviewing, but I obviously didn't know who else did or didn't get offers, so again it's hard to draw conclusions from that- however, I do think there were a few people who came across as a bit shy, and looked uncomfortable speaking to the group, so that may have gone against them?

It's a shortage subject and they still have vacancies for September. I'm hoping that will secure it for me.

My subject knowledge is good on the basics but poor on the newer things like GIS. But I can demonstrate ability to learn such things??

If I can forget the actual scenario then I know I'm confident - I do public speaking a lot in current job. But the fact it's an interview, I'm worried will break me and turn me into a shy, quivering wreck.

And thank you for your detailed reply.

Good luck!!