Pursuing independent school entrance requires a considerable level of organisation. With most families applying to three or more schools, the ISEB Pre-Test to consider, and entry points from 7 or 8 plus, to 11 plus, to 13 plus, parents are often challenged by the competing deadlines and overall intensity of the assessment process.

 

If your child is fortunate enough to reach the interview stage, a coveted place is within their grasp, but far from guaranteed. This insight will therefore consider Think Tutors’ 5 Top Tips for Independent School Interview Preparation.

What do the interviews consist of?

It is important to begin with a caveat: no two interviews are the same, even at the one school. Whilst the objectives are the same, to work out whether a student is the right ‘fit’ for a certain school, the methods are entirely different.

 

Some schools have the student prepare answers to set topics or questions, whereas others have a list of themes which they loosely stick to. Some focus on hobbies, and less on academia, whereas others are intensely focused on academic pursuits. For advice on specific schools, please contact us.

 

At the time of writing, however, interviews are mostly online, and conducted by either a housemaster, admissions staff, or teachers. With this in mind, there are a number of ways to prepare for the big day.

1. Enlist the help of a tutor

Think Tutors’ professional tutors are both experts at building confidence, and au fait with the requirements of independent schools across the UK. From Eton and Harrow to Latymer Upper, our tutors have not only been through the system themselves, but have remarkable success rates when given enough time with a student.

 

We also provide advisory services for school entrance as a whole, in a relocation context if you are based outside the UK, or if you know which schools you would like to apply for, we can create a tuition schedule to suit your family. Please enquire if you would like to find out more.

2. Consider their surroundings

It is vital for a child to be in an environment where they will be content to sit still for between half hour and an hour. Fast internet, a clear desk with comfortable chair in a well-lit room are just a few ways to help the interview go as smoothly as possible.

3. Practice conversation

Converse, rather than rehearse. Good interviewers will pick up on rehearsed answers, and try to put the interviewee off their rhythm. Students who have practiced conversing, and can easily address a topic in multiple ways, come across far better than students with precisely prepared answers.

4. Learn about the school

Interviewers will be looking for genuine enthusiasm for going to their particular school, and one of the best ways to achieve this is to learn about the school. From Wellington College’s five ‘I’s: Inspired, Intellectual, Independent, Individual and Inclusive, to Harrow’s core values: courage, honour, humility and fellowship – it is vital to be able to demonstrate a knowledge of where they are applying to.

5. Encourage students to be themselves

Finally, personality is important. Interviewees should not be afraid to talk about themselves, their hobbies, favourite subjects, and hopes and dreams when leaving school. Whilst ambition can play well, honestly in this case is always the best policy, as interviewers will want to know how your child fits into the school community.

Contact Think Tutors

If you would like to find out more about how Think Tutors can help your child gain admission to your target schools, please contact us. We also offer tuition for ISEB Pre-Test, 7 or 8 plus,  11 plus, and 13 plus.