The 11+ has been the gateway to the most prestigious schools for decades, but this ever-evolving test is becoming more competitive year on year. That’s why we take a holistic approach to 11+ preparation, building a bespoke programme of support that’s tailored to the needs of each child – and the individual expectations of every school.
Central to that is our targeted interview preparation, either working with students individually, or in our dedicated group sessions. The interview is perhaps one of the most daunting elements of the 11+ for children. What will it be like? What questions will come up? How do you make the right impression? This month, we’re helping to answer these concerns with some invaluable insights from our 11+ interview experts, plus a sneak-peek at some of the most common questions children are likely to face.
Top tips to share with your child
- On the morning of the interview, make sure you’ve got a favourite book in mind – as well as the name of the book you’re currently reading. Don’t forget the authors, too.
- Look at the day’s top headlines and choose a couple of news items that particularly interest you.
- Great impressions begin from the moment you arrive. Be polite to everyone you meet. Make eye contact and don’t forget to smile.
- When the interview starts, it’s ok to pause briefly before answering a question. It gives you time to prepare, and shows your interviewer you’re thinking carefully.
- Don’t be shy to mention your strengths and achievements.
- Be specific and concise in your answers. And if you lose the thread, it’s ok to admit that, and ask to start again.
- Make sure you have a question to ask at the end, and are ready to speak enthusiastically about the school.
We practice all of these elements as part of our interview coaching, and have plenty more resources and tricks to share. But perhaps the best way to prepare is to practice interview questions and scenarios as much as possible – ideally with someone your child is less familiar with. We find this is a crucial way to build confidence and communication skills, and we’ll often bring in a new face as part of our interview courses, to help conduct practice sessions.
Common interview questions to try at home
Why do you want to come to this school?
What are your hobbies or extracurricular activities/sports?
Have you ever faced something difficult that you had to overcome?
Which famous person (dead or alive) would you like to meet, and why?
Sometimes, the questions can become a little more abstract…
What is creativity?
Describe a computer to your great-great grandfather.
If you woke up and you were a giant insect, what would you do?
What sound have you never heard?
And often, they’ll include artworks, poetry or literature for children to reflect on, with questions like…
Why would an artist paint a picture like this?
What is the message?
What is this poem about?
What do you like (or not like) about it?
11+ interview preparation with Figtree
Our targeted 11+ interview practice sessions are designed to build critical thinking. Led by Figtree Founder, Ariana, we’ll help students learn how to conduct themselves effectively, develop interpersonal skills, to think on their feet and tackle tricky questions with ease.
Working alongside their peers, students will hone their answers to key questions, as well as learning new strategies to cope with the unexpected. Looking at everything from body language to tone, presentation skills and mental agility, every child will come away with plenty of personalised feedback and tips to continue preparations at home.
We also offer one-to-one 11+ tuition dedicated to interview practice. We strive to create a supportive environment that makes the process enjoyable. Removing the unknown goes a long way to allaying children’s fears, so we’ll spend plenty of time practising various interview scenarios to ensure each student makes an impression from the very first moment.
To find out more about our bespoke support and 11+ group courses, please do get in touch with the team.
