Everything Exams

I’ve been asked many times by parents over the years for advice on how to prepare for the interview stage of the application process at 7 plus, 11 plus and 13 plus. Preparing for an interview a week or so beforehand can be a bit stressful and it takes the pressure off slightly if parents start thinking about interviews a little sooner than this. The extra time can be used to easily and simply plug any gaps children have in their ‘aural CVs’ and help them get used to being asked their opinions on a wide range of topics including books they have read, experiences they have had, and current affairs.

In this post, I’ve put together the top 3 things I recommend parents consider at least a few months before the assessments start. These activities don’t necessarily take up much time or energy and should avoid a last minute panic.

1️⃣ One of the common interview question topics my students report back to me that they’ve been asked about in independent schools 11 plus interviews is the books they read – what books they have read,  what books they are reading currently, what is their favourite book and who is their favourite author. For many 10 year olds, voicing an opinion on what they have read can be quite daunting, and for some, being put on the spot can prevent them from remembering titles, authors and even the plot of the last book they read. I read at least two books a month and am terrible at remembering titles and authors so I have every sympathy! The question is, how can we help them?

Most students are encouraged to read suitable books at their current school on a regular basis, and sometimes write book reviews in class. To prepare for the 11 plus interview process, I recommend that your child keeps their own record at home and also makes sure, in the year before the admissions process, they are reading the odd book from an 11 plus reading list. Choose a special notebook or folder for the purpose – this could become a lovely keepsake – and after reading a book, children should record in their notes the title, author, rough plot and something they liked or disliked about it. Ask their opinion about the book – what did they learn and did they agree with the actions of the main characters? Parents should encourage them to debate issues they come across is their reading material and remind them that there are not necessarily any right or wrong answers when expressing their opinions. Parents should mention to their children the importance of eye contact when talking to new people about their ideas, and facilitate a safe space for them to practise this with them. A child’s understanding of social skills, communication skills, and body language will organically grow too as they spend time with their parents doing this.

As part of your child’s interview preparation, a few weeks before the exam, have a look through the notebook or folder your child has created and chat about the books; choose a few, well remembered, favourite books that they would feel comfortable talking about in preparation for any questions in the interview.

Preparing in this way has the added bonus of building up writing resilience, exercising your child’s prefrontal cortex and practising aural interview skills along the way.

2️⃣ Another favoured topic has been what extracurricular activities your child does outside the classroom in their spare time. When working with students on interview preparation, I always ask what non-academic activities they engage in. I sometimes receive a blank expression in response, but after digging deeper, usually find a few things they could talk about in their 11 plus interview, many of which also involve some achievement they can discuss – this is great. Occasionally, a student struggles to think of any activities and achievements and this is where a little planning in advance would be beneficial.

It’s easy if your child does a lunchtime or after school club, participates in extra curricular sport or learns a musical instrument. If they don’t do any of these currently, maybe it’s something to consider. If none of these are possible, then there are alternatives. I have talked to students who are enthused by drawing Manga-style figures, baking cupcakes, and collecting fossils for example, which is wonderful. It’s all about creating the narrative around who your child is as a person and showcasing their passions, talents and biggest achievements. Perhaps, create a keepsake folder in which to store their drawings, or photos of their baking etc, and regularly ask them about their goals and what progress they have made in their chosen interest.

By the time of the interview, they won’t need extra coaching to discuss their hobbies, it will be second nature to them.

3️⃣ My final topic, which crops up occasionally in interviews, is current affairs. This is a subject area which can’t be brushed up on overnight, so I would advise a gradual approach to give them plenty of time to come up with their own thoughts and ideas and extend their knowledge base.

Difficult questions, seeking an opinion on world affairs, are especially tricky for the average 10 year old, and I do confess that at that age, I was pretty clueless. I remember watching Newsround on television, but I didn’t have the luxury of an adult to discuss and debate media content with and, as a result, I perceived it as irrelevant to me. Things were different with my own children at that age, and I loved listening to their responses to world events, which were sometimes wonderfully fresh and mind-blowing.

Children will come across some news items in their school community, and their school may include work in this area as part of planned interview preparation, but there are also some great ways you can help your child at home. Adult news is distressing for me at times, so I wouldn’t recommend it for young people. Discussion and debate is once again key to this, so by all means pass on selective information you have acquired to initiate dialogue. Aside from that, good old Newsround is still going – amazing! – and there are child-friendly newspapers such as First News and News for Kids which you could try. In discussions, it is worth giving some news a historical context as a couple of my students in the last round of 11 plus interviews were asked which historical figure they would most like to meet – one of them said Henry III and the other said Jesus by the way…

These resources should provide you with a wealth of material to fuel interesting conversations between you and your child and help you prepare for the 11 plus school interviews well in advance so that when you come to the day of the interview, your child feels relaxed and confident.