11+ interview questions (and how to prepare for them)
5 min read ยท updated 2026-08-31
Independent school interviews frighten parents more than children. The questions are friendly, but the skill being tested is real: can your child talk about their interests with genuine enthusiasm and think out loud? That skill is coachable in weeks, without scripts.
Questions that come up again and again
- โ Why do you want to come to this school? (they expect specific, personal reasons)
- โ What do you love reading / learning about, and why?
- โ Tell me about something you worked hard at and improved
- โ What do you do outside school? What would you bring to our clubs?
- โ If you could meet anyone, or solve any problem, what would it be?
What interviewers are actually assessing
Not knowledge, and not polish. They want curiosity, willingness to think aloud, and a child who can hold a conversation with an adult. Interviewers are trained to spot over-rehearsed answers, because memorised scripts tell them the parents did the work. Genuine beats perfect, every time.
How to prepare without scripting
- โ Practise at the dinner table: adults ask, child answers, everyone stays relaxed
- โ Rehearse the shape, not the words: an opinion, one reason, one example
- โ Read the school's website together so 'why this school' has real specifics
- โ Practise one 'thinking out loud' puzzle, since some schools pose problems live
- โ Keep answers short and true; two sentences said with interest beat a memorised paragraph
On the day
Arrive early, shake hands, make eye contact, and remember the panel wants to like your child, they are building a class, not running an interrogation. A nervous but genuine answer scores better than a smooth one delivered without thought.
FAQs
What should my child wear to an 11+ interview?๏ผ
Smart but comfortable, typically school-level smart rather than formal suiting. Feeling like themselves helps them talk naturally.
Can a tutor coach the interview?๏ผ
A tutor can run practice conversations and give feedback on structure and confidence. Avoid anyone who scripts answers: interviewers are specifically trained to notice it, and it backfires.
Keep reading
More on 11+ & school entrance
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