A practical guide for parents preparing their child for selective school interviews
For many families, the 11+ journey doesn’t end with the exam. Once results are in, the interview stage can feel unfamiliar, unpredictable and quietly stressful for both parent and child.
This guide is designed to help you understand what 11+ interviews are really assessing, why practice makes a difference, and how you can best support your child with structured preparation.
Why 11+ interview practice matters
Many bright children underperform in interviews because the situation is unfamiliar, the questions are unexpected, or they haven’t had constructive feedback. Interviews assess far more than knowledge.
Schools are looking for:
Communication skills
Confidence and Self-Awareness
Curiosity and Independence of thought
How a child responds if they are unsure of the answer
The good news is, these are teachable skills. With targeted practice your child will:
Calm their nerves and present themselves confidently
Take time to structure clear answers, so they make sense and impress interviewers
Demonstrate the independence and curiosity that schools value
Improve quickly with focused feedback from a Qualified Teacher and 11+ Interview Expert
Four ways to improve your child’s 11+ interview technique
1) Use a Different Tutor
If your child already works with an 11+ tutor, that’s excellent. However, interview preparation benefits
from a different professional. Meeting a new adult recreates the real interview dynamic. Children learn to respond without prompts, cues, or familiar patterns and this builds adaptability and
confidence.
2) Choose a Qualified teacher and Interview Expert
When you choose your 11+ Interview Expert, choose a Qualified Teacher! A qualified teacher with school experience brings crucial insight. Qualified teachers understand the curriculum and expectations for the age group. They know the kind of questions interview panels ask, and can judge whether an answer demonstrates the traits schools look for (resilience, humour, curiosity, clarity of thought, empathy, awareness and teamwork).
3) Practise the full range of interview question styles
A well-prepared child shouldn’t be surprised by the structure of an interview. Common areas include:
Icebreakers. Simple opening questions that set the tone. There are no “right” answers, but they are a child’s first opportunity to present themselves as confident and engaged.
Home life
These questions are not intrusive. They allow a child to talk about values, routines, interests, relationships
and how they learn from others.
School life
Often more academic; covering favourite subjects, challenges, teamwork, organisation, and responses to
success or disappointment. Children are also usually asked about the new school, what they know, what they are excited about, and why it appeals to them.
The future
Questions about aspirations, interests, or careers help schools understand whether a child fits their ethos.
This may also include simple discussion of wider issues such as the environment, society, or global
challenges, focusing on opinions and reasoning.
General knowledge and academic puzzles
Short problem-solving tasks or general knowledge questions to test thinking under pressure.
Not knowing an answer is acceptable. Curiosity, logical guessing, and asking thoughtful follow-up
questions are often viewed very positively.
Your child’s questions
Strong candidates come prepared with their own questions. Learning how to research a school and ask
meaningful questions shows genuine interest and maturity.
4. Look for structured, progressive and evaluative practice
One-off mock interviews rarely lead to improvement on their own. Effective preparation will be planned over several sessions and provide evaluation with clear feedback. Look for interview practice that is progressive and focusses on building skills session by session. Ensure all preparation is supported by guided home practice to provide consistent and regular support for your child.
When choosing your 11+ Interview Expert, it’s reasonable to ask questions such as:
What experience do you have?
How will weaknesses be addressed and revisited?
What is your overall structure for interview sessions?
How many sessions do you think will be adequate to fully prepare my child?
The Owl Tutors 4-week 11+ Plus interview preparation course
For families who would like guided support, we offer a 4-week one-to-one interview preparation
course designed around the principles mentioned above.
Each session includes:
One to one 60 minute session with a tutor who is an 11+ Interview Expert and Qualified Teacher
Verbal feedback for the student during the session and a summary of feedback given to them at
the end of each session.
A written evaluation and feedback email sent to parents and students following each session.
20 interview questions emailed home after each session for guided home practice.
Practical strategies for managing nerves, thinking time, confidence, conquering speech habits
such as using filler words and replacing slang language with ambitious vocabulary.
4 Week Course Structure
Week 1 — Interview Introduction
An introduction to the styles of questions asked and how to enter the interview room, greet the interviewer and how to leave.
Learn the layout of 11+ interviews, types of questions asked and perform a short practise, one question
from each area. General feedback is provided at the end of the session verbally and emailed to the parent.
Focus: Listening skills, Positive language and confident delivery.
Home practice: 20 Interview Questions.
Week 2 — Honing skills and building familiarity
Multiple questions from each section and specific sectional verbal feedback including an evaluative
summary at the end.
Learn how to research schools and plan meaningful and thoughtful questions to ask at the end of the
interview.
Focus: Eliminating mental blocks, pausing to think and avoiding filler sounds, words and slang language.
Home Practice: 20 Interview Questions
Week 3 — Full Mock Interview Practice
A timed, realistic interview experience from start to finish.
Full evaluative feedback following the session including a list of the questions asked for practice
purposes.
Focus: Managing body language, positive manners, professional skills in communication.
Home Practice: 20 Interview Questions
Week 4 – Final Mock Or Focussed Session
Either a second full mock or a session targeting specific areas that need refinement.
Full evaluative feedback following the session including a list of the questions asked for practice
purposes.
Focus: Confidence, clarity and consistency
Home Practice: 20 Interview Questions
Certificate: A certificate of completion is provided with a summary of strengths and final encouragement.
Final thoughts for parents
Interview success is rarely about producing perfect answers and students should not try to memorise
certain responses to specific questions as they will not know what exact question will be asked on the day.
Interview practice is about helping a child feel comfortable being themselves, thinking aloud, and
responding thoughtfully even when they are unsure. Whether you practise at home, work with a tutor, or follow a structured programme, preparation that is calm, reflective, and feedback-led will always serve your child best.
If you’d like more information about our 4-week course, get in touch for a 15 minute trial call with a tutor
or simply use this guide to shape your own interview preparation at home.
Best of luck!
