Monosyllabic answers are almost never right. Give answer plus one. That is to say supply the information requested and then a little bit more. In the case of the question being:

”Do you have any siblings?”

”Yes” is not enough. Say, ”Yes, I do. I have two sisters both younger than me.”

Below are some imaginary answers. Adapt as necessary. The aim is to come across as a polite, intelligent, well-spoken, truthful and eloquent person.

Candidates need to present themselves well by speaking at the right pace and volume while maintaining eye contact. Eye contact does not mean a death stare! Glancing away to think for a moment is entirely acceptable.

The answers below are not ‘right’ as such. The right answer must be the honest one. The idea is to present oneself in a positive manner by speaking grammatically and giving the right amount of detail.

Some of the following questions overlap. If they ask ‘What sports do you like’ the interviews will probably not need to follow up with ‘Tell me about your sporting achievements.’

==============

SMALL TALK

Hello, How are you?

I am very well thank you and how are you?

—————-

How was your flight?

It was fine – the airline was pretty good. 

——————

Which hotel are you staying at?

I am staying at —- and it is quite comfortable. I am happy with it.

============

BACKGROUND.

Where are you from?

I am from city, country. It is in the south of the country. 

——————

What are your parents’ jobs?

My mother is an architect and my father is a bank manager.

——————

How is your country different from this one?

Well there are some cultural differences such as our food is quite different. We are much more respectful to old people. I like the way lessons are more fun here. 

——————–

What is school like in your country?

In some ways it is quite different. We do a lot more Mathematics. We have to remember things a lot more and not explain things so much.

———————–

Where do you go to school?

I go to Ludgrove School, it in Berkshire. 

——————-

Do you have any sisters or brothers?

No, I am an only child but I am close to my cousins.

—————-

Might any of your siblings join us here at this school one day?

Well, I do not have siblings but my cousin might come here if I do. She is asking about the school. 

======================

ADMISSIONS TESTS

Which  subjects did you do in the admissions tests?

I did Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, English and Maths.

———————-

How did they go?

English went very well. It was a fun paper. Non-Verbal Reasoning was fine too: I finished early and then went back to check my answers. Verbal Reasoning was not as easy but I got through it. Maths was a little bit hard.

———————-

You have some admissions tests coming up. How do you feel about them?

I am taking them seriously but I am not worried.

======================

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

What three words best describe you?

Hardworking, polite and well-behaved.

————

Are you musical?

Yes, I play the piano. I am grade 3 right now and I want to do more grades.

———————-

Do you like acting?

No, not really. I do Drama at my current school but I am not great at it.

——————–

What sports do you like?

I like to play rugby and I like rowing. I am scrum captain. Rugby is really fun and we won most of our matches. 

—————–

Tell me about your sporting achievements?

Yes, sure. I am scrum captain of the rugby team. We beat our rival school 78-0. I scored two tries in that match. 

—————–

What are your hobbies?

I am a voracious reader. I write stories for pleasure. I like to go camping with my family. I adore swimming in the sea. I go cycling every day. 

—————-

What do you do in your free time?

I like to read fiction. I also write some stories of my own. I like to cycle. I like to swim and socialise. I go camping with my family sometimes.

—————-

Which instruments would you like to play here?

I already play the piano but I am not that good at it. I might try the violin. 

—————

What grade are you in those instruments?

I am third grade in the violin and I have been learning it for 3 years. 

————-

Would you want to join the choir?

I would like to try, yes. 

===================

THE SCHOOL

Why do you want to come to this school?

Because this school is such an old and famous school. So many famous people have been here [names]. The teachers are fantastic and the school gets outstanding exam results. The school will give me a good chance to go to an excellent university.  The ancient buildings are beautiful and the school has got a fantastic location. That means you play a lot of matches against other schools and we can go to the theatre a lot. There is a fantastic theatre here. I know you have a half Olympic size swimming pool and amazing sports facilities. You play sports here every day. There is a brilliant orchestra and choir. Some of my friends from my school came here. I met one of your teachers last year when she gave a talk at my school and she was a very nice woman. You have a huge library and a great IT room. The school is quite international and I can make friends with people from all sorts of countries. The boarding houses are really comfortable. It is a very friendly atmosphere.

—————-

What are your favourite subjects?

 I like English and French the most. I see how the two languages help each other. 

——————

Which subjects do you find difficult?

I am not that good at Science. 

————–

What are you doing to improve in those subjects?

I take extra time over my homework. My parents have got me a tutor who comes once a week. I sometimes ask my class teacher for more guidance.

====================

CURRENT SCHOOL AND ATTITUDES?

Are you well behaved?

Yes, certainly. I always obey the rules.

—————-

Have you ever been suspended or punished?

No, never. My behaviour is excellent. 

—————-

How should pupils behave towards teachers?

Pupils should be very respectful. I am like that. I always obey teachers. Pupils must always do their homework on time and pay attention in lessons. 

——————-

Can you recognise when you have done wrong and apologise?

Yes, sure. Sometimes I am wrong and I admit it. I say sorry. 

—————–

How good are you about doing your homework?

I am pretty good at it. I almost always do it on time.

——————-

Do you like your present school? Why or why not?

 Yes, it is quite good. The teachers are mostly very good. There are lots of sports to play. But I am ready to move on to a bigger school with more things to do. 

=======================

MOVING ON TO A NEW SCHOOL

How do you feel about boarding?

I feel positive about it. It will help me mature and make really close friends. There are also more activities at boarding schools. 

————–

This school has a Christian ethos and you must attend chapel. How do you feel about that?

Yes, that is fine. Even though I am not  from a Christian family I do not mind attending chapel at all. I like the music and its educational.

—————

Do you know any pupils already in our school?

Yes, a few people who left my school last year are already there. They say it is a tremendous school.

——————

What do you know about this school?

It was founded in 1820 by Mr Baird. It is well known and some politicians and writers went here. It gets terrific exam results. There is a ski trip every Christmas. The school is really keen on Music. 

——————-

Might you want to join the CCF?

Yes, I would. It seems really fun. I want to see what the army is like.

————

How would you feel about being the only one of your nationality here?

I really like the fact that there are lots of nationalities here. I am a global citizen. 

—————–

This school is very international. Do you like that?

Yes, I do. I have been to a few other countries. I really like meeting people from other countries. 

————–

Which other schools might you apply to?

I will apply to Harrow, Uppingham and Caterham.

————

Are we your first choice?

Yes, you are my top choice!

—————

If you do not get in where will you go?

Probably I will go to Uppingham.

—————-

This is a mixed school – how do you feel about that?

I like that. It is more human. It is good to socialise with boys and girls. It prepares people for adult life. 

————–

This is a single sex school: how do you feel about that?

It is good because there is less distraction. People are freer to be themselves and not worry about what the opposite sex thinks.

——————-

Do you have any questions for me?

Yes, I do. Would it be possible to play rugby and football in the autumn term or do I pick just one?

==========================

LONG TERM FUTURE.

What do you want to do after you finish school?

I want to go on to university and study maybe English or French. I really love learning and I know that I need a degree so I can get an enjoyable and well paid job. 

——————-

What job do you want to do?

 I am not sure. It is so far away. Perhaps become a journalist but I would need to do an internship first.

=============================

CHALLENGING QUESTIONS

Who is the best teacher you have ever had?

The best teacher I ever had was Miss Jordan. She taught us English. She was very fun and really inspiring. We all liked and respected her so there was no misbehaviour. She taught me more in one week than someone else taught me in one year. Miss Jordan had a very clear way of explaining things. 

What is Brexit?

Brexit means British exit. It is about the UK leaving the European Union. Britain voted to leave in a referendum but almost half the country is against it. It might be bad for the economy but it is too early to be sure. 

What do you think of Donald Trump?

Donald Trump is a very controversial politician. He was President of the United States and he set a bad example by being rude to people and lying a lot. Some people adore him and at least he did not start any wars. 

Should we abolish homework?

No, we need to do some independent study. Plus there is not enough time to do everything in school. Sometimes we need to memorise vocabulary lists or write up science experiments and it is better to do that at home. 

If could change one thing about your school what would it be?

My school is fabulous but we could do with a larger swimming pool. So if I had enough money I would build that. It would also be brilliant if we could learn Chinese because that is a language that is becoming increasingly important. 

Tell me an interesting fact that you learnt recently?

My teacher just told us that Charles Dickens was the most popular writer in the world in his lifetime. It is surprising because Dickens’ novels are really hard to read.

Is it right for parents to select the sex of their baby?

No, it would be wrong. People should accept  their baby no matter what the sex. Girls are just as good as boys. 

If you could invent a machine what would it be able to do?

I would invent a machine that would make me be able to bring back people from the dead. I really miss my great grandmother. I would love to be with her again.

Monosyllabic answers are almost never right. Give answer plus one. That is to say supply the information requested and then a little bit more. In the case of the question being:

”Do you have any siblings?”

”Yes” is not enough. Say, ”Yes, I do. I have two sisters both younger than me.”

Below are some imaginary answers. Adapt as necessary. The aim is to come across as a polite, intelligent, well-spoken, truthful and eloquent person.

Candidates need to present themselves well by speaking at the right pace and volume while maintaining eye contact. Eye contact does not mean a death stare! Glancing away to think for a moment is entirely acceptable.

The answers below are not ‘right’ as such. The right answer must be the honest one. The idea is to present oneself in a positive manner by speaking grammatically and giving the right amount of detail.

Some of the following questions overlap. If they ask ‘What sports do you like’ the interviews will probably not need to follow up with ‘Tell me about your sporting achievements.’

==============

SMALL TALK

Hello, How are you?

I am very well thank you and how are you?

—————-

How was your flight?

It was fine – the airline was pretty good. 

——————

Which hotel are you staying at?

I am staying at —- and it is quite comfortable. I am happy with it.

============

BACKGROUND.

Where are you from?

I am from city, country. It is in the south of the country. 

——————

What are your parents’ jobs?

My mother is an architect and my father is a bank manager.

——————

How is your country different from this one?

Well there are some cultural differences such as our food is quite different. We are much more respectful to old people. I like the way lessons are more fun here. 

——————–

What is school like in your country?

In some ways it is quite different. We do a lot more Mathematics. We have to remember things a lot more and not explain things so much.

———————–

Where do you go to school?

I go to Ludgrove School, it in Berkshire. 

——————-

Do you have any sisters or brothers?

No, I am an only child but I am close to my cousins.

—————-

Might any of your siblings join us here at this school one day?

Well, I do not have siblings but my cousin might come here if I do. She is asking about the school. 

======================

ADMISSIONS TESTS

Which  subjects did you do in the admissions tests?

I did Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, English and Maths.

———————-

How did they go?

English went very well. It was a fun paper. Non-Verbal Reasoning was fine too: I finished early and then went back to check my answers. Verbal Reasoning was not as easy but I got through it. Maths was a little bit hard.

———————-

You have some admissions tests coming up. How do you feel about them?

I am taking them seriously but I am not worried.

======================

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

What three words best describe you?

Hardworking, polite and well-behaved.

————

Are you musical?

Yes, I play the piano. I am grade 3 right now and I want to do more grades.

———————-

Do you like acting?

No, not really. I do Drama at my current school but I am not great at it.

——————–

What sports do you like?

I like to play rugby and I like rowing. I am scrum captain. Rugby is really fun and we won most of our matches. 

—————–

Tell me about your sporting achievements?

Yes, sure. I am scrum captain of the rugby team. We beat our rival school 78-0. I scored two tries in that match. 

—————–

What are your hobbies?

I am a voracious reader. I write stories for pleasure. I like to go camping with my family. I adore swimming in the sea. I go cycling every day. 

—————-

What do you do in your free time?

I like to read fiction. I also write some stories of my own. I like to cycle. I like to swim and socialise. I go camping with my family sometimes.

—————-

Which instruments would you like to play here?

I already play the piano but I am not that good at it. I might try the violin. 

—————

What grade are you in those instruments?

I am third grade in the violin and I have been learning it for 3 years. 

————-

Would you want to join the choir?

I would like to try, yes. 

===================

THE SCHOOL

Why do you want to come to this school?

Because this school is such an old and famous school. So many famous people have been here [names]. The teachers are fantastic and the school gets outstanding exam results. The school will give me a good chance to go to an excellent university.  The ancient buildings are beautiful and the school has got a fantastic location. That means you play a lot of matches against other schools and we can go to the theatre a lot. There is a fantastic theatre here. I know you have a half Olympic size swimming pool and amazing sports facilities. You play sports here every day. There is a brilliant orchestra and choir. Some of my friends from my school came here. I met one of your teachers last year when she gave a talk at my school and she was a very nice woman. You have a huge library and a great IT room. The school is quite international and I can make friends with people from all sorts of countries. The boarding houses are really comfortable. It is a very friendly atmosphere.

—————-

What are your favourite subjects?

 I like English and French the most. I see how the two languages help each other. 

——————

Which subjects do you find difficult?

I am not that good at Science. 

————–

What are you doing to improve in those subjects?

I take extra time over my homework. My parents have got me a tutor who comes once a week. I sometimes ask my class teacher for more guidance.

====================

CURRENT SCHOOL AND ATTITUDES?

Are you well behaved?

Yes, certainly. I always obey the rules.

—————-

Have you ever been suspended or punished?

No, never. My behaviour is excellent. 

—————-

How should pupils behave towards teachers?

Pupils should be very respectful. I am like that. I always obey teachers. Pupils must always do their homework on time and pay attention in lessons. 

——————-

Can you recognise when you have done wrong and apologise?

Yes, sure. Sometimes I am wrong and I admit it. I say sorry. 

—————–

How good are you about doing your homework?

I am pretty good at it. I almost always do it on time.

——————-

Do you like your present school? Why or why not?

 Yes, it is quite good. The teachers are mostly very good. There are lots of sports to play. But I am ready to move on to a bigger school with more things to do. 

=======================

MOVING ON TO A NEW SCHOOL

How do you feel about boarding?

I feel positive about it. It will help me mature and make really close friends. There are also more activities at boarding schools. 

————–

This school has a Christian ethos and you must attend chapel. How do you feel about that?

Yes, that is fine. Even though I am not  from a Christian family I do not mind attending chapel at all. I like the music and its educational.

—————

Do you know any pupils already in our school?

Yes, a few people who left my school last year are already there. They say it is a tremendous school.

——————

What do you know about this school?

It was founded in 1820 by Mr Baird. It is well known and some politicians and writers went here. It gets terrific exam results. There is a ski trip every Christmas. The school is really keen on Music. 

——————-

Might you want to join the CCF?

Yes, I would. It seems really fun. I want to see what the army is like.

————

How would you feel about being the only one of your nationality here?

I really like the fact that there are lots of nationalities here. I am a global citizen. 

—————–

This school is very international. Do you like that?

Yes, I do. I have been to a few other countries. I really like meeting people from other countries. 

————–

Which other schools might you apply to?

I will apply to Harrow, Uppingham and Caterham.

————

Are we your first choice?

Yes, you are my top choice!

—————

If you do not get in where will you go?

Probably I will go to Uppingham.

—————-

This is a mixed school – how do you feel about that?

I like that. It is more human. It is good to socialise with boys and girls. It prepares people for adult life. 

————–

This is a single sex school: how do you feel about that?

It is good because there is less distraction. People are freer to be themselves and not worry about what the opposite sex thinks.

——————-

Do you have any questions for me?

Yes, I do. Would it be possible to play rugby and football in the autumn term or do I pick just one?

==========================

LONG TERM FUTURE.

What do you want to do after you finish school?

I want to go on to university and study maybe English or French. I really love learning and I know that I need a degree so I can get an enjoyable and well paid job. 

——————-

What job do you want to do?

 I am not sure. It is so far away. Perhaps become a journalist but I would need to do an internship first.

=============================

CHALLENGING QUESTIONS

Who is the best teacher you have ever had?

The best teacher I ever had was Miss Jordan. She taught us English. She was very fun and really inspiring. We all liked and respected her so there was no misbehaviour. She taught me more in one week than someone else taught me in one year. Miss Jordan had a very clear way of explaining things. 

What is Brexit?

Brexit means British exit. It is about the UK leaving the European Union. Britain voted to leave in a referendum but almost half the country is against it. It might be bad for the economy but it is too early to be sure. 

What do you think of Donald Trump?

Donald Trump is a very controversial politician. He was President of the United States and he set a bad example by being rude to people and lying a lot. Some people adore him and at least he did not start any wars. 

Should we abolish homework?

No, we need to do some independent study. Plus there is not enough time to do everything in school. Sometimes we need to memorise vocabulary lists or write up science experiments and it is better to do that at home. 

If could change one thing about your school what would it be?

My school is fabulous but we could do with a larger swimming pool. So if I had enough money I would build that. It would also be brilliant if we could learn Chinese because that is a language that is becoming increasingly important. 

Tell me an interesting fact that you learnt recently?

My teacher just told us that Charles Dickens was the most popular writer in the world in his lifetime. It is surprising because Dickens’ novels are really hard to read.

Is it right for parents to select the sex of their baby?

No, it would be wrong. People should accept  their baby no matter what the sex. Girls are just as good as boys. 

If you could invent a machine what would it be able to do?

I would invent a machine that would make me be able to bring back people from the dead. I really miss my great grandmother. I would love to be with her again.