Questions may be asked about the following:

ENGLISH & MATHEMATICS

These subjects are still the most important. You may be asked to bring samples of work to show. Be prepared to talk about these and make sure they are neat and well presented. In any case, you will be asked about these subjects and remember to be positive about them even if they are not your favourites!

Objects Which You Choose To Bring To The Interviews

Pupils are often asked to take along something of which they are proud, which need not relate to academic achievement. It is a personal choice and could be anything e.g., medals or certificates awarded for sports, music, or drama, or something related to one of your hobbies or special interests The idea is that it should spark discussion So choose something about which you are able to talk.

Questions About Yourself

Orchard House School is proud of you; your parents are proud of you; you should be proud of yourselves. However, teachers at the Senior Schools don’t know you and are keen to find out about you. This is your opportunity to show them the good and positive aspects of your personality.

So be prepared to answer questions on the following:

Your interests and hobbies

Books and authors you enjoy reading

Sports, music, drama, art and/or ICT

Likes and dislikes (concentrate on the former!)

Your ambitions

Family and home

Your school

Quirky questions such as:‘If I were to give you £1,000, what would you do with it?’

Why do you want to come to this senior school?

Always have a question for the interviewer. If it's to do with the senior school, make sure its not something which could be found out by looking in the prospectus. Also, avoid personal questions about the interviewer!

NEWS ITEMS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Keep up to date with the news. Listen to the radio, watch the news on TV, and read the newspapers. Read magazines such as ‘The Week Junior’. Avoid celebrity culture! Refer to your Current Affairs book. This may be something useful to take to interviews. General Knowledge is again important Some schools have specific General Knowledge papers You should know about other countries, heads of state, geography, historical events, dates, etc, etc.