Many parents of Primary 6 pupils have now received interview notifications from Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary schools. During February and March, they may also receive interview invitations from two schools offering self-allocated places. How should parents assist their children in preparing? Based on insights from interviewers and parents, Hong Kong Education City has compiled the following 14 common questions for reference.
Interviewers note that schools primarily assess applicants through application forms and supporting documents (such as school report cards, certificates, and extracurricular activity records). Consequently, the materials submitted by parents often form the basis for interview questions. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the student while also verifying the authenticity of their abilities.
- Self-introduction questions
Interviews typically begin with a self-introduction as a warm-up question, requiring students to briefly introduce themselves in either Chinese or English. Teachers will follow up with further questions based on the content.
- Reasons for choosing the school
Parents and students must do their homework beforehand, familiarising themselves with the school's full name, school teams, uniformed groups, etc., and be able to provide specific examples.
- Family-related questions
Questions may include: household members, regular family activities, sibling relationships, primary caregiver, and whether pets are kept.
- Homework-Related
How are daily homework and revision managed? Is it completed independently or requires parental supervision? How are challenging problems tackled? Examples include: consulting classmates, researching online (exercise caution here if previous answers indicated electronic device restrictions at home to avoid contradictions), reading books, or seeking help from family members.
- Extracurricular Activities
Which extracurricular activities do you participate in? What have you gained from them? If the student excels in visual arts, they may be asked about favourite artists; for programming, questions might involve App Inventor or Scratch functions; for music, music theory may be discussed. One school notably asked children about their favourite author or poet, requiring examples of related works.
- Subjects
Favourite subject and why? Prepare questions related to that subject to proactively seek guidance from the teacher. If asked which subject is most challenging, experts advise answering honestly, avoiding vague responses like ‘I like all subjects.’ Remember to actively express how you overcome challenges, demonstrating a positive learning attitude.
- Primary School Life
What is your favourite school activity? Do you enjoy primary school campus life? What are your favourite books, films, songs, or poems? Why do you like or dislike them? (Provide examples)
- Sports
Which sports do you enjoy? Why?
- Academic Performance
Why did you receive a lower grade in a particular subject during a specific exam? Do you believe schools should abolish all examinations?
- Household Chores/Self-Care
Do you contribute to household chores? Which tasks do you undertake? Do you manage your daily routine independently upon waking, or do family members or domestic helpers assist?
- Special Experiences
If asked about notable experiences, share volunteer work or memorable study tour moments.
- Hypothetical Questions
E.g.: What would you do if granted eternal life? Which school rule would you amend? What club would you propose if the school introduced new societies?
- Aspirations
What career do you wish to pursue? Why? What does that role entail? How do your personality traits align with this profession?
- Religious Affiliation
For religious schools, questions may include participation in church or Sunday school.
Additionally, some secondary schools request parents to describe their child in two Chinese word. For instance, ‘resilient’ could be developed through sustained athletic training; ‘Helpfulness’ could be illustrated by giving up one's seat, enhancing persuasiveness. Some parents report that during interviews with both child and parent, several schools separately inquired about daily activities with family members. Consistent answers from both parties are believed to leave a favourable impression.
These questions may be familiar to parents with interview experience, potentially encountered even during primary school admissions. However, secondary school interviews place greater emphasis on students' genuine feelings and spontaneous responses. Teachers do not seek to deliberately trip pupils up, but rather wish to observe their genuine character to select the most suitable candidates. Thus, responses must be appropriate, making everyday parenting particularly crucial. Avoid displaying immediate displeasure, anger, sadness, or frustration when faced with challenging questions. After all, children are about to become secondary school pupils, requiring both parents and children to present themselves with greater maturity. We wish everyone success in their interviews.