Preparing for 11+ interviews is opaque and confusing. To help, we are releasing the real questions that we use to help prepare our students. You might want to use these in your 11+ preparation arsenal with your child
Schools Where These 11+ Interview Questions Apply
- St Paul’s School
- St Paul’s Girls’ School
- Westminster School
- King’s College School Wimbledon
- Godolphin and Latymer School
- Dulwich College
- James Allen’s Girls’ School
- North London Collegiate School
- Latymer Upper School
Personal Questions: Building Self-Awareness
Questions to expect:
- What is your favourite subject and why?
- Tell me about your family
- What are your best and worst characteristics?
- Who do you admire most?
What you can do this week:
- Start family dinner conversations with “What was the best part of your day?”
- Ask your child to explain why they enjoyed certain activities
- Encourage honest self-reflection: “What’s something you’d like to get better at?”
- Share stories about people you admire and ask who they look up to
Don’t coach perfect answers. Schools prefer a child who honestly says “I find maths tricky but I’m working on it” over rehearsed responses.
School and Future Questions: Genuine Enthusiasm
Questions to expect:
- Why do you want to come to this school?
- Where do you see yourself in ten years?
- How do you feel about starting secondary school?
What you can do this week:
- Visit school websites together and ask what genuinely interests them
- Discuss their natural curiosities: “What would you love to learn more about?”
- Talk about growth, not fixed career plans: “What subjects make you feel excited to learn?”
Red flag to avoid: Don’t memorise school facts. Schools spot this immediately and prefer authentic interest.
Current Awareness: Natural Curiosity
Questions to expect:
- What book are you currently reading?
- What news story caught your attention recently?
- What’s the greatest problem facing the world?
What you can do this week:
- Read together for 15 minutes daily and discuss what happens
- Share one interesting news story at dinner and ask their thoughts
- Use age-appropriate news sources like Newsround
- Ask “What do you think about…?” not “What do you know about…?”
Creative and Hypothetical Questions: Thinking Skills
Questions to expect:
- If you had £100, what would you do with it?
- If you could meet three people for tea, who would they be?
- If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
What you can do this week:
- Play “what if” games during car journeys
- Ask follow-up questions: “Why would you choose that?” “How would that help?”
- Encourage silly answers—creativity matters more than seriousness
- Practice explaining their reasoning without judging their choices
Ethical Questions: Moral Reasoning
Questions to expect:
- Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
- If someone attacks you, should you fight back?
- If you were prime minister, what laws would you pass?
What you can do this week:
- Discuss fairness in everyday situations: playground disputes, family rules
- Ask “What do you think is fair?” about news stories
- Encourage them to consider different viewpoints: “Some people might think…”
- Show it’s fine to say “I’m not sure, but I think…”
What Schools Actually Want to See
- Authentic responses over polished performance
- Reasoning ability more than right answers
- Curiosity about learning and the world
- Emotional maturity in handling uncertainty
- Natural conversation skills rather than interview technique
Warning Signs Your Child is Over-Coached
If your child:
- Gives identical answers to similar questions
- Uses vocabulary that doesn’t sound natural for their age
- Seems anxious about giving “wrong” answers
- Can’t explain why they chose their responses
Take a step back. Schools prefer genuine personality over perfect performance.
The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do
Have regular conversations about everything—books, news, ideas, feelings. This builds natural confidence and articulation without creating artificial responses.
The children who succeed aren’t those with rehearsed answers, but those comfortable expressing their genuine thoughts and curiosity.
Our tutors specialise in developing authentic conversation skills that help children shine as themselves in 11+ interviews.
Greenhill Academics‘ 11+ Tutors
Our 11+ tutors combine friendly teaching styles with practical approaches that help students enjoy the subject and excel in essay questions:
Mark: Cambridge First-Class Graduate with Proven Results
Mark holds a Double First in History from Cambridge and has over 3,000 hours of tutoring experience. His structured approach to 11+ preparation has helped students secure places at leading schools including Eton, Harrow, and St Paul’s. Mark excels at building both mathematical reasoning and English comprehension skills, with a teaching style that engages young learners while developing their confidence for exam success.
Ramsay: Oxford Scholar with Competition Excellence
Currently studying Mathematics at Oxford where he achieved a Distinction in Prelims, Ramsay brings exceptional mathematical insight to his 11+ tutoring. His background in mathematical competitions—placing in the top 40 nationally—gives him a unique ability to help students approach mathematics with creativity and confidence. Ramsay‘s clear, intuitive teaching style breaks down complex concepts into manageable steps, making challenging material accessible while building the problem-solving skills valued in 11+ assessments.
Sneha: Cambridge English Graduate with Creative Excellence
Sneha studied English Literature at Cambridge and brings several years of tutoring experience to her 11+ teaching. She combines mathematical reasoning with strong analytical and writing skills development. Sneha’s background in creative writing and public speaking enhances her ability to prepare students for all aspects of 11+ assessments, from written papers to interviews, with a focus on building lasting confidence.
The Impact of 11+ Private Tuition
Our students consistently progress from feeling uncertain about entrance exams to approaching them with confidence and capability. Parents tell us that after just a few sessions, children tackle verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions more willingly and show greater engagement with English and Mathematics tasks. This newfound confidence extends beyond exam preparation, building self-assurance and study skills that benefit children across all areas of their academic life.
The Greenhill Academics Approach
We match your child with tutors who have both exceptional academic credentials and specific experience with UK schools’ entrance requirements. Our tutors provide school-specific guidance while nurturing your child’s confidence in a supportive environment. Through our flexible WhatsApp booking system and interactive online platform, we create an efficient, personalised learning experience that prepares children thoroughly without adding unnecessary pressure.
Ready to give your child the best possible preparation for the 11+ interview? Contact Greenhill Academics today to discover how our exceptional tutors can help your child build the skills and confidence needed for success. Send us a message or call us to discuss your specific goals and how we can support your family through this important transition.
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FAQs
My child lacks confidence—how will tutoring help?
Many students struggle with confidence, especially if they’ve had a bad experience in school or feel overwhelmed by the subject. Our tutoring approach helps students build confidence by breaking down difficult topics, reinforcing understanding, and celebrating progress.
My child is already working hard—why are they still struggling?
Studying isn’t just about memorising facts; your child must learn how to apply knowledge to unfamiliar contexts, especially in exams. Many students put in hours of revision but struggle with exam technique, structuring answers, or understanding mark schemes. A tutor can help identify and address these specific challenges.
How do I know if the tutoring is working?
We track progress through regular assessments, exam-style questions, and feedback from both the student and tutor. You’ll receive updates on improvements, areas of focus, and strategies for further progress.
Which exam boards do you cover?
We tutor for AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC and CIE exam boards. We also cover the International Baccalaureate (IB)
How do online tutoring sessions work?
We set up a learning space which is joined at the time of a session. In the learning space, students are on video call with our tutors and use an interactive whiteboard with resources. Parents and students are often surprised how easy it is!
How often should my child have tutoring sessions?
This depends on their current level and goals. Some students benefit from weekly sessions for consistent progress, while others may prefer more intensive lessons closer to exams. We can recommend a schedule based on your child’s needs.
What if my child has a busy schedule?
We offer flexible scheduling, including evening and weekend sessions, to fit around your child’s commitments. Tutoring is designed to be productive and efficient, so even one hour a week can make a significant difference when supported with independent study.
Why are Greenhill Academics tutors considered the best you can find?
We select tutors with exceptional academic backgrounds, proven experience in helping students reach their goals, and in-depth knowledge of exam board requirements.
How do I get started?
Getting started is easy! Simply contact us to book a quick consultation, and we’ll select a tutor from our team who is the best match for your child
