For families from non-English speaking backgrounds, the admissions interview in English can be the biggest hurdle when applying to an international school. Many parents worry, "What if I make a grammatical mistake?" or "What if I can't understand the question?"
However, you don't need native-level fluency to succeed in an admissions interview. What most international schools are looking for is effective communication. In other words, if you can convey your prepared thoughts in your own words and make the interviewer feel that 'this family would be a great fit for our community,' you can pass the interview even if your English isn't perfect.
This article explains the top 10 most common questions, provides "simple answer scripts" that even those less confident in English can use, and highlights the "key points for a successful answer" that address the interviewer's underlying intentions.
What You'll Learn in This Article
- Top 10 Common Questions: The questions you'll definitely be asked and their "hidden intent."
- Successful Scripts: A template using the "STAR method" that you can build with basic English.
- Common Pitfalls: Overly modest answers that families new to this system often give, and how to improve them.
- Survival English: Magic phrases for when you can't understand or get stuck.
- List of Questions to Ask: A collection of questions to ask the school that will leave a positive impression.
1. The Top 10 Questions Asked in School Admissions Interviews and the Interviewer's Intent
Every question an interviewer asks has an "intent." Prepare answers that address the underlying evaluation criteria, not just the surface-level question.
Q1. “Tell me about your family.”
- Intent: To get a first impression and assess your family's suitability for the school community.
- Points: Instead of just listing facts, concisely present a combination of your family's background, educational values, and reasons for applying. Show the connection to the school by saying something like, "With our focus on [value, e.g., inquiry-based learning], we believe our child will thrive in your school's [program, e.g., IB] and contribute positively to the community."
Q2. “Tell me about a challenge your child has faced and how you supported them.”
- Intent: To understand your problem-solving skills as a parent and your family's collaborative approach.
- Points: Focus not on the problem itself, but on the process of how you analyzed the situation and worked together to find a solution.
Q3. “What are your child’s greatest strengths?”
- Intent: To see if their strengths align with the school's values and learning environment.
- Points: Don't just use abstract words like "leadership." Add credibility with specific examples and results, such as, "She demonstrated leadership by organizing a group project that achieved the highest grade in her class."
Q4. “How did you hear about our school?”
- Intent: To gauge your level of interest and enthusiasm.
- Points: Instead of simply saying, "I saw it on a website," connect it to your motivation for applying. For example, "We were drawn to your school's vision and felt that our child's skills and interests would be a perfect match."
Q5. “What is an area where your child needs support?” (or “What are their weaknesses?”)
- Intent: To assess self-awareness, honesty, and willingness to improve.
- Points: Don't try to hide weaknesses. Instead, explain what you are doing to help them overcome it. Saying, "He finds public speaking challenging, so we've encouraged him to join a debate club to practice," shows a commitment to growth and will be viewed positively.
Q6. “Tell me about a time your child demonstrated leadership or initiative.”
- Intent: To see their potential for proactivity and positive influence.
- Points: They don't need to have held a formal title. Talk about a time they took the initiative, such as "She proposed a new idea for a class project" or "He helped mediate a disagreement among his friends."
Q7. “Why are you considering leaving your child's current school?”
- Intent: To ensure the reasons are positive and that your family is looking for a long-term fit.
- Points: Focus on the positive future you envision, such as "We are looking for a new challenge" or "This move is for our child's long-term educational growth," rather than expressing dissatisfaction with the current school.
Q8. “Tell me about a time your child learned from a mistake.”
- Intent: To assess their ability to learn from failure and their resilience.
- Points: Acknowledge the mistake, but emphasize what they learned from it and what steps were taken to prevent it from happening again.
Q9. “What type of learning environment do you prefer for your child?”
- Intent: To check for a match with the school's culture.
- Points: Prepare an answer that aligns with the school's environment (e.g., collaborative, student-led, structured). However, be honest about what works best for your child.
Q10. “How would your child's current teacher describe them?”
- Intent: To gauge self-awareness and relationships with others.
- Points: This is a chance to highlight your child's strengths from an objective viewpoint. For example, "Their teacher often mentions that they are very responsible."
2. Crafting a Winning Answer with Simple English (The STAR Method)
Even if English isn't your first language, you can create logical and compelling answers using a simple framework. Forget complex sentences; focus on short sentences and strong verbs.
The Magic Framework: A Simplified STAR Method
Structure all your answers in the following order to ensure they are logical:
- Situation: What was the context or problem?
- Task: What needed to be done?
- Action: What did your child/you do? (Most important part)
- Result: What was the outcome? (Use numbers if possible)
Fill-in-the-Blank Answer Template
Q. "Tell me about a time your child overcame a significant challenge."
NG Example (long and unclear): "Although my son faced many difficulties with his science project because it was very complex, he finally managed to solve the problem by creating a new approach with his friends, which was a challenging process..."
OK Example (short sentences + strong verbs): "My son's team struggled with their science project (Situation). He took three actions (Action). First, he researched a new approach. Second, he presented it to his team. Finally, they implemented the new plan. As a result, they achieved the top grade in the class (Result)."
Copy-and-Paste List of "Strong Verbs"
Using "achieved" instead of "tried hard" can dramatically change the impression you make.
- Achieved
- Increased
- Reduced
- Led
- Solved
- Optimized
3. Common "NG Answers" for International Families and How to Fix Them
Often, an application is unsuccessful not because of incorrect English, but due to excessive modesty or a lack of confidence.
NG ①: "My child has no experience with..."
- ❌ Before: "My child doesn't have experience with the IB curriculum, but..."
- ✅ After: "While my child is new to the IB curriculum, they have related skills from their previous school, such as project-based learning."
Improvement: Focus on what your child *does* have (related skills) rather than what they don't, showcasing their potential.
NG ②: "My child's English is not very good..."
- ❌ Before: "I'm worried because my child is not good at English."
- ✅ After: "My child is currently improving their English through extra lessons, and I’m confident in their ability to communicate and learn."
Improvement: An interview is not the place for excuses. Show a commitment to growth and highlight other strengths, like communication skills.
NG ③: Overusing "We" (e.g., "We did the project")
- ❌ Before: "We worked hard on the project and succeeded."
- ✅ After: "To support my child's project, I helped gather materials, and my child led the research and writing, which led to their success."
Improvement: In an international context, interviewers want to know the child's specific contribution. Use "I" (as the parent) and "he/she" (as the child) to clarify who did what and highlight your child's agency.
4. "Survival English" for When You Can't Understand or Get Stuck
Silence is your biggest enemy. Memorize these phrases to handle difficult moments professionally.
Asking to Repeat a Question (Beyond just "Pardon?")
- "I'm sorry, could you please say that again?"
- "Would you mind speaking a little more slowly, please?"
Confirming the Intent of a Question
- "Could you rephrase the question, please?"
- "Do you mean...?"
When You Need Time to Think
- "That's an interesting question... May I take a moment to think?"
Saying this before a pause maintains a professional impression.
5. List of Questions to Ask the School (Reverse Questions)
The final question, "Do you have any questions for us?" is your chance to show your genuine interest. Never say, "No, I don't have any questions."
Safe Questions (Appropriate for anyone)
- "Could you describe the community in the grade my child would be joining?"
- "What do you enjoy most about working at this school?"
Proactive Questions (To show your commitment)
- "What does success look like for a student in this school?"
- "What are the biggest challenges or opportunities for students joining this year?"
Conclusion: Preparation Matters More Than Perfect English
You can succeed in an admissions interview without speaking like a native speaker. The key is to anticipate the questions, prepare your answers using a clear structure, and speak with confidence.
However, it's hard to know on your own if your pronunciation is clear or if your body language appears unconfident. To avoid setbacks on the day, a professional Mock Interview is the most effective preparation.
Prepare for a Winning Interview with ELT
At ELT, our native-speaking instructors with admissions experience provide comprehensive support for your school interview.
- Application Essay Review: We'll help you refine your story with impactful English (Action Verbs).
- Mock Interviews: Get feedback on the logic of your answers and your overall demeanor in a realistic role-play.
- Answer Script Development: We'll work with you to create original answers that best highlight your family's strengths.
If you don't want to miss out on an opportunity because of English, why not start with a free trial lesson to assess your "interview readiness"?
