"I've managed to prepare for the parent interview, but what will my child be asked to do?"
"I heard it's just playing in English, but my child is shy, and I'm worried..."
When it comes to international school admissions, the child's assessment can often feel like a black box. In particular, the "Playdate Assessment" for kindergarten to early elementary students may look like simple playtime, but it contains crucial checkpoints that can determine admission.
This article will detail the assessment tasks and evaluation criteria by age group and introduce fun preparation methods you can do at home.
1. 【Kindergarten to Grade 1】A Complete Guide to the Playdate Assessment
For admissions from Early Years (Kindergarten) to Grade 1, the focus is less on written tests and more on behavioral observation to see if a child can function in a group setting. During the 30-minute to one-hour session away from parents, where children play with teachers and other kids, the following four points are carefully observed.
① Separation from Parents
- Assessment Task: Can the child say goodbye to their parent without crying when the parent leaves the classroom or moves to another room?
- Evaluation Criteria: It's acceptable if the child cries a little, as long as they can be comforted by the teacher, compose themselves, and join the activity. This is considered a pass.
- Red Flag: If a child cries uncontrollably, clings to the parent, and cannot enter the classroom, they may be deemed "not yet ready".
② Social Skills: Sharing & Turn-taking
- Assessment Task: Observing how the child reacts when there's a conflict over toys during activities like playing with blocks or LEGO.
- Evaluation Criteria: Can the child share toys by saying "Here you go," or wait for their turn by asking, "My turn?" instead of hoarding them.
- Red Flag: Aggressive behavior such as pushing other children or throwing toys is viewed very seriously.
③ Following Instructions
- Assessment Task: Can the child respond to cues like "Circle time!" or "Clean up time!"?
- Evaluation Criteria: Even if they don't fully understand the English, it's okay if they can observe and imitate what other children are doing.
- Practice Tip: At home, make cleaning up a fun game by playing a "Clean up!" song and turning it into a race.
④ Willingness to Participate
- Assessment Task: Action songs (like "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes") and dancing.
- Evaluation Criteria: It's okay to be shy, but assessors look for a willingness to join the group. A child who participates with a smile, even if they make mistakes, is preferred over one who stands still and does not engage at all.
2. At-Home Practice: Fun Activities and Tasks to Boost Your Child's Chances
Instead of formal studying at a desk, the most effective preparation involves playful learning with parents.
Simon Says
A classic game to train listening comprehension for English instructions.
- Rules: The parent says, "Simon says, touch your nose!" and the child touches their nose. If the parent just says, "Touch your nose!" without "Simon says," the child should not move.
- Benefit: Children can learn action verbs like "Touch," "Stand up," and "Sit down" while having fun.
Storytime Quiz
After reading an English picture book, ask simple questions.
- Parent: "Where is the rabbit?"
- Child: Pointing is perfectly fine.
- Level Up: Progress to questions like, "What color is the apple?" where the child can answer with a single word, "Red!"
Role-Playing
Practice first-time greetings using a stuffed animal as the 'teacher'.
- Task: When asked, "Hello, what's your name?" the child should make eye contact and say their name.
- Key Point: Many children can be shy and tend to look down. Practicing making eye contact and smiling can make a huge difference in their first impression.
3. 【Elementary School Students】English Interviews and Academic Tasks
For students in Grade 2-3 and above, the assessment often includes a one-on-one interview with a teacher and tasks to evaluate basic academic skills.
Common Questions and Answering Tips
The key is not just English proficiency, but the ability to express one's own opinion.
Sample Question | Answering Tip (Go one step further) |
What is your favorite subject? | Instead of just "Math," add a reason: |
What do you do on weekends? | In addition to "I play soccer," be more specific: |
Tell me about your favorite book. | You don't need to summarize the whole plot. |
Examples of Academic Tasks
- Reading: The child may be asked to read a short English book (like from the Oxford Reading Tree series) aloud and then answer comprehension questions like, "What happened to the dog?"
- Math: This could involve verbal questions like, "If you have 5 apples and eat 2, how many are left?" or a simple calculation worksheet.
4. How to Ace Online Interviews and Video Submissions (Video Essays)
An increasing number of schools are using Zoom interviews or requiring pre-recorded video submissions (Video Essays). These formats have different points to consider than in-person meetings.
Show and Tell
A common task is to "introduce one of your favorite things."
- Preparation: Have a favorite stuffed animal or LEGO creation ready.
- Structure:
- This is my...
- I like it because...
- Thank you! (with a smile at the end)
- Key Point: Reading from a script is a no-go. It's important to look at the camera and speak as if using your own words.
【Important Warning】Prompting is Prohibited
During an online interview, any prompting from a parent off-screen (whispering things like, 'Come on, say thank you,' or giving answers) is immediately obvious to the interviewer. If the child's eyes keep darting to the side, they may be seen as not being independent, which can lead to a negative evaluation. Practice thoroughly beforehand, and during the actual interview, trust your child and watch quietly (or leave the room).
Conclusion: The Effort to Communicate is More Important Than Perfect English
International school interviewers don't deduct points for every grammatical mistake a child makes.
What they are looking for is a "communication strategy"—the willingness to use known words and gestures to convey meaning, rather than staying silent when they don't understand.
If a child gets stuck, being able to say, "I don't know," or "Please say again," is considered a valuable communication skill and is viewed positively.
At home, focus not on "teaching English" but on letting your child experience the "fun of playing in English." That relaxed smile is the surest path to a successful assessment.
For Kids' Interview Prep, Choose "ELT"
In ELT's kids' lessons, experienced native instructors act as 'interviewers,' conducting playdate-style interactions and practicing Show and Tell. We support children who "get nervous and freeze up in front of foreign teachers" to build confidence and speak up through our fun lessons.
