School Interviews enable schools to get to know their prospective students. Schools have their own considerations when selecting candidates, so being able to present yourself to the interviewer is key to success. Our teachers are experienced in delivering comprehensive and interactive training so that students are ready for any interviews they may face.

Skills Covered

Trained by subject/university specialists

Mock interviews

Feedback and improvement

Constant practice

Our specialised programme offers invaluable tips and guidance on various aspects of interviews, ranging from mastering body language to staying updated on current events and enhancing verbal communication skills to handle diverse question types. Students will receive expert coaching on how to showcase their character, passion, and enthusiasm in a compelling manner.

Why?

To develop confidence and fine-tune students’ presentation under the guidance of experienced teachers. By participating in the interview preparation course, students can:

  • Develop and refine the necessary skills
  • Receive feedback on their performance
  • Gain confidence in facing the interview process
  • Learn how to present their best side

When should I take the course?

As soon as students receive an invitation to an interview.

How many hours?

Typical Student Booking : 6 hours or more.

Course Outline

Session 1

The first session allows our tutor to get to know the student and understand their strengths and weaknesses. It will also introduce the student to interview etiquette and shed light on how they can use the interview as an opportunity to impress the admissions team and, conversely, how to avoid pitfalls that might hold them back from securing a place at their school of choice.

Focus:

  • Initial mock interview
  • Feedback session to identify strengths and weaknesses
  • General interview tips and corrections of weaknesses
Session 2

This session introduces students to the first set of question categories. By doing so, the student is encouraged to reflect on the purpose of each type of question and understand how they can demonstrate their strengths and put their best side forward in the interview. Students will learn how to present their answers more effectively.

  • Category 1: yourself
  • Category 2: interests and hobbies
  • Category 3: values
  • Category 4: mindset
Session 3

This session deals with more challenging question categories, such as follow-up technical questions on students’ areas of interest, or those designed to assess their understanding of or interest in the outside world. To avoid being caught off guard by such questions, students will learn what the interviewers are looking for and how to flourish when answering.

  • Category 5: thinking on the spot
  • Category 6: technical knowledge
  • Category 7: current affairs
  • Category 8: suitability for boarding school
Session 4

Students will have the opportunity to put their new-found knowledge and skills into practice by attending another mock interview. The tutor will evaluate the extent of their improvement, as well as point out any excellent answers for encouragement and to boost confidence. In the second half, the focus will shift to researching the specific schools the student is applying for. Students will learn how to ask perceptive questions and impress the interviewer with their enthusiasm and existing knowledge.

  • Second mock interview
  • Feedback session
  • Category 9: suitability for specific school
  • Category 10: questions of your own
Session 5

In this session, students will be pushed further to prepare for tricky or unusual categories of questions that might arise. They will learn why schools sometimes ask unexpected questions, what the interviewers are looking for in their answers, and how to approach such questions calmly and confidently to increase their chances of success

  • Category 11: brain teasers and tricky questions
  • Category 12: hypothetical scenario questions
  • Targeted practice focused on previous weaknesses
Session 6

In the final session, students will be briefed on the concept and potential formats of a group interview, in order to understand its purpose and learn how they might tailor their approach or strategy to thrive in such an interview. Finally, students will spend the remainder of the session polishing any answers that require it and practising any areas they want to build more confidence in.

  • Brief introduction to group interviews; advice and strategy
  • Sample group interview question and discussion
  • Opportunity for final practice

FAQ of Interview Training

The link to join the live online course will be sent to the registered email address with a reminder one day before the scheduled session. Please ensure that the email address provided during registration is accurate and regularly checked for updates.

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Individual lessons or Forming a group

Contact us to book a lesson! Students of similar ability are welcome to join us as a group and enjoy a moderate price!

Ready to Hear Success Stories? See Why Ascent Prep is a Student Favourite!

Find out what our customers say ...
Jessie C.
Desire Subject Physiotherapy
Programme Medicine and Allied Health Professions Admissions Preparation Course
Hours Attended 20

From a young age, Jessie was passionate about sports, especially football and competitive jump roping. An injury during a jump roping competition that required physical therapy piqued her interest in the profession. Jessie chose Biology and Chemistry as her subjects, and her predicted DSE scores met the entry requirements. However, she had doubts about her suitability due to her petite stature and introverted nature, fearing these could be obstacles to becoming a physical therapist. Despite Jessie's excellent grades, her father was also concerned about her career choice, worrying that Jessie was blindly following a trend without truly considering her interests and abilities, as choosing this field would mean committing to a career as a physical therapist.

Our education consultant recommended the shadowing program by Ascent Prep, the only official preparation program recognized by AEAS, offering students clinical internship experiences and professional mentorship. Seeing it as an opportunity to resolve her doubts and increase her chances of being admitted to higher-ranking universities, her father enrolled her in the program.

During the shadowing process, she gained in-depth knowledge of a physical therapist's daily duties, including assessing patients, developing treatment plans, and guiding patients through rehabilitation exercises. Though challenging, she found the work meaningful. Throughout this period, Jessie had the opportunity to ask many questions, particularly about her concerns. After completing the shadowing program, her determination to become a physical therapist was strengthened.

When preparing her personal statement, Jessie tried writing it herself but felt it lacked persuasiveness. With her tutor's guidance, she realized many areas needed improvement. The tutor helped her reorganize her experiences volunteering in physical therapy, highlighting her passion and dedication to the field. During interview training, she learned how to showcase her strengths and effectively answer the interviewer's questions. For example, Ascent Prep tutors taught students how to answer common situational questions, such as:

  • What do you think are the basic professional ethics for a physical therapist?
  • How do you view the relationship between physical therapists and their patients?
  • How would you handle conflicts of interest with patients?

Ascent Prep tutors prepared students for these ethical questions and situational challenges to test their problem-solving abilities, such as:

  • How would you deal with a patient unwilling to cooperate with treatment?
  • How would you respond to an emergency during treatment?
  • How do you collaborate with other healthcare professionals?

Ultimately, with Ascent Prep's assistance, Jessie was accepted into the Physical Therapy program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and also received offers from the University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham, Brunel University, and the University of Salford in the UK. Among these options, she chose the University of Birmingham and was awarded a scholarship for her outstanding performance.

This journey highlights the value of Ascent Prep, offering practical clinical experiences and professional guidance, enabling students to not only improve academically but also to find their direction in their future career paths.

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Sophie F.
Desire Subject Architecture
Programme Portfolio Guidance
Hours Attended 10

Sophie is a high school student from Hong Kong who has been passionate about architecture since she was young. She excelled academically and actively participated in various architecture-related activities, such as architectural model competitions and visits. However, as the time for further education approached, Sophie began to feel somewhat lost, due to her very high standards for herself. She knew that to gain admission into architecture programs at prestigious universities like Cambridge or UCL, she needed not only excellent academic grades but also well-rounded abilities and creativity.

By chance, Sophie attended a lecture by Ascent Prep, where the instructors shared their experiences in helping students gain admission to top universities. Ascent Prep introduced her to a mentor who was studying architecture at Cambridge. The mentorship and classes were designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter and encouraged Sophie to think critically about the core of architectural studies, enriching her personal statement with diverse elements. In these classes, Sophie learned about architectural history, theory, and design. Her tutor explained complex concepts in an engaging way, making it easy for Sophie to understand.

For instance, during a mock interview, Sophie encountered a challenging question: "What do you think are the professional ethics of an architect?" She had never considered this question before, but with her tutor's guidance, she was able to articulate a well-thought-out answer, boosting her confidence for the actual interview.

The art portfolio is a critical component of university applications, and Sophie's tutor helped her create a portfolio that was both deep and creative. The tutor meticulously guided her through the selection and arrangement of her works, covering her academic research, practical experience, and personal interests. Under the tutor's guidance, Sophie revised her portfolio multiple times, resulting in an impressive collection of work.

Sophie's efforts were rewarded when she was accepted into the Architecture program at the University of Cambridge. Her portfolio showcased her unique understanding of architecture, including a sustainable design proposal that received high praise from her tutor. Moreover, Sophie performed excellently in her university interviews, demonstrating her academic abilities and personal charm.

Sophie's success story is a testament to the effectiveness of the Ascent Prep program, which is dedicated to helping students realize their potential and achieve success in their educational pursuits.

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Andy M.
Desire Subject AEAS
Programme Official AEAS Test Preparation Course
Hours Attended 30

Andy attended a local Hong Kong secondary school. Despite having average grades at school, he has always been afraid of English, to the point of hesitating to speak it. Andy is a typical slow starter; when under pressure, he easily feels overwhelmed. This became even more evident after he took the AEAS test unprepared, resulting in scores far below expectations. The AEAS report recommended Andy to undertake an English course for 20-30 weeks, and the substantial cost of attending a 30-week language course in Australia, including tuition, accommodation, and student insurance, caused considerable concern for his parents. Not only were they considering the dual factors of time and finances, but they also hoped that Andy could have more opportunities to apply to his desired schools. That's when they found us, the only official preparatory course institution recognized by AEAS. In the 1-on-1 courses at Ascent Prep, students receive meticulous instruction from teachers and consultants, improving their English skills and gradually overcoming their fear of English. To the parents' surprise, the child performed excellently in the AEAS test. By achieving good results in Hong Kong, the AEAS report reduced the required language class from 30 weeks to just 4 weeks before entering mainstream schools in Australia. This not only saved money but also allowed the child to integrate into the Australian mainstream education system sooner.

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