If you have applied to a Sixth Form to take A Levels or another post-16 course, you may be invited to attend an interview. This guide will help you prepare.
This meeting is an opportunity for the school or college to learn more about you and to make sure you are suited to the course or courses you’d like to study. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions and make sure you feel happy in your choice of sixth form and course.
We understand that interviews can be scary. That’s why we have put together this guide to sixth form interviews to help you prepare for yours.
What to expect at a sixth form interview
A sixth form interview is a short meeting between you and at least one member of staff at the school or college where you’d like to study. People who might be on the interview panel include the headteacher, head of sixth form, your prospective form tutor, and subject teachers. You should be told who you’ll be meeting in advance.
A sixth form interview might last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Again, you should be told approximately how long the interview will last.
For some courses, you might be asked to prepare something for the interview, such as a portfolio of work, a short presentation, or an audition piece (for example, for music or performing arts courses.)
What to wear to a sixth form interview
You should treat your sixth form interview as a professional meeting and dress accordingly. A full suit is unlikely to be necessary unless you are applying for a school or college with a very formal dress code.
A dress, a shirt and tie, or a blouse with trousers or a skirt are all examples of appropriate dress. Wear smart shoes that match your outfit and choose neutral colours such as black, white, navy blue, and grey. If you like, you can accessorise your outfit with jewellery. Your hair should be neatly styled and if you wear make-up, keep it to a minimum.
If you already attend the school where you are interviewing for sixth form, you can wear your school uniform if you prefer, though you don’t have to unless the school specifically asks you to.
What qualities are your interviewers looking for?
Your interviewers want to make sure that the course you’ve applied for is the right fit for you. This means that they may be looking for slightly different qualities depending on what course you want to study.
In general, though, they will want to know that you are hardworking and dedicated to your studies. They will want to see that you are engaged, curious, and have an active interest in the subjects you have chosen. They also want to know who you are as a person, so don’t be afraid to let your personality and interests shine through.
What questions might you be asked in a sixth form interview?
A good interview is a conversation. Your interviewers want to get to know you and are not trying to catch you out. Answer every question in full and as honestly as you can, ideally with examples to back up what you say.
Here are a few of the common questions you might be asked and some things to think about as you answer them:
Why do you want to study with us?
Think about why you have chosen that particular sixth form. Is it the range of course options available that appeals to you, or does the college have a stellar reputation in the area you’re interested in? Perhaps there’s a particular tutor you’re really keen to learn from, or impressive facilities that you’d like to make use of.
Try to give something more specific than “it’s the closest one to my house” or “my friends are going here.” Otherwise, just be truthful.
Why are you interested in this course?
This is where you get to let your passion for your subject shine through. What is it that appeals to you about the particular course you’ve chosen? You can talk about how long you’ve been interested in the subject, why you love it, and what inspired you to want to study it further. If there’s a particular aspect of the course that excites you, such as an interesting module or unit, you can say that, too.
Here are a couple of examples of good answers to this question:
“I’ve always loved music and started playing the piano when I was six. I’m particularly excited about the composition module on this course and I think it will help me grow and advance as a musician.”
“I became fascinated with programming during my GCSE in IT, and I’m looking for a course that will allow me to delve more deeply into that area to see if a career in software development is right for me.”
What do you hope to gain from this course?
This question gives you an opportunity to talk about how your chosen course ties into your broader goals and ambitions. For example, do you want to study a similar subject at university? Do you already have a particular job or career in mind? If so, you can talk about your sixth form course as a step towards that goal.
You can also talk about how you would like to grow and develop as an individual through your studies. You might be interested in developing your teamwork skills, learning how to take on a leadership role, or simply building transferable skills that will make you more employable later on.
What are your future career plans?
If you don’t know the answer to this yet, don’t panic. No-one is going to hold you to your answer and you are not expected to have your entire life planned out.
If you know exactly what you want to do, that’s fantastic. If you don’t, can you talk more broadly about the industry or field you’re interested in? (For example: “I’m not sure exactly what form my career will take yet, but I definitely want to do something in the sciences.”)
If you really don’t know, it’s okay to say so, but emphasise that you are excited about the subjects you’ve chosen and want to build a variety of skills that you can take forward into your career.
Do you have any questions?
This is where you get to ask anything you want to know. While your questions can be straightforward and practical, asking an insightful question can help you to be memorable in a positive way.
Here are a few examples to consider:
- What are some examples of things that alumni from this course have gone on to do afterwards?
- What are the most important attributes for someone to succeed on this course?
- What sort of support and guidance do students receive on careers options and university applications?
