16+ Interview Guide: How to Prepare for Sixth Form Interviews
The 16+ interview is a key part of the sixth form admissions process at many of the UK’s leading independent schools. For academically selective schools, interviews give admissions teams an opportunity to assess far more than a candidate’s grades. They may explore academic potential, intellectual curiosity, communication skills, subject enthusiasm, extracurricular interests and suitability for the school. At highly competitive schools, the 16+ entrance interview can also function as an additional academic assessment. Candidates may face separate interviews relating to their proposed A-Level or IB subjects, where they could be asked to analyse unfamiliar material, solve problems aloud, defend an argument or discuss ideas extending beyond the GCSE curriculum. In this guide, our 16+ admissions specialists at U2 Tuitionexplain the main types of 16+ interview questions, how to prepare for a sixth form interview and how students can develop the confidence and intellectual agility needed to perform at their best.
Content
What Happens in a 16+ Interview?
What Questions Are Asked at a 16+ Interview?
How to Answer Personal 16+ Interview Questions
How to answer “Why Do You Want to Come to This School?”
How to prepare for Current Affairs Questions in a 16+ interview
Examples of Subject-Specific 16+ Interview Questions
How to Approach Difficult 16+ Interview Questions
How to prepare for a 16+ interview
What Happens in a 16+ Interview?
Every school has its own 16+ admissions process, so candidates should always check the latest requirements for each school to which they are applying. At highly selective schools, however, the interview is a crucial opportunity for candidates to demonstrate not only their academic ability, but also their intellectual curiosity and readiness to contribute to sixth-form life.
16+ and sixth-form interviews commonly explore three broad areas:
Personal interests and extracurricular pursuits - Candidates may be asked about their interests beyond the classroom, achievements, responsibilities, wider reading and what they hope to contribute to the school community.
Current affairs and wider discussion - Interviewers may introduce topical issues, unfamiliar ideas or broader questions to assess how confidently a student can develop an argument, consider alternative perspectives and engage in thoughtful discussion.
Academic and subject-specific questions - Candidates may be challenged on subjects they intend to study at A-Level or IB, with some schools conducting separate subject interviews. Questions can move beyond the school syllabus, testing a candidate’s ability to apply existing knowledge to new material.
The purpose is not simply to see whether a student knows the “right” answer. Interviewers are often interested in how candidates think, respond to unfamiliar ideas, communicate their reasoning and engage with another person in an academic discussion.
What Questions Are Asked at a 16+ Interview?
While the precise format varies between schools, 16+ interview questions at leading independent schools tend to fall into three broad categories. Candidates should be prepared to discuss themselves confidently, engage with wider issues and tackle academic questions that will deliberately take them beyond familiar GCSE material.
These can be split into three broad categories:
Questions About You
Interviews will include questions designed to discover who you are beyond your academic results. Candidates may be asked about their interests, extracurricular activities, achievements, wider reading, ambitions and reasons for applying to the school. Typical questions might include “Why do you want to join our sixth form?”, What are you most proud of?”, “What do you enjoy doing outside school?”, or “What have you read or explored recently that interested you?”.
Current Affairs, Debate, General Knowledge
At 16+, particularly at highly selective schools, candidates may be expected to demonstrate an awareness of important issues beyond the classroom. Interviewers might introduce a recent news story, ethical dilemma or controversial proposition and invite the candidate to discuss it.
The emphasis is often less on possessing extensive factual knowledge and more on whether a student can form a reasoned opinion, support it with evidence, consider competing perspectives and respond intelligently when their argument is challenged.
Where possible, candidates should develop awareness of current affairs connected to their proposed A-Level or IB subjects – from developments in science and technology to economics, politics, literature, culture and international affairs
Academic & Subject-Specific Questions
Academic questions may test what you have learnt at school and how you recall this information. They will also test your aptitude for your A-Level subject choices - interviewers may test how you deal with unfamiliar material, especially as you may have interviews in subjects you have not studied for GCSE e.g. Economics, Philosophy, Politics. This could include questions testing “outside the box” lateral thinking, such as longer problem-solving and critical thinking questions
How to Answer Personal 16+ Interview Questions
This is a real opportunity to let the interviewer get to know you and the kind of student you are. Here are some tips for approaching these kinds of questions:
Talking about your extra-curricular activities and hobbies – let the interviewer know what kind of skills, interests and attributes you will bring to the school. Are you part of any societies? What clubs do you enjoy? Does the school offer clubs/ societies you would like to try that you have not been offered before? Remember, extra-curriculars can relate to your subjects, not just art/ drama/ sport/ music etc. For example, you could talk about competing in UKMT Maths Challenges, or how you would like to get into debating
Speak about your achievements (academic and non-academic) – show that you are an achiever and driven by speaking about the achievement and why it is important to you. Have you held any positions of responsibility? Have you won a subject prize? Have you written anything in your spare time/ participated in an essay competition?
Ambitions – let the interviewer know what some of your aims are for your future degree and career (of course they don’t expect this to be fully fledged, but having a few options in mind can ensure you appear driven and passionate). Think about your A-Level choices and how these could benefit a degree - how do they link? Can you make connections between subjects? What skills do you hope to develop that should allow you to excel at university application and beyond? Ambition does not have to be solely academic - what do you wish to contribute to society? What attributes do you possess or wish to possess that will ensure you can make a positive difference to the world? Are there any global challenges you would like to find a solution for/ address?
With these questions, there is a balance that needs to be found between over-confidence and being too shy; likewise, you need to strike a balance between showcasing your achievements and not seeming as if you are bragging – remember they are looking for well-rounded, sociable and kind students too.
How to answer “Why Do You Want to Come to This School?”
This is one of the most important questions to prepare for.
Avoid giving an answer that could apply to virtually any selective school.
Instead, research the individual school and identify specific aspects that genuinely appeal to you. These might include:
Particular A-Level or IB courses
Academic societies
Debating opportunities
Music, drama or sport
Academic enrichment programmes
School ethos
Sixth form culture
Boarding opportunities
Particular facilities or departments
Then connect these opportunities to your existing interests and ambitions.
Rather than simply saying that a school has an excellent academic reputation, explain why its particular environment would suit you and how you would make use of the opportunities available.
Avoid giving an answer that could apply to virtually any selective school.
Instead, research the individual school and identify specific aspects that genuinely appeal to you. These might include:
Particular A-Level or IB courses
Academic societies
Debating opportunities
Music, drama or sport
Academic enrichment programmes
School ethos
Sixth form culture
Boarding opportunities
Particular facilities or departments
Then connect these opportunities to your existing interests and ambitions.
Rather than simply saying that a school has an excellent academic reputation, explain why its particular environment would suit you and how you would make use of the opportunities available.
How to prepare for Current Affairs Questions in a 16+ interview
It is important for you to have some awareness of current affairs: world news, prevalent debates, and current developments/ issues in your A-Level subject choices. Answering these questions well shows that you are an engaged and interesting individual, who is attuned to the world around you. Here are some tips for approaching these kinds of questions:
Know the current developments: Interviewers may test your knowledge of recent developments and events in the UK and further afield. To answer these questions comfortably, be aware of the latest happenings in politics, economics, social issues etc. If you are informed and aware of the latest news, you will feel confident going into your interview and able to answer questions that may arise e.g. “What’s of particular national interest in the news lately?”, “Have you read anything in the news recently you have found particularly striking?”, “What is your opinion on… [Insert topic e.g. the refugee crisis, international responses to COVID-19 etc.]”
Ensure you can provide your opinion on the topic & try to take a line of argument where possible: If asked about current affairs, interviewers will likely be testing your analytical skills, rather than solely your ability to summarise a recent event. E.g. “What is your view on the current political situation?” [On Brexit etc.]. Think about the debate on the issue (there usually is one), weigh up both sides, and conclude that it is either X or Y – sometimes this may not be possible, but reaching a line of argument / answer shows confidence
Example: You could be asked, “do you think all healthcare should be free?” in light of a discussion on the current availability of COVID tests. You could compare how this differs in different countries, dissect the terms e.g. “free” (should hospital parking be free then, or entertainment?), compare the cost of healthcare for society and the individual, think about instances where the disease was preventable e.g. “Should a smoker have to contribute to their cancer bill?”. Be analytical!
Think of structuring your answer withPEE – point, evidence, explanation. This should give you a structure and ensure you do not waffle aimlessly!
Example: if you are asked to explain a piece of current affairs, for instance, global warming, your point might be that the world is getting warmer, evidence for this is that ice caps are melting, and then you could explain some of the actions we can take to reduce this/or wider effects this has
Be prepared to lead a discussion around your favourite topics: Read new articles, be familiar with novel challenges in the [Insert A-Level choice: Biology, Economics, Psychology] world. For example, a candidate in a Biology subject interview discussed the promises of personalised medicine in light of a recent article he read on the world’s first baby born with new “3 parent” technique (link). They are looking for your ability to think critically and demonstrate interest outside of the school curriculum
Examples of Subject-Specific 16+ Interview Questions
Example 16+ Interview Questions
Science: “How is a cell like a factory?”:
This is a“compare” question: If you are asked to discuss the similarities/ differences of two things you should start by explaining each. After you have done this, choose 2/3 points of discussion and talk about how each of your items relates to these points. The interviewer wants to test your scientific knowledge and see how you think/ respond to unfamiliar material; make sure that you are comparing and contrasting a cell with a factory at every stage.
Maths/ Languages: “Is Maths a language?”
For Maths, you will likely be tasked with a range of both foundational and more complex problem-solving questions. However, you could get something a bit weirder like this too to test your ability to think outside the box! Go beyond 'yes' or 'no': e.g. What are the things that make language? Grammar? Creation of meaning? Does maths share these features? What does it do differently? Therefore, what do you conclude?
Geography/ Politics: “Do we need borders?”
1) Try to think of some meaningful insights from your school study and question the assumptions/ approximations made in the question. What is a border? Borders separate geographic areas, they often reflect natural boundaries like rivers or mountain ranges. They are also political boundaries, they affect travel and migration, they can reflect differences in wealth and freedom. Weigh up both sides and describe your thoughts - Is there a case for open borders in today’s society? If interested in Politics, you may use some political terminology e.g. libertarian. Bring in case studies e.g. Australia’s advertisements deterring migrants.
To prepare you must…
Revise key GCSE work & challenge yourself with more advanced material: This should be your first port of call especially if you have multiple subject interviews. Ensure you don’t get caught out on questions testing foundational GCSE knowledge. To begin advancing your level, try to look at some A-Level material, challenge yourself with extension questions (you could ask your teacher for some), and research topics that interest you to gain a deeper appreciation (Use YouTube, download free worksheets on Tes, try UKMT Maths Challenge or Science Challenge past papers)
Engage in wider subject exploration (READ, READ, READ): Successful applicants will keep as up-to-date as possible with current affairs related to their subject of interest, will engage in reading, extend their knowledge through essay competitions, viewing lectures, listening to podcasts etc. Take advantage of this kind of question to get involved in an interesting and exciting discourse in which you can show both your passion for and knowledge of the subject
Put your preparation into practice with mock interviews: If your parent/ teacher can host these, great! If you would like to have an alumni of the school in question or a mentor with particular experience of the process for the school, get in touch with U2 and we can arrange it a mock interview and feedback session (prices on application). Book a complimentary consultation to find out more!
Prepare for questions on unseen material: You may be given a sheet or two of material and told to look through it 30 mins or so before your interview begins or during the interview itself. This could be a complex mathematical equation, a graph, a poem, a source for history etc. Think: What can you work out about it? What sort of questions could they ask on it? If you are given a chart or graph, what units are the axes given? Can you relate the information provided to anything you know already? If you are given a piece of text, what is its possible context and the connotations of its context? (it could be an unlabelled piece of writing). If you are a linguist, think about the word choice and make balanced educated guesses as to the meanings of unfamiliar words
Idea for STEM 16+ applicants: Listen to Oxford’s annual Christmas Science Lectures
At Oxford's annual Christmas science lectures, world renowned scientists aim to entertain and inspire the next generation with their (often explosive) insights into science. Learn about a variety of exciting topics, including how epigenetics makes you you, whether machines can think, and how volcanoes work!
How to Approach Difficult 16+ Interview Questions
The most challenging 16+ interview questions are often deliberately designed so that there is no immediate or obvious answer. You might be given an unfamiliar problem, asked to interpret a graph or source, challenged to defend an opinion, or confronted with a question you have never considered before.
The key is not to produce a perfect answer instantly. Instead, interviewers want to see how you think when you are pushed beyond familiar territory.
1. Take a Moment Before You Answer
Do not feel pressured to respond immediately. A short pause to organise your thoughts can demonstrate confidence rather than uncertainty. Make sure you have understood exactly what is being asked before beginning your answer.
If a question is ambiguous, it can be impressive to identify this: “I think this depends on what we mean by…” can be a much stronger starting point than rushing into an answer.
2. Break the Question Down
Complex questions become much easier when divided into smaller components.
For example, if asked “Should everything have a price?”, you might first consider what a price does, which things currently have a monetary value, which do not, and what the consequences of pricing them might be.
This gives your answer a logical structure while demonstrating analytical thinking.
3. Think Aloud
Your interviewer cannot assess reasoning that remains inside your head. Where appropriate, talk them through your thought process.
Explain the assumptions you are making, why you have chosen a particular approach and how you are reaching your conclusion. This is particularly valuable in Mathematics and Science interviews, where an interviewer may be as interested in your method as your final answer.
4. Use What You Already Know
An unfamiliar question does not necessarily require unfamiliar knowledge. Look for ways to connect the problem to concepts you have encountered at GCSE, wider reading, current affairs or independent subject exploration.
A strong candidate can take existing knowledge and apply it creatively to a new situation rather than simply recalling rehearsed material.
5. Consider More Than One Perspective
For open-ended questions, avoid settling immediately on the first argument that occurs to you. Ask yourself: What would someone who disagreed with me say? Are there exceptions? What assumptions am I making?
Considering a counterargument before reaching your conclusion demonstrates intellectual maturity and can turn a relatively straightforward response into a much stronger discussion.
6. Respond Positively to Challenge
An interviewer may deliberately disagree with you, question an assumption or introduce information that complicates your answer.
Do not treat this as evidence that you have failed. Listen carefully and consider whether the new information should change your reasoning. Being able to say “That changes my initial view because…” can be considerably more impressive than refusing to move from your original position.
7. Be Comfortable Saying What You Don't Know
You are not expected to know everything. If you encounter something completely unfamiliar, avoid bluffing. Acknowledge the limit of your knowledge and then reason from what you do know.
For example: “I haven't encountered this concept before, but based on X, I would expect…” demonstrates honesty while keeping the academic discussion moving.
8. Reach a Reasoned Conclusion
For open questions, try to bring your thinking together rather than allowing your answer to trail off. Your conclusion does not have to be absolute.
A sophisticated answer might conclude that the outcome depends on particular circumstances, provided you can explain which factors matter and why.
Ultimately, difficult 16+ interview questions reward curiosity, composure and intellectual flexibility. The aim is not to memorise the “correct” response to every possible question, but to become confident at dissecting unfamiliar problems, constructing an argument and developing your thinking through discussion.
How to prepare for a 16+ interview
1. Build an extracurricular profile
If you feel like you don’t have enough to mention in terms of hobbies and activities, especially related to your subject interests, now is the time to change that!
Enter an essay competition: Check out our Minds Underground competitions pages - Our extracurricular division hosts in-house competitions and recommends top choices of external competitions. Competitions present a great opportunity to delve deep into a topic/ subject that interests you - you will build skills in writing and research, gain co-curricular knowledge and you may even win a prize! Even if you don’t submit an award-winning essay or creative writing piece, you can still mention your research and writing
Join a club/ society: Your school likely has a range of existing societies and clubs you could join. Does your school have a history/ finance/ geography/ science society? If not, can you set up one? If school clubs don’t pique your interest, seek inspiration elsewhere. U2 host a range of online clubs for students including debate and STEM clubs. Contact us for more information or visit www.mindsunderground.com for all co-curricular opportunities
Look for courses/ projects: Pursue your interests through co-curricular courses and projects. For example, if you are interested in getting into coding, find an online course (MIT, for example, offer a free one), and Minds Underground’s Coding & AI page suggests a range of courses and classes including robotics projects). You could even set yourself an independent project to complete - for example, the James Dyson Foundation suggests a range of engineering challenges for students to complete
2. Research the school
Look up some facts about the school of application (history, societies, atmosphere, boarding life - anything unique to them) - you could work some of these into your responses to ensure you make a compelling case for why you are choosing X school over the others. Give the school’s history a cursory once-over so that you will be able to comfortably make claims about the school’s heritage and achievements if needed.
3. Fill a table with your attributes and your motivations for applying to the school
N.B. Most schools will have a page dedicated to what they want from applicants - take your cue from them!
Train your skills of analysis by engaging with and critiquing news articles and opinion pieces, listening to podcasts and debates. Focus on case-file building - keep a record of topics you come across and build upon these in your free time
Subscribe to a current affairs or a topical magazine; more importantly though, you must learn to sift through information
On the day of your interview make sure you read the newspaper/s thoroughly so the news is on the top of your head!
Try to read from a variety of verifiable sources: Be aware of the biases that are already present in sources that you are reading. Reflect and form your own opinions (not just what the journalist said). Reading about the same topic from multiple sources provides different information on the same topic. Weigh up this information and come up with a conclusion yourself. Reading something likeThe Conversation, is excellent for gaining exposure to high level critique and analysis on current topics
Practise discussing current affairs medical topics with your parents, friends, a U2 medicine mentor, a teacher
Investigate other resources on topics that interest you. For example, if interested in science, read the New Scientist or listen to the Naked Scientists Podcast to stay up to date on current scientific breakthroughs and advancements. If interested in Business/ Economics, subscribe to Finimize which is a concise daily news email - reading this every day should only take a few minutes but will help build awareness before exams/ interviews. In addition, reading the Economist or listening to the Economist Intelligence Podcast(useful for a range of subjects) and watchingBloomberg newsare good sources of information
Does your school have a debating society? If not, can you set up one? Or at least organise a debate? Debating directly engages with current affairs topics and hones communication/ critical thinking/ analytical skills. Minds Underground hosts debate classes for students aged 15+, hosted by two UK National Debate Team Coaches, if your school does not offer debate
Don’t know what to expect for 16 Plus interviews?
This 63-page guide includes commonly asked 16 plus interview questions from top UK schools, including general personal & academic questions, situational, current affairs & debate questions and subject-specific questions for 16+ interviews on A-Level or IB choices (History, Geography, English, Maths, Sciences, Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Computer Science, Theology and Languages). Gain insight into the types of questions asked at interview and top tips for efficient preparation, written by our Oxbridge-educated team.
N.B. This guide is particularly suitable for those applying to leading UK Schools such as Westminster, St Paul’s, King’s College Wimbledon, Magdalen College School and Sevenoaks, who challenge students with subject-specific interviews in each of their A-Level or IB choices. Some of the questions in the pack are quite tricky to stretch students beyond the GCSE syllabus!
16+ Interview Questions Pack Contents
Situational/ Competency questions
Questions about the school
Extracurricular profile: interests and achievements & suggestions for profile enhancement
General academic questions e.g. “How would you eradicate gender inequalities in society?” or “Do bankers deserve the pay they receive? Should the government limit it?”
Personality test questions e.g. “Who’s your hero?”
Subject-specific questions: Preparation tips, information on typical subject interview formats & example past questions.
In need of some extra 16+ support?
It can be really helpful to work with a specialist 16+ tutor to prepare your 16+ application and particularly practise for the 16+ interview. We strongly suggest brainstorming answers to the questions provided in the pack and then practising them in a mock interview setting. U2 Tuition to pair students with a 16+ mentor to work with or to schedule a mock interview in preparation for 16+ entrance. You can book a complimentary consultation on our Contact Us page to discuss different options.
Visit Our 16+ Tutoring Page For More Details on Tuition Options
Ready to challenge yourself with a plethora of frequently-asked 16 plus interview questions?
This 34-page guide includes interview questions based on typical questions asked by the top UK schools, including Eton College, Latymer, St. Paul’s School and Wycombe Abbey. The pack includes general personal & academic questions, situational, current affairs & debate questions and subject-specific questions for interviews on A-Level choices (History, Geography, English, Maths, Sciences, Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Languages). Gain insight into the types of questions asked at interview and top tips for efficient preparation, written by our Oxbridge-educated team.
Situational/ Competency questions
Questions about the school
Extracurricular profile: interests and achievements & suggestions for profile enhancement
General academic questions e.g. “How would you eradicate gender inequalities in society?” or “Do bankers deserve the pay they receive? Should the government limit it?”
Personality test questions e.g. “Who’s your hero?”
Subject-specific questions: Preparation tips, information on typical subject interview formats & example past questions.
We Offer Comprehensive 16+ Tuition and Interview Preparation Support
Ready to shine in your 16+ interviews? Our tailored interview preparation ensures you stand out, whether you're facing 16+ general or subject interviews for your A-Level or IB choices. For general interviews, we'll help you express your motivation, passion for subjects, and extracurricular achievements. In subject interviews, we'll showcase your subject knowledge and aptitude.
Our team of Oxbridge graduates, including alumni from the majority of top UK schools, are well-versed in hosting 16+ practice interviews and building skills in critical discussion, alongside our full 16 plus tutoring programmes. Students may also be interested in joining our extra-curricular division, Minds Underground™’s debate classes to hone public speaking & communication skills.
Contact us via email or book a complimentary 20-minute consultation and we will suggest a suitable 16+ tutor based on the student’s specific requirements.