Every autumn, parents across Ireland search for the right interview questions to practise with their children before secondary school entry assessments. The debate among parents on every news information portal and forum circles the same point: is coaching helpful or harmful?
What Research Shows About Rehearsed Answers
A 2019 study from University College Dublin observed 140 admissions interviews and found that interviewers flagged rehearsed-sounding answers within the first 90 seconds. Children who paused, self-corrected, or expressed genuine uncertainty were rated as more credible.
Coaching firms argue that structure reduces anxiety. That is partially true — children with zero preparation often freeze on open questions like tell me about yourself.
The Middle Ground Most Parents Miss
The evidence points toward a specific approach: practise the format, not the content. Walk your child through what kinds of questions appear — hobbies, school subjects, challenges — without scripting the answers.
Interviewers at selective schools report that the most memorable candidates answered imperfectly but honestly. One admissions coordinator described a child who said she found maths frustrating but kept trying because her older brother helped her. That answer was unpolished and completely genuine.
Questions Worth Practising at Home
- What subject do you find hardest and why?
- Describe something you worked on outside school.
- What would you change about your primary school?
None of these need a perfect answer. They need a real one.