25.09.2025
“I don’t know what to say, but I really want to come to your school.”
It was the most honest and direct answer he’d ever heard in an interview, said one of our heads. Authentic and direct – and that’s exactly what won the boy his place.
Insights like this were at the heart of the second part of our webinar series The Path to Boarding School – this time focusing on Preparing for School Visits & Entrance Tests. We were joined by:
What matters in interviews?
All three agreed: it’s not about perfect answers – it’s about how a student comes across.
Questions like What are you most proud of?, Which period in history would you have liked to live in? or What would you change if you were Headmaster? are intentionally open-ended. They’re designed to spark a conversation, not to test knowledge.
What do they look for? Energy, presence – and sometimes, simply, eyes that light up.
What if a question takes you by surprise?
Saying something like “Good question – I’ve never thought about that before”, or even bouncing the question back, shows confidence, not insecurity.
Entrance tests: CAT4, subject-based – or none at all
There’s no one-size-fits-all. Not every school requires tests, and few expect intense preparation. Many schools use the CAT4 – a cognitive ability test that covers: Verbal reasoning, mathematics, non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning. Arabella Stuart noted that the test can be challenging without preparation – it helps to know the format and question types. Some schools also assess maths, English or science – in those cases, GCSE revision guides or past papers are useful. But not all schools test. Elaine Purves and Adam Carr both said that at their schools, Glasmacher candidates don’t sit entrance exams – because they trust our selection.
The bottom line: Prepare for the interview – yes. But there’s no need to over-rehearse.
Arabella Stuart put it best: “We want children who laugh, have fun, follow their hobbies and spend time with friends.” And the most important role for parents? „To support their children in their activities.“
Watch the webinar recording here.
A big thank you to our guests from the UK – Adam Carr, Elaine Purves and Arabella Stuart – for their insights and for taking on the challenge of delivering the session in German. We were truly impressed!
Coming up next:
Our next webinar on Wednesday, 8 October: Academic Gap Year – How a Foundation Programme Opens the Door to International Study
For students who want to use the time after school purposefully – and lay the groundwork for studying in English, both in the UK and beyond.
Register here