PSLE Tips
September 2, 2024

Preparing for DSA Interviews : 3 Important Tips

Ms Rachel

Curriculum Lead

If your child is in Primary 6, you might be feeling the pressure of preparing them for the Direct School Admission (DSA) interviews. These interviews can be intimidating, but with the right preparation, your child can excel and make a lasting impression.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the DSA process and provide three strategic tips to help your child shine during their interview.

1. Boost Confidence Through Practice

Confidence is key during any interview. Encourage your child to practice speaking clearly and confidently about their achievements, interests, and reasons for applying to the school. Practicing common interview questions will help them feel more prepared and self-assured.

The range of questions asked in DSA interviews is vast, but they generally fall into three categories:

  1. Questions about the candidate themselves
  2. Questions about the school and its programmes
  3. Questions related to the candidate's academic history

The first set of questions aims to understand your child's talents, personality, and motivations for learning a specific skill. The second category explores their knowledge of the school’s values and programmes and how these align with their reasons for applying. Finally, the third category looks at your child's overall academic performance.

2. Stand Out with Personal Stories

Encourage your child to differentiate themselves by sharing unique personal stories and experiences during the interview. Personal anecdotes can make their answers more memorable and showcase their individuality and character.

During a DSA interview, your child might be asked simple questions like "How do you spend your free time?" or more challenging ones like "What makes you different from other applicants?"

When answering questions about hobbies or pastimes, your child might have several points to share. It’s important for them to structure their answers coherently, as well-organized responses demonstrate clarity and composure.

For instance, your child could say, “I enjoy playing real-time strategy games in my free time because I find them both educational and entertaining. These games teach me to prioritize and strategize effectively, and they also help me develop risk management skills.”

This response is effective because it shows a mature understanding of how even leisure activities can develop valuable skills. By explaining how the activity contributes to their personal growth, your child can demonstrate that they think critically and can see beyond the surface of their interests.

3. Communicate Clearly and Honestly

Clear and honest communication is vital in an interview setting. Your child should provide well-organised responses and be genuine about their reasons for applying to specific schools. Practicing structured answers will demonstrate thoughtfulness and a clear understanding of their motivations.

If your child has similar reasons for applying to different schools, they should be prepared to clearly articulate why they are particularly interested in the school they are being interviewed for. Specific reasons, such as a school's unique programme or culture, should be highlighted. For instance, your child could say, “While I have applied to School A for its strong sports team, I have heard great things about the supportive environment and dedicated coaches at your school from a friend who attended. This convinced me that your school would be a great fit for me.”

Playwrite can give your child a headstart

Preparing for the DSA interview requires more than just rehearsing questions; it involves developing essential skills like critical thinking, clarity, and confidence—all of which Playwrite nurtures through its comprehensive writing feedback. By signing up for Playwrite, your child will gain:

  • Personalised feedback to enhance clarity and coherence
  • Creative thinking skills to develop unique responses
  • Increased confidence in expressing themselves through oral and composition practice

Help your child stand out in their DSA interviews and beyond. Visit our website to learn more or contact us directly. Together, we can ensure your child is prepared for the next step in their academic journey.

Related posts

View all posts
Chat with us