Po Leung Kuk Camões Tan Siu Lin Primary School P.1 Interview Full Guide | 7,000 Applicants Competing for 165 Places

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Po Leung Kuk Camões Tan Siu Lin Primary School, a prestigious Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) school, has consistently been one of the most sought-after "god schools" in Hong Kong, attracting approximately 7,000 applicants each year competing for 165 places. The school is known for its affordable fees and international learning atmosphere, with most graduates progressing to traditional elite schools such as La Salle College and St. Paul's Co-educational College. Below is a summary of the school's interview focus, past practical experience and the principal's tips.

📅 Important Dates

First Interview: 17, 24 or 25 October 2026 (students must attend one of these days)
Announcement of Second Interview Shortlist: 3 December 2026
Second Interview: 12 December 2026
Announcement of Admission and Waiting List Results: 19 January 2027
Registration Date: Late January 2027

📋 Admission Criteria

The school emphasises students' whole-person development and genuine ability, hoping to see children's true and spontaneous side, and strongly discourages overly mechanical interview class drilling. Admission mainly considers the following areas:
(A) Language foundation and comprehension ability, assessing Chinese and English expression and listening skills, as well as the daily application ability of "living in English";
(B) Non-academic comprehensive ability, observing logical thinking, problem-solving ability, creativity and learning potential;
(C) Personal traits and social skills, personality traits, cooperation with others, on-the-spot reactions and naturalness of interaction;
(D) Instruction comprehension and concentration, whether students can accurately follow teachers' and activity instructions in English.

🗣️ Breakdown of the Two Interview Rounds

The school's interview consists of two rounds, both conducted in group format, with a "zero parent interview" policy, focusing entirely on the children.

The first round interview (all applicants seen) is conducted in groups, lasting about 45 minutes, interspersing group activities with one-on-one teacher Q&A, focusing on language foundation and Chinese and English comprehension. Practical tests include:
(A) TV question, watching an animal video and then describing the content and drawing the animals seen on the spot, testing observation and expression structure;
(B) iPad test, including Chinese and English flashcard word recognition (with trap words), counting questions and detailed reading multiple-choice questions;
(C) interactive session, raising hands to answer quickly (must be fast and accurate but no shouting), Bingo games and following instructions to do actions, all conducted in English throughout.

The second round interview (about 10% of applicants invited) is conducted in groups, lasting about 1 hour, assessing non-academic abilities through mini-tasks and games, including logical thinking, problem-solving ability, personality traits and teamwork. Practical tests include physical and social games (such as "grabbing towels"), logic and thinking (guessing riddles), language and organisation (picture storytelling), in-depth academic assessment (Chinese and English reading comprehension), and personal and situational simulation.

💬 Principal's Tips: Emotional Outbursts Do Not Deduct Marks

Principal Chow Chi-ming personally addressed three major interview myths. First, emotional outbursts do not deduct marks; it is normal for children to be slow to warm up or cry in an unfamiliar environment, and as long as they can respond correctly to the teacher's questions amid emotional fluctuations, marks will be given. Second, standard answers offer no advantage; if a child gives an official standard answer, the teacher will probe further to test their true level. Third, the situational questions are slightly adjusted each year and cannot be handled by rote memorisation. Parents should maintain a growth mindset on the primary school journey, clearly explain the purpose of the school visit to their children, avoid applying extreme pressure, and view the interview as a shared parent-child growth experience. The school offers 3 major preparation suggestions for parents: "do your homework" before the interview to understand the school's philosophy; manage expectations and clearly explain the purpose of the visit to your child; and parents should not overly focus on success or failure, maintaining a "growth mindset."

🌟 Student Voices: King of Value for Money, International Learning Atmosphere

The school is hailed as the king of value for money, with students from 20 national backgrounds on campus, creating an international learning atmosphere. In addition to English and Putonghua, students must also take Japanese, French or Spanish for six years, and mathematics, science and general studies are taught in English, providing an excellent language environment. The school advocates activity-based teaching with a moderate amount of homework, rejecting endless mechanical drilling. The campus is well-equipped, featuring an indoor golf course, heated swimming pool (swimming is a compulsory subject), and a "Mindful Corner" on the rooftop for students to reflect quietly, truly achieving a balanced whole-person education.

💰 School Information

The 2026-2027 annual school fee for Po Leung Kuk Camões Tan Siu Lin Primary School is $20,500, payable in ten instalments (HK$2,050 per month). The fee does not include uniforms, school bus, lunch, textbooks or special interest classes.