DSA Interview Question Bank
Introduction and Background
- Can you introduce yourself and share something unique about you?
- What are your key strengths, and what areas do you want to improve on?
- How would your friends describe your personality?
- What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of your studies?
- What goals have you set for yourself over the next five years in secondary school?
- If you could change one habit or quality about yourself, what would it be and why?
- Who inspires you the most, and how have they influenced you?
- What accomplishment are you most proud of so far?
- How do you usually stay motivated when faced with challenges?
- What do you think makes you a good fit for a DSA student?
- Describe a memorable experience that taught you an important lesson.
- How do you handle stress or pressure during exams or competitions?
School
- Why do you want to join our school in particular?
- What do you know about our school’s history, culture, or achievements?
- Which of our school’s core values do you connect with most, and why?
- How do you see yourself contributing to the school community if accepted?
- How do you plan to manage your time between academics and co-curricular commitments?
- What do you hope to learn or gain from studying here?
- Have you applied to any other schools, and how do you feel about them compared to us?
- What challenges do you expect to face in secondary school, and how will you overcome them?
- If you don’t get into this school, what will be your next step?
- Our school maintains high expectations. How will you ensure you meet them?
Domain-Related – General
- Why did you choose this DSA domain or area of talent?
- What inspired you to pursue this particular talent?
- What are some of your key achievements in this domain?
- How have you developed your skills or knowledge in this area so far?
- What specific goals do you have to further improve in this domain?
- What qualities do you think someone needs to succeed in this area?
- How do you manage your time between schoolwork and training or practice?
- Tell us about a challenge you faced in your domain and how you overcame it.
- How do you react when you don’t perform as well as expected?
- Who do you look up to in this domain, and what have you learned from them?
Domain-Related – Math/Science
- What excites you most about Mathematics or Science?
- Tell us about a project, experiment, or competition you took part in.
- Have you ever applied Math or Science to solve a real-life problem?
- What is your favourite Math or Science topic, and why?
- How do you stay curious and continue learning beyond the classroom?
- If you could invent something to make the world better, what would it be?
- What role do teamwork and communication play in scientific projects?
- Who is a scientist, inventor, or mathematician you admire, and why?
Domain-Related – Languages
- Why do you think being bilingual or multilingual is valuable today?
- Share about a book, article, or poem that has influenced your thinking.
- How do you improve your language skills outside of school (e.g., reading, writing, or speaking)?
- What challenges do you face when learning new languages, and how do you overcome them?
- How can language help us understand different cultures and perspectives?
- If you could write a story or article, what message would you want to convey?
- How do you ensure you use proper language and tone when communicating with others?
Domain-Related – Art/Music/Dance
- What inspires your creativity or artistic expression?
- Tell us about a piece of work or performance you are especially proud of.
- How do you handle feedback, especially when it’s critical?
- How do you prepare for a performance or competition?
- Who or what has influenced your artistic journey the most?
- How do you express emotions or ideas through your art form?
- How do you balance creativity with discipline and technique?
- What message do you hope to communicate through your performances or artworks?
Domain-Related – Sports
- Which sport are you applying for, and what are your main achievements?
- What does teamwork mean to you as an athlete?
- How do you show discipline both on and off the field?
- How do you balance your studies with training schedules?
- Describe a time when you lost an important match. What did you learn from it?
- How do you motivate yourself and your teammates during tough times?
- What role do respect and sportsmanship play in your sport?
- How do you set goals and track your progress as an athlete?
Domain-Related – Leadership
- Tell us about a time you took on a leadership role.
- What are the most important qualities of a good leader?
- How do you make fair decisions when your team has different opinions?
- What would you do if your idea is rejected by the group?
- How do you encourage others to contribute and work together?
- What is one leadership challenge you’ve faced, and how did you handle it?
- How do you lead by example in school or in your CCA?
- What will you do if you are not chosen as a leader in secondary school?
Situational Questions
- How do you manage your time between school, CCA, and personal life?
- Tell us about a time you experienced failure. What did you learn from it?
- Describe an instance when you worked as part of a team. What role did you play?
- How do you handle disagreements or conflicts with friends or teammates?
- What would your teammates or classmates say about you?
- How do you react under pressure or during unexpected situations?
- If your best friend was struggling in school, how would you help?
- How would you respond if you were unfairly blamed for something you didn’t do?
- If you had to choose between two equally important responsibilities, how would you decide?
Social & Current Issues
- Do you think Singapore’s education system is too stressful? Why or why not?
- How can schools better support students’ mental well-being?
- Do you think social media brings people closer or creates distance?
- What is one recent event in Singapore that caught your attention?
- What can young people do to make Singapore a more caring society?
- Should students be graded more on effort or results? Explain your view.
- How can students play a role in tackling environmental issues?
- What does racial harmony mean to you in a diverse country like Singapore?
- How can technology be used responsibly in education?
- What do you think is the most pressing issue facing youths today?
Closing Questions
- Do you have any questions for us about our school or programme?
- What do you hope to gain if you are accepted through DSA?
- How do you plan to contribute if you become a student here?
- What do you think you’ll bring to our school community that others might not?
- Is there anything else you’d like us to know before we end the interview?