Dorothy Lo Yuen-ki is still shy and mumbles a little as she describes her daily routine of nursery school and piano practice.
The four-year-old slouches in her seat, scanning the room while she is quizzed by her coach, Charles Wong Chor-fai.
Her halting response prompts Wong to explain patiently the importance of sitting upright and maintaining eye contact with her interviewer.
The interview season has begun for applicants to primary schools, and Dorothy and other children are being signed up in droves for prep courses in the hope of gaining an edge in the stiff competition for places; there may be more than 2,000 youngsters vying for 100 places at top private institutions, and many undergo a couple of rounds of interviews before making the cut.
Dorothy has a busy schedule, with several appointments lined up at elite schools, so her mother, Rita Chan Shuk-yan, enrolled her for a course at Learning Key Educational to familiarise her with the process. Chan paid HK$2,400 for the 10-session programme.
'Children at such a young age are the same; it's difficult to tell who's smarter,' she says. 'However, if Dorothy has a taste of the interview procedures beforehand, she will be able to perform better.'
Christy Lee Ching-yee, education manager with the Learning Plus Language Centre, estimates that interview training is now available at more than 50 tuition schools across the city.