As an English-speaking family in Hong Kong, international school will be my child's only option. With so many choices, what areas should I be focusing on?

The first thing you should think about each child on an individual basis. Different children will flourish in different environments and you should identify his or her strengths and weaknesses. See if the schools you are applying to will be able to provide him/her with support and develop his/her strengths as well.

Different schools in Hong Kong start applications at different ages. Some start applications to P1 as early as three years and 8 months. So you should start researching your child's primary school placement early.

When looking for placement, remember to identify what type of curriculum will be used and whether or not that fits in with future schooling. Whether or not you will be staying in Hong Kong, or if moving back to your home country is a consideration.

Look at the culture of the school and how it fits in with your child's personality. You will also need to look at extracurricular activities, like sports and music, and how necessary they are for your child.

The cost of private schools in Hong Kong can vary from HK$2500 to HK$13000 a month. So taking into account your long-term education budget is, of course, a must.

The location of the school is important because long-distance commute to get to school is not advised. If you have a second child sibling priority it should also be considered. But most schools will have that in place.

My child's birthday is in November. I feel my child is not ready for primary school. Is it possible to defer his application or should I put in an application anyway?

In Hong Kong, it is always better to put in an application early anyway, and consider deferring it when the place is offered to your child. Most international schools will have an interview process even for younger ones.

Some schools will suggest that you wait a year after the interview, but the good part is that you are already on their radar. Also, children develop and change so quickly that although you may not feel your child was ready when you put in the application, by the time the interview comes along his/her development may have a huge improvement.

School would rather see that you are diligent and understand your child's needs and ask to delay a year, rather than the other way around.

I have heard many stories about school interviews in Hong Kong. What exactly are schools looking for when they interview my five-year-old?

Schools in Hong Kong are looking for children who are developmentally appropriate for their age. They look at whether or not your child is displaying appropriate behaviour in a group setting for their age.

They look at their ability to follow instructions, take turns and play co-operatively, share, sit, as well as ask for help when required. They will require that your child has the ability to use the toilet and wash hands, manage their own snack and lunch, as well as change in/out of clothes.

The schools will also look at gross and fine motor skills, such as whether your child is holding a pencil correctly, ball skills and pre-writing skills. Some schools may also look at simple academic skills like understanding of numbers and the alphabet. And finally they will see how your child behaves and socialises with peers within the same age group.