Teacher (School) interview questions and scorecard
India context for teacher (school) interview questions, central rules as of 30 Oct 2026.
Use these 12 questions to interview a teacher (school) the same way every time. Ask all candidates the same questions, score each answer from 1 to 4 against the notes below, and decide on the total, not on first impressions. Pick 8 to 10 questions per interview.
At a glance
- Match the questions to your teacher (school) job description: one question per must-have.
- Score each criterion right after the interview, before you talk to other interviewers.
- Follow up with "What did you personally do?" to separate individual work from the team's.
Questions
| # | Question | A good answer shows | Red flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explain [TOPIC] as you would to a student in class [GRADE]. | Accurate and age-appropriate | Too complex or inaccurate |
| 2 | What are the common misconceptions about this topic? | Names and how to address them | Cannot name |
| 3 | Walk me through planning a lesson. | Objective, activity, check | No plan |
| 4 | How do you know students have understood? | Questions, quick checks, work | Only tests |
| 5 | How do you help a slow learner? | Extra practice, different methods, patience | Blames the student |
| 6 | How do you teach a mixed-ability class? | Groups, tasks at several levels | One speed |
| 7 | A student keeps disturbing the class. What do you do? | Private talk, consistent rules, parents if needed | Shouts or punishes |
| 8 | Corporal punishment: your view? | Opposes, uses positive methods | Supports |
| 9 | How do you handle a student who is being bullied? | Acts, informs school, supports | Ignores |
| 10 | A parent complains about marks. How do you respond? | Listens, shows evidence, calm | Defensive |
| 11 | How do you use technology in class? | Purposeful use | Only for show |
| 12 | What are the school safeguarding duties you know? | Reporting, no unsupervised contact, policies | Unaware |
Scorecard (1 to 4)
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Weak: no relevant example, or a red flag |
| 2 | Partial: general or hypothetical answer, little evidence |
| 3 | Good: a real, specific example that meets the standard |
| 4 | Strong: specific, repeated evidence and clear reasoning |
| Criterion | Questions | What a 4 looks like | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject knowledge | 1, 2 | Accurate and deep | |
| Teaching method | 3, 4, 5, 6 | Plans, differentiates, checks understanding | |
| Classroom management | 7, 8, 9 | Fair, calm, consistent | |
| Communication and child safety | 10, 11, 12 | Works with parents, protects children | |
| Total | / 16 |
Suggested rule: shortlist candidates whose average is 3 or higher with no criterion at 1. Change the rule before the first interview, not after.
Run it as a video interview on LiveRec
Open the candidate and choose Schedule interview, then choose Video and pick LiveRec video, which needs no link. After the call, open the interview and choose Submit feedback to give star ratings for Technical skills, Communication skills and Culture fit, a Decision and your comments; paste your scorecard result into the comments. Recorded LiveRec video interviews are deleted 90 days after the interview as standard, so tell candidates before you record. See Schedule an interview, private notes and feedback and recordings.
Fair interviewing
Ask only job-related questions. Indian law bars gender discrimination in recruitment for the same work and requires equal opportunity for people with disabilities, so keep questions on marital status, family plans, religion, caste or health out of the interview. See illegal interview questions for the principles; US-specific examples there differ.
Next step
Copy the scorecard into your interview scorecard template, then schedule the first interviews. For the method, read the structured interview guide.
Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Employment: https://labour.gov.in
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: https://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/
- US OPM, Structured Interviews (method reference): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/structured-interviews/
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.