Essential advice on applying to Oxford
and Cambridge
Interviews
Interviews will take place in the firstthree weeks of December and for many applicants the interview is the most daunting part of the Oxbridge admissions process. This is often because they are not sure what is expected of them.Our Interview Guide explains the possible formats your interview could take and includes tips on how to stay calm, communicate effectively and how to present yourself at interview.
We have also consulted our Advisory Board of ex-Oxbridge admissions tutors to draw up a list of the top five attributes which applicants should aim to demonstrate in their interview. After each attribute, you will find guidance on exactly how you can develop and show this skill.
1. Subject Passion
Preparation: Make sure that you have read beyond your A-level subjects, and that you can show additional evidence of your passion for your subject, such as work experience and extra-curricular activities.
At Interview: Try not to let nerves hide your enthusiasm. Offer examples from different texts and volunteer information on what you have done beyond your studies to develop your love of the subject. Finally, try to enjoy the experience! If you relish the opportunity to discuss your area of interest with an expert, it will be taken as a good sign of the genuine pleasure you take in your subject.
2. Critical and Analytical Ability
The Oxbridge teaching system requires a rigorous critical mindset, and enlightened scepticism. To benefit from such a system an applicant must show signs of lateral thinking and critical ability that makes such analysis possible.
Preparation: Practice having a critical attitude by reading newspapers, watching the news or listening to someone speak. Think about the message being conveyed. Do the suggested conclusions seem reasonable to you? Do you agree with the points of view offered? Are any of the facts being distorted or to fit into the argument?
At Interview: Do not answer straight away; sit back and try to understand why the question has been asked, what the component parts of a response might be, and where the interviewer is leading you. Break the question down into its component parts and also try to appreciate different sides of an argument. Attempt to order your ideas before you begin to answer the question.
3. Independent Thinking
Preparation: Your A-level studies will have started to encourage you to think independently. When you get a challenging question how do you formulate your own ideas? Mind maps are an excellent way to practice developing new ideas and links between topics, as is comparing your ideas with those of your classmates.
At Interview: Aim to demonstrate not onl y what you know, but also that you can generate new ideas; use the questions as a stimulus to your imagination, and be bold in offering new solutions, suggestions or perspectives. Avoid simply giving accounts of other people's theories, plots of books or events of historical periods. Feel confident in what you have to say; you will never know everything, but you can certainly utilise what you do know in a clever and original way.
4. Listening and 'Teachability'
In the unique Oxbridge teaching system the capacity to listen to and absorb information is essential.
Preparation: The best way to prepare for this is through discussion of your subject, with teachers, friends or in class. It is amazing how many students do not listen to the question being put to them.
At Interview: Listen to the question and onl y answer the question you are asked - not the question you would like to have been asked! Ask politely for clarification if there are any words you don’t understand. This will illustrate confidence and shows a level of humility. Finally, the most important technique here is flexibility. Try to avoid jumping to conclusions in an argument or problem. Remain open to new opinions and facts which may cause you to revise your ideas.
5. Knowledge
A candidate can always learn new facts, whereas the qualities listed above are to some degree intrinsic. Knowledge,however,is still important, particularly in Science subjects and having a sound knowledge of the subject illustrates a candidate's commitment.
Preparation: Thorough revision of your A-level work to date is the best way to prepare. If you have mentioned a piece of work in your Personal Statement make sure you have revised that topic.
At Interview: Every point you make should be backed up with a fact or an example to show that you have understood your work and can apply your knowledge when relevant- never deploy your knowledge for its own sake, but be sure to use it whenever it is appropriate.
Over the past eight years we have helped more than 35,000 Oxbridge applicants prepare for interview and each year we ask applicants which questions they were asked at interview. We then use these questions at our interview preparation events.
The list below represents a onl y a small sample of these questions. You can get a complete list of the interview questions for your subject at one of our Interview Preparation Days.
Archaeology
- Where do you think the Elgin Marbles should be, London or Athens?
- How does studying History link with Archaeology?
- What is the role of archaeologists and museums?
Architecture
- What is the importance of light in architecture?
- What is your favourite building?
- Who is your favourite architect?
- Questions about the portfolio submitted.
- How do amino acids behave in both acidic and basic conditions?
- What is the significance of the human genome project?
- How does DNA fingerprinting work? What is its use?
- Why are there so many steps in the cascade of reactions?
- Give me an example of how specialist biological knowledge has helped food production.
- Why is there a higher probability of being killed by an asteroid collision than by a heart attack?
- What kind of changes would occur to the environment if a large asteroid impacted earth?
- What are the arguments for preserving biodiversity?
- Why does the boiling point of water rise as salt is dissolved in it?
- What makes drugs physiologically active?
- Explain the bonding in benzene.
- Shown a block of iron. Asked to name it, explain why it rusts, how to stop it rusting.
- Why do you think Ancient History is important?
- How civilised was the Roman world?
- When would you start a book about the history of England?
- What is the difference between a debate and a philosophical conversation?
- Tell me about binary searches. What about their efficiency?
- Algebraic references with respect to summation formulae and proofs by induction.
- It is a fact that, apart from the peripherals, the whole of a computer can be made from NAND gates. The Egyptians created NAND gates using marbles rolling down shutes and used the them for booby trapping pyramids. Did, then, the Egyptians invent the computer? If not, explain fundamentally why not.
- "The game of chess will be played perfectly by the computers of 2010." What is the meaning of this statement and is it likely true?
- Suggest a list of conditions necessary to sustain life on Earth?
- What do you believe would be the major differences on Earth if,
a) no atmosphere had ever formed?
b) there was no water?
c) plate tectonics did not exist? - Why did the dinosaurs become extinct?
- How do mountains originate?
- Should governments subsidise agriculture?
- What are the consequences of changing interest rates?
- What is the point of privatisation?
- How would you make a hypothetical sandwich stall more profitable?
- What is a monopoly? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
- Consider a production line. What could be done to help the worker to get away from the routine?
- Are large or small companies more successful?
- Why do Rolls-Royce build cars by hand, and Toyota by machine?
- What is the basis of performance related pay?
- Explain the following to someone with no knowledge of physics: force, momentum, power, work.
- What are the fundamental differences between Engineering and Physics?
- If you had a cylinder, sealed at both ends, with the pressure rising inside, would it blow at the end or split along the side first?
- If I am in a room with 5 people and guess all their birthdays what is the probability of getting (only) one correct?
- Why do we read literature?
- Read and date this short, anonymous poem. Who do you think wrote it? Comment on use of imagery used and its effect; does this poem remind you of anything you've read?
- Do you think the ending of 'The Mill On The Floss' is poor?
- George Orwell’s 1984 ? is it still relevant? How does it relate to the media, politics and surveillance?
- How would you design a scientific experiment to show that a certain substance is addictive?
- How come a painting by a four year old of “a tiger amongst tulips” (as described by the child) doesn’t look like a tiger despite the child studying a tiger at the zoo the day before and being satisfied with the outcome?
- Explain cliff formation after looking at a photograph. How can computers aid geographers in understanding such processes?
- What is the relevance of physical geography to human geography?
- Are there any articles you’ve read in the paper recently that are relevant to physical geography?
- Do you think that all of History is a History of Thought?
- Would History be worth studying if it didn’t repeat itself?
- Is national character a useful concept in History?
- How can one define a revolution?
- Discuss restoration and conservation. Are they good or bad?
- What is your opinion on the Turner Prize and Brit Art?
- How does art reflect its society?
- What work of art would you most like to own?
- Comment on a population pyramid.
- Design an experiment to show whether monkeys’ behaviour is innate or learnt.
- Is shopping the new religion?
- How could you tell how long a disease had been preval ent in an area?
- What kind of transport policy could be implemented in Cambridge?
- Why is traffic so bad in cities and what would you do about it?
- Should fox hunting have been banned?
- How do you think the House of Lords should be reformed?
- Reduction of an article of 1,300 words to 150-200 words.
- What have you read in the papers recently that relates to international law?
- What is the difference between intention and foresight?
- How many 0s has 30 factorial?
- If X is odd prove X squared ? 1 is always a multiple of 8
- Draw the graph of y= (x-3)(x-2) / (x 2)(x-1)
- What makes a good doctor?
- Can you describe an experiment to differentiate between a normal and a multi-resistant strain of bacteria?
- How would you determine whether leukaemia patients have contracted the disease because of a nearby nuclear power station?
- What would life be like without enzymes?
- Why do you want to study a very literature-based degree?
- What do you think Voltaire meant by 'Il faut cultiver notre jardin'?
- What are the differences between Spain and Latin America?
- How does Le Monde differ from English broadsheets?
- Discuss ways in which plants are adapted to dry conditions.
- Why are big, fierce animals so rare?
- How does the immune system recognise invading pathogens as foreign cells?
- Write down an organic reaction you have studied at school and explain its mechanism.
- What makes some chemicals explosive?
- When an ice cube melts in a glass of water, does the water level increase, decrease or stay the same?
- Is it a matter of fact or knowledge that time travels in onl y one direction?
- Differentiate between power and authority.
- Why do we need government?
- Would it be feasible to have an economy entirely based on the service sector?
- Does the welfare state trap people into poverty?
- Distinguish between a society, a state and an economy.
- Should museums be free?
- What is the best reason you can think of for believing in God? Do you think this course could be persuasive on the matter?
- Do the Gods command it because it is great, or is it great because the Gods command it?
- How valuable do you think the Bible is to us today?
- Why do dogs behave badly?
- Would you prefer a large or small animal practice?
- How have vets' lives changed in the last 30 years
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