Letters will soon be dropping onto doormats for UK applicants to Oxbridge, to attend an on-line interview. With these interviews starting in early December, how can you prepare?
Very few Universities interview their applicants now, so what are Oxford and Cambridge wanting from you at interview?
It you have been called for interview means the university can see your academic potential – they can see you are capable of getting high grades. However, both Oxford and Cambridge teach through a strong tutorial system, rather than large whole-year lectures and the interviewers will be looking at whether you will fit with this teaching style. The tutorial system is based on small groups, or individual tutorial sessions where you will be expected to contribute not only your understanding but also your thoughts and ideas on the topics under discussion. One aim of the interview process is therefore to see whether you have the ability to think clearly and independently, not just rely on being given information that you then rote learn, in order to pass an exam.
Your academic potential will also be assessed during the interview. The interviewers know you are bright, but do you have the potential to take your studies further than other students do? But the interviewers are not trying to catch you out – they want to know how well you think independently, are you enthusiastic about your subject, how good are you at assimilating new or different information an interviewer might give you?
Both Oxford and Cambridge have additional assessments linked to applications. These may be pre-interview or at-interview, although with the system having moved to digital platform this year, many at-interview assessments are likely to be sent out prior to the interview. However, for some subjects you may be given an article or piece of text to read just before the interview. Expect these assessments to be discussed during the interview, so read back through your work. This is also an opportunity for you to show your academic potential so think of ways you could take your points further, or support them if you are challenged. This part of the interview will be subject specific so expect to be asked about things you have studied as part of your A Level course or even to apply your existing subject knowledge to a new situation.
Alongside this discussion, the purpose of the interview is to go beyond the information you have supplied on your UCAS form and within your personal statement. Expect to be asked about your personal statement, so practice explaining things you may have said in further detail. If you have mentioned reading a specific article, have another look at it, think of why you chose to include it, what you agree or disagree with in the article. There is unlikely to b a right or wrong answer, but the interviewers are again wanting to see how you think. Don't try to bluff your way though an answer - if you don't know, just say so. Also, if you believe your view is solid, don't be swayed automatically by the interviewer's challenges.
Although both Oxford and Cambridge say that coaching is not necessary for a successful performance at interview, for many candidates it can be helpful. Achieving a place at an Oxbridge College would be a dream come true for many applicants and it is understandable, that with such high stakes, nerves can kick in. Interview coaching can help you with this, and also give you the opportunity to practice thinking on your feet. All our Oxbridge tutors have personal experience of taking an Oxbridge interview but also have experience of interviewing candidates for various courses themselves. It’s not about rote learning answers to questions that can be found on various websites. For example, Oxford publish the following sample questions. Cambridge do not official publish any potential questions. Your interview is about showing your strengths - your ability to think clearly and logically, even in answers to questions you may never have been asked before!
Find some further information in the links below:
Oxford also publish their interview dates:
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