The Oxbridge Interview: A Quick Guide

 

Receiving an invitation to an Oxbridge interview signifies a huge step forward in your admissions journey: you’ve created a compelling profile, and now the tutors want to get to know you more!

While it may seem a bit daunting initially, the Oxbridge Interview is more often just a dynamic, engaging conversation with a college tutor. In this article, we’ll cover some key information you need to know about your upcoming interview.

A Brief Summary

The Oxbridge Interview is the combined term for the renowned interview style of both Oxford and Cambridge University. During the interview, candidates participate in a one-on-one discussion session with a tutor from a certain Oxford/Cambridge college.

This admissions step is designed to simulate Oxford’s ‘tutorial system’ or Cambridge’s ‘supervision’ system. Your interviewer will be gauging how fit you are for this kind of academic environment. They will challenge you with personal and unexpected questions, evaluating your ability to articulate your thoughts properly and work through problems.

When thinking of the Oxbridge interview, consider it less a test of your pure knowledge and more an evaluation of your passion – your academic potential.

 

Common Questions

Different types of questions may be thrown at you during your Oxbridge interview. Some of these are:

·        General Questions – You will encounter traditional interview questions along the way, e.g.,

o   Why Oxford? Why Cambridge?

o   Why this specific course?

·        Personal Statement Questions – Your interviewer(s) may also ask you to expound on a topic or experience that you’ve covered in your PS.

o   In your personal statement, you mentioned a particular interest in [specific topic]. Can you tell me more about what specifically fascinates you about this topic?

o   You discussed your experience with [a specific project or research] in your personal statement. Can you elaborate on the challenges you faced and how you overcame them?

·        Subject Questions – You’ll also be asked questions related to your chosen subject in the interview.

o   How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment?

o   How do you assess the reliability of primary sources when studying [a particular period or event]?

·        Problem-solving Questions – These are especially prominent in interviews for STEM programs. You’ll be given sets of problems to work through, which all build up to one main question.

o   Prove or disprove the following mathematical statement: [specific theorem or conjecture].

o   In a dihybrid cross between two heterozygous organisms (AaBb), what is the probability of obtaining an offspring with the genotype Aabb?

·        Reading Questions – You may be asked for your opinion on a book or research article. In some cases, you’ll be tasked to read a short work beforehand.

o   What does this graph tell us about the relationship between [two economic variables]?

o   What is the significance of this experiment described in the text for the field of [specific scientific discipline]?

·        Open-ended Questions – Interviewers may present you with unexpected, open-ended questions, which are meant to evaluate your thought process.

o   How should we balance individual freedom and social order?

o   What is the role of the reader in interpreting a text?

 

Tips for Preparing

If you’re looking for some guidance on how to properly train for your upcoming interview, here are a few suggestions.

·        Practice with a Friend

o   Practice with a friend and ask for their constructive criticism. Your peer can provide personal advice on your diction, presentation, and responses.

·        Read Up on Books

o   Study a wide variety of subject-related books, ask recommendations from peers and teachers, and explore different essays related to your field.

·        Explore Sample Questions

o   Oxford has a few sample questions on its website. You can also try online interview practice apps, where you can practice questions within a specific time frame.

·        Join Mock Interviews

o   Ask your peers or teachers to hold mock interviews with you. Many online education platforms also offer interview preparation sessions, which allow you to personally train with an Oxbridge tutor.

Recap

The key thing to remember for the Oxbridge interview is that it’s an evaluation of your critical thinking and enthusiasm. From general questions to books, to subject topics, to open-ended questions: you must demonstrate your understanding of your chosen program. Before your upcoming interview, be sure to prepare using the techniques we’ve mentioned above.

Good luck! If you’re really looking for rigorous training, there’s no better way to do that than by practicing under the guidance of Oxbridge tutors with the help of education consulting firms. Learning with an experienced tutor can help you enhance your performance and learn the ins and outs of the Oxbridge interview setting.