How to excel in your interview at Oxford and Cambridge
The interview process
As repositories of learning and academic communities, there are few universities throughout the world that can rival Oxford and Cambridge. Obtaining an interview at one of these institutions, therefore, can be more than a little intimidating.
The interview processes at Oxford and Cambridge are not exactly the same. Typically, Oxford tends to be more selective in advance of the interview, whereas Cambridge will interview the majority of its applicants. Whilst interviews used to take place in person at both institutions, they are now mostly held online. Typically, both interviews will take place on the same day, if not directly following one another. Both Oxford and Cambridge also require assessments which vary in format across each subject.
Why do Oxford and Cambridge interview applicants?
There are two answers as to why Oxford and Cambridge require interviews of their applicants. The first is that there simply aren’t enough spaces to accommodate everyone applying to the university. Since degrees from Oxbridge are among the most prestigious in the world, it is no surprise that many want to study there. Both universities maintain their reputation in part by providing instruction and supervision on a one-to-one and small-group basis, which differs from most other UK universities. The result is that there are only a limited number of places available: of over 23,000 applicants to Oxford in 2022, just 3,300 received offers.
The second answer is related to the first. Since much of the learning at Oxford and Cambridge takes place in the context of the supervision room, either one-on-one or in a small group, it is essential that the institutions assess your performance within a similar environment. The interview, therefore, is in many ways a rehearsal for what you can expect in a Cambridge supervision, or an Oxford tutorial. There is simply no way that the academic reviewing your application can assess your suitability for such an experience on the grounds of your personal statement and submitted work alone.
What will my interviewers focus on during the interview?
No two Oxbridge interviews are the same. The simple reason for this is that no two Oxbridge interviewers are the same. Academics each have their own personal interests and will likely bring these to bear when assessing your application. However, there are a number of common areas that interviewers are likely to focus on when asking questions in an interview:
Personal Statement. Undoubtedly the most important part of your application for an interviewer. It is here that you demonstrate your curricular and super-curricular activities, as well as your interest in the subject being studied. Expect to be questioned about academic concepts and key books that you have mentioned. If you mention Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, you should be prepared to explain it in depth.
Submitted work. Both Oxford and Cambridge usually require you to submit at least two pieces of work from your A-Level subjects. They may ask you to defend a certain position within an essay that you have written, or inquire as to how you might conduct further research into the topic that you were writing about.
Extended Project Qualification. If completing an EPQ, expect to be asked about both the subject matter of your project, as well as the methods that you used in researching the topic.
Chapkin Edwards’ Insights and Strategies
Whether you are applying for English or Economics, Chemistry or Classics, there are some general strategies that apply for all interviews at Oxford and Cambridge. Our insights can help you feel confident in performing the best you can in your online interviews at Oxford and Cambridge:
Answer the question
This is perhaps the most important advice to bear in mind when being interviewed for Oxford and Cambridge. If an academic has asked a specific question, it is because they want a direct answer to that question. Thus, it is no good to go off on a tangent, no matter how well articulated, on Plato when you have been asked about Aristotle. Similarly, if an interviewer has asked you simply to give Einstein’s Mass-Energy equation, it is best to start by giving it before discussing its significance in depth.
Take your time
Typically, interviews for Oxford and Cambridge last for around 25-30 minutes. You may feel a need, therefore, to try and impress your interviewers as much as possible within your allotted time. Yet in this scenario quality is much more important than quantity. If you are posed a question which you do not understand straight away, make sure you take the time to think and plan your response. You can even convey this to your interviewer by saying that you would like a few moments to think about the question. Patience is a virtue here. A well-thought out response is infinitely better than a spasmodic, impetuous one.
Don’t aim to be the finished product
One of the key differences between an Oxbridge interview and a job interview is that Oxford and Cambridge are not looking for the finished product, i.e. a student who has a fully developed array of skills and knowledge. Far more valuable to an Oxbridge interviewer is a sense of ‘developability’: that the candidate has explored a number of ideas that may be of interest to them, but still has the potential to go much further. The applicant that purports to have a complete understanding of a topic makes an error on multiple levels. Firstly, the academic interviewing them will almost certainly know more about the topic. Secondly, if an academic doesn’t see any potential for the student to learn anything else about a topic, or to revise their preconceptions, then they are unlikely to recommend that student for a place at Oxford or Cambridge.
Expect the unexpected
Oxbridge interviewers often like to see how you think when put on the spot. As such, they can sometimes give you an extract, visual source or problem to look at and study in advance of the interview. Again, don’t feel like you need to give a perfectly structured answer to whatever they put in front of you. Instead, try to set out the challenge and show your working as to how you would go about addressing the unseen extract or problem, as well as answering what you can.
Interview Preparation with Chapkin Edwards
At Chapkin Edwards, we pride ourselves on working with tutors of singular quality, many from Oxford and Cambridge. Get in contact here if you need personalised support for Oxbridge interviews or any other aspect of the university application process.