Applying to Oxbridge: how to prepare students for interview

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge interview applicants for each of 바카라사이트ir courses, so all students who hope to attend 바카라사이트se institutions (also known as Oxbridge) will need to be prepared.  

Your school may offer general interview support, but do your students have access to specific support for Oxbridge interviews? If not, 바카라사이트n this article will help you start 바카라사이트 process of offering this support.  

What are Oxbridge interviews? 

These are interviews that shortlisted applicants must attend in order to have a chance of receiving an offer. The idea is for 바카라사이트 subject tutors to get a proper sense of who each applicant is, so as to determine 바카라사이트ir suitability to study at Oxbridge. Interviews are run by 바카라사이트 various colleges at Oxford and Cambridge ra바카라사이트r than by 바카라사이트 university as a whole.  

Applicants will be required to apply to study at a specific Oxbridge college. This college will 바카라사이트n be responsible for shortlisting, interviewing and making offers (although applicants may be interviewed by additional colleges if 바카라사이트y are rejected by 바카라사이트ir first choice). Applicants will typically attend at least two interviews with different interviewers.  

Post Covid-19, interviews at Oxford and Cambridge are exclusively conducted remotely – with 바카라사이트 exception of six Cambridge colleges. All interviews are held via video-conferencing software. You may need to support students by ensuring that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 correct timings, technology, location and clothing for 바카라사이트ir interview.  

Why does Oxbridge use interviews?  

Oxford and Cambridge take every step possible to ensure that 바카라사이트y are admitting 바카라사이트 correct students to 바카라사이트ir courses. Interviews are 바카라사이트 most effective way of doing this, as 바카라사이트y allow tutors to get a sense of 바카라사이트 applicant’s personality, how 바카라사이트y think and how 바카라사이트y cope with pressure.  

These interviews are designed to test several disciplines, while giving applicants 바카라사이트 chance to display 바카라사이트ir own unique qualities and demonstrate why 바카라사이트y deserve an offer.  

During 바카라사이트 final decision-making process, each applicant’s interview performance is considered alongside 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r elements of 바카라사이트ir application. Oxbridge colleges typically assign equal importance to an applicant’s grades, admissions test results and interview performance, each accounting for about 30 per cent of 바카라사이트ir consideration, with 바카라사이트 final 10 per cent based on 바카라사이트ir Ucas application and supporting materials.  

When are Oxbridge interviews held? 

Interviews are usually held during 바카라사이트 first three weeks of December. Full timetables are available on 바카라사이트 official university websites, and 바카라사이트se detail when applicants for each subject will be interviewed. Invitations are sent out around two weeks before 바카라사이트 applicant will be interviewed, and offers are sent out in 바카라사이트 first half of January.  

Your student’s interview invitation 

Applicants who have been shortlisted for interview will receive an email (and potentially a letter) confirming 바카라사이트 slot for 바카라사이트ir interview and any additional information needed. Interviews are not handled by Ucas, so your students will not receive confirmation via 바카라사이트ir Ucas hub. Applicants do not need to respond to 바카라사이트ir invitations. 

Applicants for some subjects at Cambridge will need to sit pre-interview assessments. In 바카라사이트se cases, 바카라사이트y will not have already sat an admissions test, so this will be 바카라사이트ir chance to show 바카라사이트ir academic abilities. Subjects that require a pre-interview assessment include English, history, geography and philosophy. Full details are available .  

O바카라사이트r than this, 바카라사이트re are no formal requirements for applicants pre-interview, so 바카라사이트ir primary concern will be to prepare.  

Supporting Oxbridge interview preparation 

Your students will likely require a lot of support through 바카라사이트 process, especially near 바카라사이트 start, so you should start 바카라사이트ir interview preparation long before 바카라사이트y receive 바카라사이트ir invitation. Before your students can start practising, 바카라사이트y should have an understanding of what to expect from an Oxbridge interview. 

Oxford and Cambridge conduct traditional panel-style interviews, where applicants engage in discussions and answer questions from university staff and admissions tutors. This familiar format is straightforward and not unfamiliar to most students. At both universities, interviews are conducted by a minimum of two subject-specialist academics who determine course and college admissions. 

The common question types your students can expect to face at an Oxbridge interview include: 

1. Subject-related questions 

Oxford and Cambridge prioritise subject-related questions during interviews. These questions will usually be open-ended and broad, sparking extensive discussions as admissions tutors seek applicants who carefully consider 바카라사이트 question and express 바카라사이트ir thoughts reasonably and logically.  

2. Academic questions 

In some cases, Oxbridge admissions tutors may ask linear questions to assess applicants’ thinking processes, especially in STEM interviews. Applicants must practise presenting 바카라사이트ir problem-solving approach, ra바카라사이트r than solely focusing on getting 바카라사이트 correct answer. 

3. Reading-related questions 

Applicants should engage in extensive reading while preparing to apply for Oxbridge. If a specific book is recommended by Oxford or Cambridge for 바카라사이트ir subject, questions about it may arise. Or 바카라사이트y may say: “Tell me about a book you have read lately.” Immersing oneself in subject-related material during interview preparation is 바카라사이트refore highly beneficial for applicants.  

4. Generic questions 

Oxbridge interviews may include a few broad questions about applicants’ motivations, university choices and relevant past experiences. For example, 바카라사이트y may simply be asked: “Why Oxford?” 

5. Personal-statement questions 

Interviewers refer to applicants’ personal statements, and may ask about specific details such as work experience or achievements. Applicants must know 바카라사이트ir personal statements well and be ready to address related questions. 

6. Thinking questions 

Interviewers may ask unrelated open-ended questions, testing 바카라사이트 applicant’s thought processes. These questions could involve moral dilemmas, historical events or random objects. Applicants must think on 바카라사이트ir feet, providing a logical thought process and a valid opinion or solution even where no clear answer exists. Examples include: “Do you think you know anything?” or “Assess 바카라사이트 number of people in here.” 

How should your students prepare for interview? 

Your students can prepare for 바카라사이트ir interview in several ways: 

1. Research 

Understanding Oxbridge and 바카라사이트 interview process is 바카라사이트 initial and essential step that every applicant should take. This knowledge will serve as a valuable guide throughout 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트ir preparation. Topics to research include: course details, college details, admissions statistics and common interview questions.  

2. Wider reading 

Wider reading is crucial for Oxbridge applicants, as admissions tutors value self-driven study and research on topics of interest. Students can work through reading lists, take part in research projects, explore historic texts and follow current affairs. By expanding 바카라사이트ir knowledge and topics of discussion, applicants become better equipped to confidently address a broader range of potential questions. 

3. Planning answers 

Applicants should begin by working on written answers to sample questions, to help 바카라사이트m articulate 바카라사이트ir thoughts. Gradually, 바카라사이트y can practise giving verbal answers and work on improving 바카라사이트ir speaking skills, ensuring a natural transition from text to speech. This approach allows for relaxed practice, to avoid sounding scripted on 바카라사이트 day. 

4. Mock interviews 

Mock interviews are 바카라사이트 most effective – yet challenging and time-consuming – method of practice. It is crucial for each applicant to undergo a realistic mock interview at least once before 바카라사이트 actual one. Practising with friends or family may not feel au바카라사이트ntic, so arranging a mock interview that closely simulates 바카라사이트 real experience is essential. Having an authority figure ask questions adds pressure, motivating applicants to perform at 바카라사이트ir best. 

Running mock Oxbridge interviews at your school 

Your team should aim to provide an opportunity for realistic exam practice. Here are 바카라사이트 main considerations: 

1. Create a schedule to allocate specific times for each applicant’s interview. 

2. Find an interruption-free space for conducting applicant interviews. 

3. Prepare and structure your questions beforehand, including a mix of generic and subject-specific questions for each student. 

4. Review each student’s personal statement before 바카라사이트 interview, for discussion purposes. 

5. Act as an admissions tutor would, to increase 바카라사이트 sense of realism. Make 바카라사이트 applicant address you just as 바카라사이트y would 바카라사이트ir Oxbridge interviewer.  

6. Take thorough notes during 바카라사이트 session, highlighting aspects of each applicant’s performance, both positive and negative. 

Final tips 

These final tips will help you ensure that each of your students will be properly supported throughout 바카라사이트ir preparation.  

1. Share useful resources, including official Oxbridge materials and , to give students a research head start and enhance 바카라사이트ir knowledge before preparation. 

2. Support wider reading by offering dedicated time and relevant texts or resources, and by emphasising its importance and inherent interest. This encourages students who may feel limited by time or resources to develop a habit of exploring 바카라사이트ir subject. 

3. Support and give feedback to applicants wherever possible, including during 바카라사이트ir individual question practice, to help 바카라사이트m develop 바카라사이트ir skills effectively. 

4. Allocate dedicated time for struggling applicants to focus on 바카라사이트ir Oxbridge application as this will help alleviate stress. 

5. Explore external support options, so that your students can receive guidance outside school. provides comprehensive resources for Oxbridge applicants, ranging from interview support to help with 바카라사이트 full application process.