How to prepare for your Oxbridge application interviews
December is always an exciting time in the tutor calendar at Beatrix Woodhead & Associates, with so many of our students in the run-up to their Oxford and Cambridge interviews over the coming weeks. The interviews are the final stage of the application process at both universities and are an opportunity for students to really make an impression on their interviewer.
The stakes are very high indeed; offers are only made to students who have been interviewed, so how they perform on the day really matters.
Both universities describe their interviews as being very much in the form of an academic discussion rather than a standardised examination of subject knowledge. The interviewers are not looking to see what a student has memorised. They are looking to see how they think when presented with something they haven't come across before, and to test their ability to reason, solve problems and think critically.
What interviewers are listening out for
An Oxbridge interview will typically give students an unfamiliar problem, a text or an idea and ask them to work through it. Interviewers are listening to see if a student can reason clearly out loud, if they can apply what they already know to a new situation, and if they can respond appropriately when the conversation takes a turn they didn't expect.
Students who are genuinely curious about their subject, and whose thinking and understanding go beyond the A Level syllabus, are far more interesting to interviewers than students who have simply memorised a set of perfect answers.
What good preparation looks like
Preparing for an Oxbridge interview is all about getting used to thinking and talking in front of someone else. In practice, that means practising thinking aloud and being able to talk through their reasoning as they work on a problem, rather than waiting until they've got the answer at the end.
We encourage students to go through their personal statement and familiarise themselves with the written work they submitted, as the interviewer may well ask about anything they've said they've read or done. Good preparation also means learning to read the room and pick up on subtle cues. If the interviewer gives a nudge, it's almost certainly just an invitation to continue.
The format is also important. All Oxford interviews are online. Cambridge interviews can be either online or in person depending on the college, so students need to be comfortable in both formats. Mock interviews are useful practice and provide a safe space to articulate thoughts and ideas out loud. If they get the opportunity, we advise students to practise speaking with someone less familiar, to help prepare them for talking to someone new.
Composure is part of the preparation
Even the most knowledgeable and high-achieving students can feel completely overwhelmed by the interview process. Subject knowledge and grades alone are often not enough to secure a competitive place at Oxford or Cambridge. Students who approach the interview calmly and with quiet confidence, and who can perform well under pressure, are far better placed to succeed.
At Beatrix Woodhead & Associates, our tutors are attuned to the fact that nerves, rather than a lack of knowledge, often hold a student back in their interview. Many of our tutors are Oxbridge graduates themselves; their experience means they can spot when a student is lacking confidence, and they work with each student individually, tailoring their approach to help them navigate the obstacles and challenges they face and ensure they are fully prepared for what to expect.
The days before the interview
In the final week before the interview, preparation switches to settling the student and walking through the formalities of what to expect on the day. We advise our students to check their tech and their environment if their interview is online, to go through their personal statement and any work they've submitted, and to leave some time for reading that they actually enjoy.
We also steer students away from late-night cramming, which tends to leave them more anxious on the day.
The outcome we're working towards
At Beatrix Woodhead & Associates, our aim is to help students prepare as fully as possible for their Oxbridge interview, so that they arrive able to think clearly, talk openly and intelligently about their subject, and remain calm when the interview becomes challenging. We want the interviewers to see your child at their best, recognise their potential and set them apart from the other students applying for a place.
If your child has been invited to interview at Oxford or Cambridge this December, we'd be very happy to go through how we can help.