Oxbridge Interview Preparation 2012

Help with 2012 Oxbridge Interview Preparation

I'm a part-time philosophy tutor for various Oxford colleges; I was a doctoral student at Oxford and a masters student at Cambridge; so I'm very familiar with the Oxbridge application process.

I offer tuition and guidance to candidates applying to Oxbridge; helping to demystify things, and improve your chances of success.

This page describes the tutorial support I offer for the Oxbridge interview:

preparing Oxbridge interview questions
Oxbridge interview practice
specialist practice of Oxbridge philosophy interviews
Oxbridge interview FAQs

Elsewhere on the site you'll find advice on drafting successful Oxbridge personal statements, and preparing for TSA and HAT tests.

If you would like help preparing for your 2012 Oxbridge interview, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Sample Oxbridge Interview Questions

The kinds of questions asked in your Oxbridge interview will be driven by two key requirements that each successful candidate must satisfy: do they understand precisely the nature of the course for which they're applying; and will they make a success of their studies at Oxford or Cambridge?

The starting point for tutors conducting your Oxbridge admissions interview is your personal statement.

This will very likely be used to frame both initial 'ice-breaker' questions, and more probing subject-matter questions.

The questions are not designed to catch you out; rather, they are an opportunity for you to demonstrate the quality of your thought and reasoning. It follows that the more you have thought and talked about the things you have mentioned on your personal statement, the better your performance in your Oxbridge interview will be.

(More on sample Oxford and Cambridge interview questions....)

If you would like to discuss the sorts of questions that likely to arise in your 2012 Oxbridge interview, then please email me:

Oxbridge Interview Practice and Simulations

The Oxbridge interviews simulate the intensive tutorials that are at the heart of teaching at Oxford and Cambridge; so the best Oxbridge interview preparation is to practice answering interview questions posed by an experienced Oxford or Cambridge tutor.

I offer online Oxbridge interview practice, over the internet, using Skype's free video-conferencing facilities.

The simulations remove the mystery behind the whole Oxbridge interview process; and my feedback helps you to organise and express your thoughts naturally and clearly.

The online practice interviews also simulate the last-minute comprehension and reading exercises that many colleges are fond of setting.

Should you wish, a recording of your practice interview, in MP3 format, is available exclusively for you to download, immediately after each session. This provides valuable additional feedback and consolidation.

If you would like to practice Oxbridge interviews with an experienced Oxford tutor, then by all means email me:

Oxbridge Interview Practice for 2012 Philosophy Candidates

Philosophy interviews for Oxford and Cambridge will be quite different because at Oxford philosophy is studied jointly with other subjects, whereas at Cambridge philosophy is offered as a single honours degree.

I provide specialist tuition for candidates preparing for their Oxford or Cambridge philosophy interviews; including short online courses in philosophy, tailored to address the topics mentioned in your personal statement.

For Oxford PPE candidates, for example, our philosophy interview preparation focuses on the important moral and political concepts common to philosophy, politics and economics, and which often therefore feature in interview questions.

If you would like to practice your 2012 Oxbridge philosophy interview with an experienced Oxford philosophy tutor, then by all means email me:

Oxbridge Interview FAQs 2012

If you have a question about your Oxford or Cambridge interview, that is not covered in the following FAQ, then please email me and I'll endeavour to answer it:

Is the Oxbridge interview an examination?

Yes and No: yes, insofar as obviously it's an important part of the Oxford and Cambridge selection process; but no, there is no corpus of knowledge that the interviewers will be specifically probing you on.

Rather, think of the interview more like a conversation with someone who shares your passionate interest. In this respect the interview is much more like a tutorial.

Are there right and wrong answers for the Oxbridge Interview?

Yes and no: yes, insofar as there are clearly very bad ways of responding to questions; but no, insofar as Oxbridge interviews are not testing a particular body of knowledge.

What is far more important is the way you go about developing your thoughts and constructing your response, rather than simply responding with facts and figures.

How should I prepare for my Oxbridge interview?

You should certainly be prepared to answer questions arising from your personal statement. For example, if your statement refers to a book that you've read, you would be well-advised to re-read it before the interview.

You should also be prepared for standard 'ice-breaker' interview questions such as: 'why this course?', 'why this university?', 'why this college?', etc.

The best preparation is to have practice interviews with an experienced tutor from Oxford or Cambridge. By all means email me to discuss your interview preparations:

How should I dress for my Oxbridge interview?

You should dress informally but smart(ish); you need to feel relaxed and be yourself, whilst showing at least a modicum of respect to the process.

Will I have to read anything for or during my Oxbridge interview?

Some subjects and colleges are fond of asking candidates to arrive early and giving them a short passage to read. They are then asked questions on the passage, during the interview, to test their comprehension.

This is something you can practice with a friend or family member, but preferably with an experienced interviewer who does not know you.

Should I try and show off in my Oxbridge interview?

Yes and no: yes, insofar as it is good to demonstrate the breadth of your reading and knowledge, relevant to the question; but no, if this merely means wise-cracking.

What should I do if I don't understand a question in my interview?

Explain that you don't understand the question, and ask if it might be rephrased. Before attempting to answer, you might try paraphrasing the question back to the interviewer to make sure you understand.

If you're still at a complete loss, then say so. But don't panic, you wouldn't be in the room unless you deserved to be; so there is a very good chance that the question was a bad one.