Architecture @ Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 2017

Interview format

Written Test, Drawing Test, 2x Interview

Interview content

Interview 1: Portfolio and subject specifics; Interview 2: Relaxed chat about architecture

Best preparation

Read books; Don't say you have if you haven't

Final thoughts

Listen carefully and say anything you think of

Remember this advice isn't official. There is no guarantee it will reflect your experience because university applications can change between years. Check the official Cambridge and Oxford websites for more accurate information on this year's application format and the required tests.

Also, someone else's experience may not reflect your own. Most interviews are more like conversations than tests and like, any conversation, they are quite interactive.

Interview Format

I had the interviews in the middle of December. All applicants could gather in the JCR and the parents had their own waiting room as well. For the Architecture course, first all the applicants were brought to the library, where you have got half an hour to write an essay about a random Architecture related subject (changes every year so you can't predict this really. Most important is to go in with an open mind and just write down what you would say if it was asked in a conversation!). After that there was half an hour time for some sketches of the room.A bit later I had my interview with one person from the college and another from the department. (This didn't last as long as they said it would, which worried me a bit, but that also doesn't say a thing about how you did in the interview).After that there was again a bit of waiting and I had an interview with a professor who wasn't really related to my subject; this was more in a conversational style and quite frankly enjoyable!

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

In the subject-related interview we talked about my opinion on some buildings and architects I knew. They also might have some pictures they want you to analyze - could be anything, don't think you need to know all kinds of things about architecture in order to do this - they just want to know your thought process, so just say anything you come up with.After that there was some time to go through my portfolio and sketch books and for some questions - I didn't have any, really, which also doesn't matter a thing.The second interview was also about architecture, but was much more like a conversation, you just discuss any topic that might come up in a relaxed way. Definitely try to relax and pretend it's just a conversation with someone you know well.

How did you prepare?

Reading books - shows you really want to learn in your field! If you mention books in your personal statement, really make sure you read them though. I also prepared my portfolio, of course.

Looking back, what advice would you give to your past self?

I won't be the only one to say this, but just listen very carefully to what they ask you and say anything that comes up in your head - there isn't one correct answer.