Computer Science @ Christ's, Cambridge in 2019

Interview format

Cambridge Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (CTMUA); 2x interview

Interview content

Interview 1: strategy games; Interview 2: sorting, cryptography

Best preparation

Mock interview with a teacher

Test preparation

Past papers for similar tests

Final thoughts

Take time to think through the question before answering

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

Test taken: Cambridge Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (CTMUA)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 1 hour
Length of interviews: Around 30-45 minutes
Online interview: Yes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

In the first interview we basically played some games and the questions revolved around strategies for winning/maximising gain. The second interview was more Computer Science focused - I was questioned about sorting and cryptography (since I don't do A Level computer science, I found these questions difficult). I wasn't asked about my personal statement at all, though some of the questions in the second interview linked to stuff I mentioned on my personal statement, though I don't know if they chose to do that deliberately or whether it was just a coincidence. I was nervous through both interviews, slightly more so in the second than the first. I had to join with two cameras and show my working out on paper, setting this up was relatively straightforward though. 3/4 of my interviewers weren't friendly, but they also weren't hostile. It was just very professional.

How did you prepare for your interviews?

I had a mock interview with a school teacher where we just went through maths problems. I don't think it helped too much for the actual interviews since I thought both still went horribly and everything I was taught to do (e.g. think out loud, ask questions) flew out the window essentially.

If you took a test, how did you prepare?

I used all the CTMUA papers as well as the maths sections of other admissions tests e.g. BMAT, NSAA and ECAA. The maths part of the ECAA was most useful, since there are not many other resources that have questions similar to paper 2 of CTMUA. MCQs on the MAT were also useful.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

Take time to actually understand the questions before trying to think of a solution. Practise a lot more mock interviews if posible! Especially in the style where the question is presented to you in parts