Engineering @ Newnham, Cambridge in 2020

Interview format

Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA); x2 interviews

Interview content

A mixture of technical and discussion based questions.

Best preparation

mock interviews; practicing using the interview technology

Test preparation

past papers; using resources on YouTube; revising A Level content

Final thoughts

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and make sure to think out loud. 

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: Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: A couple of hours
Length of interviews: About half an hour
Online interview: Yes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

My interviews contained a mix of technical questions and more wordy/discussion-based questions. My first interview was a bit challenging as we discussed content I hadn't yet covered at A-Level, however the second was a bit more relaxed because it dealt with familiar material. 

How did you prepare for your interviews?

I had mock interviews which were organised through my sixth form, and did some additional practice discussion with my family. It was also useful to familiarise myself with the interface I was going to be using during the interview (Whereby). 

If you took a test, how did you prepare?

I prepared using practice questions from past papers, tips from other students via YouTube videos and revising my A Level content.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and make sure to think out loud.