Engineering @ Queens', Cambridge in 2021

Interview format

Engineering Admissions Assessment, 1 interview

Interview content

Presentation of brought work; Discussed ideas around engineering problems

Best preparation

Attended an interview prep day, Practised explaining questions on a whiteboard

Test preparation

Completed past papers, Went through the specification,

Final thoughts

There's no rush so think carefully then answer. If you get it wrong that's okay- the interviewers will help you

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: 1
Length of interviews: 35 minutes
Online interview: Yes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

We started with me presenting the work I'd brought to show, they asked me a few questions about it then we looked at some engineering problems. Not really problems as in questions with an answer but we'd discuss the idea around it e.g. draw a free body diagram then discuss the forces and what they all do

How did you prepare for your interviews?

I went to an interview prep day organised by Caius and Clare Colleges (Cambridge) and I practised explaining questions on the whiteboard in front of my class. I also practised using a graphics tablet (which I didn't need in the end) so I felt prepared.

I read on the website for engineering at Queens' Cambridge that they ask you to show an example of some engineering project work you've done (very optional). I had done an online work experience so I had some photos that I showed.

If you took a test, how did you prepare?

All the CURRENT SPEC past papers from the website, I went through the specification on the website with a highlighter and found anything I didn't know or hadn't heard of, then went through my list with the internet, and my school textbooks and asked my physics teacher for help. I also got a workbook of questions but some of it was out of date, it's important to do current-style questions. I also made sure I knew the structure of the test very well and planned my timings.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

Try not to panic if afterwards you think you didn't know what the interviewers were talking about! Try and stay calm and know that the interview is almost identical to a supervision, they want to see how you react to unknown situations then if you can listen to what new information they give to improve. There's no rush so think (as well as you can!) carefully then answer. If you get it wrong that's okay- they will help you :)