English @ Downing, Cambridge in 2019

Interview format

English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT); 2x interviews

Interview content

Interview 1: unseen work; Interview 2: discussion of A Level texts

Best preparation

Read up on A Level texts

Test preparation

Practice papers

Final thoughts

Whether you're successful or not, you get the chance to talk to some really clever people!

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: English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 30 minutes
Length of interviews: 30 minutes
Online interview: No

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

My interviews were mainly discussion-based. Of course they asked questions to prompt the discussion, but they were most certainly open questions that lead on from my previous answers. I was surprised when they didn't ask me anything about my personal statement, but we did discuss my A Level texts and did some unseen work. I really enjoyed my first interview, when the discussion flowed, and I used points I'd previously planned, but my second interview was more nerve-wracking to begin with, as I hadn't finished studying the text they were asking me about. In this situation, I think I did the right thing. When they asked me a question I didn't have an answer for (on this particular text), I replied that our class hadn't studied that far into the text, and they were quite understanding.

How did you prepare for your interviews?

I mainly read up a little on my A Level texts, and just kept up the revision work. I thought about what I really wanted to say and practised with a friend. I was lucky that I knew someone who had had a successful Cambridge interview (in a similar subject) and could practise with them. I made a couple sheets of notes to help me configure my ideas and watched all the information videos online.

If you took a test, how did you prepare?

I did multiple practice papers online - although this is not necessary - and read them back with a clever friend. It really helped me work out my timing, planning, and not be floored by the exam format.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat the question, if you're lost your thread halfway through an answer, or ask them what a word means - they want you to do well! Also try not to worry about it. It's very difficult to truly know how well you've done and it's difficult to completely prepare. Just try to enjoy the experience; whether you're successful or not, you get the chance to talk to some really clever people.