Test taken: English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: A few hours; one before lunch and one after
Length of interviews: Half an hour.
Online interview: No

There was a ten-minute period allocated to reading through and annotating the given extract.

One of the interviews focused almost entirely on the given extract, and really looked at my ability to both analyse a text, and also to learn an to develop my thinking throughout the conversation, rather than coming in with fixed views or answers.

The other began with a discussion of the given extract (what I found interesting in the extract; if there was any part I didn't understand or words I needed defining; how I interpreted different parts of the text). We then moved on to topics I had expressed interest in in my personal statement. It is a slightly scary and daunting situation, but once the conversation starts you don't have much chance to worry about the situation - you just do the interview!

Both interviews were with two people interviewing me, but with one mostly talking and the other mostly notetaking.

My first interview was very relaxed, and the second was a little more intense, but I viewed it as an exercise to see how far my brain could stretch itself. The interviewers aren't trying to catch you out!

One of mine seemed a little intimidating and kept pushing me to further explain something or to find an alternative way of reading a word or phrase, but if you view it as a way of them seeing how you can take on new information and apply and use it, any help or pushes they give you to help you understand will just allow them to see this.

I did very little prep for interviews. I watched a lot of youtube videos on people's experiences of interviews (though be careful with this; they can differ a lot depending on the subject and if you're applying to Oxford or Cambridge).

My main preparation was going through my personal statement and making sure I had something to say, elaborate or explain further for each of the things (books I'd read, experiences, statements I made) I'd mentioned in my personal statement.

I also read back over the pieces of writing I sent in, and again made sure I was really confident talking about anything I had written or spoken about, so that I felt prepared - the interviewers won't ask about things completely out of the blue! They will take from what you've sent in, your application and the extracts which you have time to prepare on!!

I had a 'practice interview' with my school's head and deputy head teacher and they just asked a list of questions from the internet: "Questions asked in Oxbridge English interviews". They didn't understand the format of interviews, and asked me about completely random texts that I had never read or spoken about - THIS WON'T HAPPEN IN YOUR ACTUAL INTERVIEW!! There are some videos online of example interviews produced by the uni, and these were more accurate in demonstrating what an interview is like.

One thing I did that was useful was give my friends some of the questions from these online lists, and went through them in a relaxed and casual way, just getting used to answering fully and elaborately, but without the pressure of being in a very formal setting. It is useful to develop good conversational skills and to express your ideas clearly and with some degree of confidence.

Go into interviews viewing them as an exciting experience that you would never otherwise get - take advantage of being able to stay in college and talk to new people, and relax once you arrive in Cambridge. I spent most of my time that I wasn't in interviews for finding all the bookshops I could and treating myself to a nice couple of days off school!

I did very, very little prep - I sat down in a little office that was empty the day before the exam and made myself do a timed practice. I didn't get it marked or assessed by any teachers, it was more a reassurance that I could do it. My teachers were always very overworked and busy, and with no experience of Oxbridge applications, so I didn't feel like I could ask them for help with this. I did okay in the ELAT, but could've done better with more practice, or if I'd asked a teacher to have a quick read through some practice papers. But equally, it isn't the be all and end all - and I still managed to get in! Do what you can but don't be put off by your school's lack of knowledge or involvement.

Don't rush to answer - the silence after a question is asked might seem long to you, but to the interviewer it won't seem like such a long pause, and you will feel so much better to have taken a few seconds to think through your response and reply well and clearly explain yourself, rather than rushing to give a less good or clear response.

Do whatever makes you more comfortable and calm across the whole situation - I came down to Cambridge alone without my parents, and for me this gave me the space I needed without them fretting! For others they were reassured by having their parents around. I had watched a video of an Oxford applicant's interview process, and she discussed sitting in the common room with other applicants in the evenings whilst they stayed at college - I didn't have that! So be ready to spend some time alone; bring a laptop or phone to watch some comfort telly, or ring your family or friends at home. Do whatever makes you feel calm and confident, and treat yourself! It's difficult and stressful, so make the most of the fun parts (though this is a lot more difficult now they're online - perhaps take the days off of school work, and just focus on getting sleep, relaxing, and preparing for your interview).