English @ Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 2018

Interview format

English Literature Aptitude Test (ELAT); 2x interviews

Interview content

Interview 1: personal statement, interests within the subject; Interview 2: subject-based, discussion of an unseen text

Best preparation

Practice analysing unseen texts

Advice in hindsight

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Final thoughts

Talk about your subject with teachers or parents

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 Aptitude Test (ELAT)

Number of interviews: 2

Skype interview: no

Time between interviews: 30 minutes

Length of first interview: 20 minutes; Length of second interview: 40 minutes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

My first interview was more general, regarding points on my personal statement which focused largely on my particular interests within the subject. My second interview was subject-based: I received an unfamiliar piece of text which led to an academic discussion about its meaning.

How did you prepare?

I was part of a group at school of students applying to Oxbridge. I also found it useful to practice analysing unseen texts, as well as considering broader questions such as “what’s the importance of literature”.

What advice do you have for future applicants?

Looking back, what advice would you give to your past self?

I would encourage you to ask people to question you on anything at all relating to your subject, whether it be teachers, parents or other students.