Test taken: Geography Admissions Assessment (GAA)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 3 hours
Length of interviews: 45 minutes
Online interview: No

For each interview, I was asked to read an article just before, and was given around 25 minutes to do so. In the first interview, they began by asking me about the article and my interpretations of it, whether I agreed with it, any criticisms I had about it and the premises on which it was based etc. Then I was shown a graph and asked to discuss it. Finally, I was asked a question about my SAQ.

In the second interview, we began by discussing my A Level subjects. Then we discussed the article I read which was based in economics, and then I was shown another graph and asked to discuss it. Finally, I was asked what I thought I would want to do my thesis on, and so would recommend people have a think about this before interview even if they only have a broad idea e.g. volcanoes or conservation or the global south, etc.

Each interview had 2 people in it (one from my college and one from another college). The atmosphere in both rooms was honestly quite welcoming (though I will say my second interview was much nicer even though I think I got more questions wrong), but the city itself and the corridors I waited in were freezing so definitely wear warm clothes! Also remember a pen so that you can annotate the articles and sum up your thoughts, so you feel more prepared for the questions they ask.

I had a couple of practice interviews at schools nearby as my school did an exchange thing so students from other schools interviewed with my teachers and vice versa. The best advice I received was about making sure that when reading graphs to say every thought that came into my head even if it seems obvious, so that they can understand the thought processes, etc. I was also told to try and incorporate any additional reading I had done into my answers to demonstrate interest outside the curriculum which was also helpful. Additional reading also helped in terms of making me more comfortable with academic language in the articles we then had to read in interview.

Other than that, my main preparation was making sure I'd covered the whole A Level specification, just skimming things my class hadn't covered yet. I also ensured that I knew my personal statement well enough to answer any questions on it and elaborate. My personal recommendation would also be to make sure you have a little information about your other A Level subjects as this may come up.

Practice papers from the Cambridge website (though I didnt do any essay practice, I just did the comprehension practise papers as they were easier to mark). I also did the Oxford Thinking Skills paper.

I think I was expecting the interviewers to be harsher than they were - remember that they want you to succeed and get the answers, so if you're not understanding what they're saying or explaining let them know, and if you have questions about the article ask those too, as you wont be able to fully demonstrate your abilities if you're second guessing what youre saying. I would also recommend thinking through what you're about to say to make sure you know what it is instead of beginning with a half finished thought. Bringing a pen ties into this as it allows you to write down your thoughts if you have to read something and then explain it.

In terms of the articles, make sure to read the whole thing through so you know the main arguments and conclusion, then go back and read it carefully to pull out the nuances and work out if there are words you don't know. Also try to think about what you think the subject you're studying is about e.g. how do we define history, what would you say the study of geography involves, etc, as even if you aren't asked about this, thinking about it makes you more prepared for general questions. Other advice would be do outside reading, make sure you know your SAQ and personal statement, and think about what you might want to write your thesis on.