Geography Admissions Assessment (GAA); 2x interviews.
Interview 1: article discussion; Interview 2: graph discussion, personal statement.
Extracurricular readings/documentaries, practising talking about topics aloud.
Keep up with current affairs; don't be afraid to clarify questions in the interview.
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.
Test taken: Geography Admissions Assessment (GAA)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: Couple of hours
Length of interviews: About half an hour
Online interview: No
1st interview: I had to read an article about human rights abuses and complexities in the shift towards renewable energies. I then was questioned on my understanding of the article and what views I had about it. I was asked about my other A Level subjects in relation to geography, and some extra-curriculars I had mentioned. I finally discussed articles I had been reading recently, and their wider implications.
2nd interview: I was asked about why I applied for the course, then went on to discuss a set of graphs relating to fertility rates and discussed the role of mothers. My personal statement was then discussed in-depth, such as some texts I had read, my opinion of the A Level course, and a paragraph I included regarding immigration and assimilation. Both interviews veered strongly towards the human side, likely due to the interests of my interviewers.
I prepared for my interview predominantly by absorbing knowledge - from ensuring I was confident about all of my A Level work (I took a gap year to reapply), to reading lots of articles about topics, new and old, that interested me: the Guardian environment section was immensely helpful for this, as well as watching Seven Planets, One World as a fun way to attain more knowledge.
I didn't do a mock interview, but would sometimes ramble about topics to myself so I knew I would be able to put some concepts into words!
I also chose a couple specific topics which were not covered in my academic work, but I felt had strong contemporary importance and would demonstrate my desire to go beyond the syllabus and keep pace with current affairs and crises.
- working through a GAT book with questions & answers, as well as examples - answered a couple practice essays (from the official cambridge website) under timed conditions - read broadly around my subject, recapping A Level knowledge & delving into interesting topics which i hadn't covered with school
I would definitely keep on top of the news, particularly in relation to your subject, and 100% make sure you've actually read everything you said you have as they may ask you targeted questions about them!
If you don't fully understand what's being asked, it is absolutely fine to ask the interviewers for clarification, as this will likely allow you to give a more comprehensive and relevant answer.
All of my interviewers were lovely, and I never felt like I was being put on the spot or judged, even when I started accidentally criticising the Cambridge exam board (!!) - instead, it was more like they were genuinely interested in finding out more about what I claimed to be interested in. If you're truthful, enjoy the subject and give everything a go, I guarantee you'll be fine!