Test taken: Arts-Humanities Admissions Assessment (AHAA)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 2/3 hours
Length of interviews: 20/30 minutes
Online interview: No

In my history interview, I sat down and was immediately asked about one thing I had mentioned on my personal statement as one of my interviewers happened to have a book about it on hand. After I answered she asked me again in a slightly different way, I should have come up with another interpretation but didn’t. The questions then came extremely quickly, I barely had time to think. I was asked about Indian history by the Indian historian, but I hadn’t properly prepared and didn’t answer well. Finally, I was presented with a globe and asked some questions about how it relates to history. The interview concluded with a short conversation about the books I was reading.

My Politics interview was significantly more relaxed. I’d done a 30 min pre-reading task and we started with questions about that. I deduced it was written during a revolution, either French or American and used some historical context to work out what the piece was saying. We chatted about what the piece said about human nature and democracy. It was right before the election so we then spoke about the election and made predictions (mine was very long). She asked me if I had any questions, so I asked what questions people usually asked, and she said mainly questions about the pre-reading or a question they had clearly prepared as part of interview training, which annoyed her. The second interview was way more relaxed and enjoyable but the first was challenging in a way I thought was good afterwards.

To prepare for interviews I was lucky to get two mock interviews, but only one with a specialist which was more useful, but too relaxed really. Independently, I watched Ibz Mo’s interview videos on YouTube and sought out example questions on The Student Room. I revised my A Level Indian history because I googled my interviewers and found one had written on Indian history in the past. I watched the YouTube show ‘Crash Course’ about certain political concepts I thought might come up from my A level. I also revised interests I had mentioned in my personal statement.

Past papers, sat with teacher to mark them.

The only advice that stuck with me was to think out loud. I think it’s the only advice you need because everything else is so dependent on your subject and interviewer. But no matter what, think out loud. Don’t even stop to gather your thoughts, just start speaking and think as you go.