2x interviews (30 mins). 1x test (1 hour).
Discusses cases in personal statement as well as broader issues.
Pre-reading. Watched practice interviews on youtube. Used the StudentRoom.
You don't need excessive school support.
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.
On the day of interview all interviewees sat in 2 common rooms and we were able to chat between people coming and going for interviews. I had 2 interviews. My first was with 2 female college
My next interview had a male and female interviewer. This interview focused on my personal statement and also on a hypothetical legal scenario, given on a piece of paper. This lasted for about 30 minutes.
After the interviews, I had the
My first interview focused on a discussion about 'liberty'. I found this very overwhelming and did not feel confident that I knew the 'correct' answer throughout the interview. However, I voiced my train of thought which brought me to certain conclusions and when I got to a place where I couldn't see a clear conclusion, I told my interviewers this and also explained why.
My second interview questioned my knowledge of cases I had mentioned in my personal statement and if I thought the verdict was just and why. I was also asked about a current affairs issue that interested me. My advice to future interviewees would be to definitely read up on the news before your interview!
I read 'What About Law' which gives you a rough idea of the legal system. I followed news accounts on twitter (The Economist, The Guardian etc.) and kept up with the news. I also practised critical thinking for the
The best resource I used was definitely The Student Room. There is so much brilliant advice on there for all aspects of the application process.
I applied in my gap year without much interaction with my school or external help. So do not doubt your ability to get into Cambridge because of a lack of resources in your school. There are plenty of resources online if you take the time to research and there are plenty of people willing to help you if you seek them out and ask e.g at open days, on Facebook groups, via university emails etc.