Law @ Selwyn, Cambridge in 2017

Interview format

2x interviews (30 mins each, 2 interviewers each), 1x test (60 mins)

Interview content

Interview 1: about some reading that was given. Interview 2: about personal statement and interest in the subject.

Best preparation

Reading around the subject, practicing essay writing.

Final thoughts

Remember that the interview is just one part of the application process.

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

There were two interviews and a written test, all to be done in one day. The first interview was at 09:15am with a thirty minute pre-reading session for the case to be discussed. It was done by two college fellows in law. The second interview was at 11:45am, by a fellow and a tutor, for thirty minutes. Later in the evening, I sat a 1 hour written test with two essays.

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

The first interview was law-based, where I was given a 6-page statute to read, and was asked scenarios where it could apply. There was no prior law knowledge needed as it was basically testing my logic and reasoning skills.

The second interview was based on my personal interest in the subject and my personal statement was discussed in depth.

The written test had three questions, each with two essays, and you had to pick one to answer. It also did not require previous knowledge about the law, and tested only argument and structuring of your argument.

How did you prepare?

My school didn’t have any previous students who attended Cambridge, but I got in touch with a previous student from another school whom I met at an awards ceremony. It didn’t help much.

Instead, I watched a lot of YouTube uni application videos, and read previous personal statements to get an idea of what level I was supposed to be at. I read three books related to law, including 'What About Law' and 'The Rule of Law', to gain a basic understanding of what to expect in law.

For my interviews, I prepared some questions I presumed they would ask and practiced speaking about what I would talk about roughly. I couldn’t prepare at all for my law interview or written test since I couldn’t foretell what statute they would bring or the essays questions. But I set out how I would structure my essay.

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

Don’t underestimate yourself. You may come across people who have prepared more than you or have more opportunities than you, like help from school, but don’t let that deter you.

The interviewers are aware of your circumstances and are willing to assess you equally. Also, no amount of preparation can outweigh your genuine interest in the subject. You may mess up one interview but don’t let that mess up the rest of the interviews. They all count in some way.