Medicine @ King's, Cambridge in 2016

Interview format

2x interviews(15 mins)

Interview content

Physiology, biology

Best preparation

Reading, interview practice, revising A level

Final thoughts

Be calm & open minded

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

I had 2 15 minute interviews in 2 separate rooms. The first interview has 3 staff members present, the second had only two. Each interview was focused on problem solving. I stayed inside Kings accommodation overnight and was able to find my interview room easily enough. I ate at the kings college servery, which was a nice experience, and a little taste of what to expect.

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

I was asked to confirm who I was (most difficult part!), and spoke about my personal statement a bit. The questions focused on general physiology and biology and the ability to problem solve related to those subjects. I found the questions surprisingly easy to work through to the conclusion, though I might simply have been lucky in that regard.

During the interview I was obviously stressed, but kept a cool head and tried to stay jovial and on-point. The staff were lovely and kind, and very helpful in that regard.

How did you prepare?

I read a lot, but honestly just did a few practice interviews beforehand. Going over your A-level and below biology again is helpful.

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

Be cool, stay calm, and don't stress it. Keep a clear head, an open mind, and a willingness to tackle problems and never give up. Throw ideas at the interviewers until one sticks.

Cambridge isn't the be-all end all of your life, if you're applying here, you're likely bright enough to secure another medical school place, and you'll start your career a year late even if you do get in. Good luck!