Medicine @ King's, Cambridge in 2018

Interview format

BMAT + TSA; 1x interview

Interview content

Academic discussion about already-known content

Best preparation

Practise papers; online resources; BMAT Ninja

Advice in hindsight

-

Final thoughts

Mock interviews; reading regularly around your topic and keeping up-to-date with the field; know your content well and stay calm

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

Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT); Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)(Section 1 only)

Number of interviews: 1

Skype interview: No

Time between interviews: There was only one interview

Length of interview: 30 minutes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

It started off really casually with me exchanging pleasantries with the interviewer. I suppose he wanted to lighten up the mood as I was a little nervous because the room was really cold and rather dim. He only asked one personal question about my desire to study Medicine before moving on to the academics, perhaps due to the time constraints. Hence, there was no discussion on my personal statement. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the interview as the bulk of it was more of an academic discussion focusing on topics I have previously studied. It was very interesting because he gave a lot more insights and explanation based on my answer and kept asking questions to help me think aloud.

How did you prepare?

I used free resources available online such as practice papers. Many of the questions found in the TSA are good practice for BMAT as well. Personally, I think BMAT Ninja is very helpful and it is developed by Cambridge alumni as well.

What advice do you have for future applicants?

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

To be very honest, I didn't really prepare for the interview because I had no idea what to prepare. But I do read up regularly on topics related to Biology and Neuroscience which will definitely help in one way or another. Mock interviews are important as they help with your confidence and give you a taste of what the actual interview will be like.

For Medicine applicants, I would suggest not panicking too much about not knowing enough, because, in truth, you will never know enough. The interviewer doesn't expect you to know it all, and that is why you will be going to Cambridge to learn more. Reading up regularly on topics related to Medicine is definitely helpful but practise thinking aloud as the interviewer wants to know how you think and whether or not you are suitable to the teaching styles of Cambridge. Be confident and answer the questions with whatever you do know. Even if you don't have an answer, the interviewer will help you by asking questions, hoping that you can deduce the right answer from the basic scientific knowledge you are expected to have.