MML at-interview assessment, 2x interviews
Interview 1 (Classics): discussion of pre-reading, an image of a vase, and topics from personal statement Interview 2 (Italian): discussion of pre-reading in Italian, then broad discussion based on things mentioned in personal statement
Going over personal statement and practicing talking passionately about subject and opinions
Practice papers
Stick up for your opinions, and don't be afraid to ask for the adjustments you need!
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.
Test taken: MML at-interview assessment
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: A few hours
Length of interviews: 15-20 minutes
Online interview: No
In my Classics interview, I was given 5-10 minutes to prepare a Greek text and look at a picture of a vase. We discussed the text and I was asked grammar questions (which I got all wrong!). We discussed what could be happening on the vase, then discussed topics from my personal statement.
In my MMLL interview, I was given 20 minutes to read through a text. In the interview, we discussed it in Italian. Then moved into a discussion in English based broadly on some of the themes of my personal statement but with wider examples - it's likely in MMLL that a college may not have a fellow from that language so the interviewer may not know the specific subject very well and expand to broader themes.
Deeper reading into what I covered in my personal statement and
All the practice papers on available on the Cambridge website, plus one extra from the book 'So You Want to Go to Oxbridge? Tell Me About a Banana...'
I remember one interviewer taking something I had said and rephrasing it to change what I had said - I think it was to see if I would stick up for my view on the text and I'm glad I did so I'd really encourage MMLL interviewees to stick up for your opinions (as long as you can justify them)!
As a disabled student, I'd really encourage any applicants who self-ID as disabled that universities are a lot more accessible than many of us found our schools were - my experience in asking for adjustments for the interviews was really positive. Since studying at Cambridge, I've had almost always positive interactions with teaching staff when requesting reasonable adjustments - they've always been really accommodating, so don't be afraid to ask for the adjustments you need!