Test taken: MML assessment
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 2-3 days
Length of interviews: c.30 minutes 
Online interview: Yes

For my ab initio language, I was given a 3 line (translated) poem, and spoke about techniques and what it could mean. We then moved to bigger questions concerning poetry (I was definitely not tested out on my language skills!). We spoke a bit about a text on my personal statement and can’t remember much else. I remember they asked if I was familiar with a certain event - I wasn’t and I was honest about this, but it wasn’t a problem; they just wanted to prove and see if there were things we could talk about I could shine in! I left this call feeling very hopeful.

French sent me a text (in French) shortly before the interview to have a look at. I was quizzed on certain events that happened in the text, and then asked to discuss what these things could mean and the implications. I found the text quite difficult, and didn’t get a lot of the words - I was definitely found out! We then moved on to some grammar exercises, and they tested what I could do on the spot: I did get most of these wrong, even things I probably should have known like the subjunctive and exact translations for certain words. For the French speaking, I was asked about my personal statement in French which was about postcolonial literature - muddled my way through that. They sent the text late for me and clarified that I could start the interview late as a result but I was extremely on edge that they’d assume I wasn’t punctual! 

I knew there was a chance I'd have a stimulus text thrown at me, so I brushed up on literary techniques I’d be able to point out. I practiced talking about things that I wrote about in my personal statement. I also brushed up on politics and history from each of my relevant languages so I’d look well versed on these cultures. I thought briefly about more philosophical questions regarding language. 

I reserved half the practice/specimens to the run up to the actual interview, did half of them to get a feel for them. In between, I’d look for short articles and do the same sort of exercises, and get someone to look over grammar mistakes. Bang out sentence structures - keep a little tick box in your margin so you remember to throw in a subjunctive, or any other interesting form. Brush up on English lit techniques and maybe ask a level friends for any new ones that could come of use but i doubt the English side of things was more extraordinary than GCSE. 

Don’t let yourself be spooked out by the interviewers - even if they seem like they’re playing bad cop, they want to see your resolve and how you can handle pressure. I’d definitely recommend having a theme for your personal statement as it looks good to have a specific academic interest and you know you’ll get asked about something you know very well. Work on practice assessments as soon as you start Year 12, but at a chill pace until you know you’ve secured an interview - then dedicating a few free periods a week to them is good. Practice speaking analytically about anything ever - debating the news/politics with your family, analysing a film on your letterboxd or discussing with other film nerds - ANYTHING will help more than you think. and practice for assessments will help you with your exams and vice versa - don’t ever think any of them are distracting from another.