2 interviews (two interviewers each) and a brief test. I had to discuss a text each time and say some brief sentences in my ab initio language. The test lasted an hour and I had to answer two questions about an article they had given us. I had to answer one question in English and the second in a language I was planning to study at Cambridge. The helpers at Newnham were all lovely and sweet.

I can’t really remember the questions. I came out of my Spanish (post A-level) interview in a cold sweat because after talking about my article on an app, I was asked to discuss games in literature and could only think of Harry Potter, which I said.

I came out of my Russian one feeling like some sort of genius because I could read Cyrillic and translate basic sentences and knew my case endings. I had to talk about the role of History which was lucky for me as History and Memory is a big part of the French History syllabus. I made a faux pas after the test because I came out very relieved and said “that was easy! could have been way worse!” without noticing the sobbing girl next to me.

Luxembourg has some Oxbridge alumni who organize mock interviews. I sobbed like a baby during mine, which was on a Friday in some lady’s fancy house in some weird village I’d never been to. I remember saying “I’ve never felt so stupid!” the response to which was “Well, at least you’re honest!” Despite my feeling like an idiot, this interview was actually extremely helpful.

I spent the weekend before my Monday interview reading Russian literature so that I could have something prepared to discuss and not be caught off guard. I learned my case endings and prepped my Spanish verbs. This was useful. A childhood spent in Russia + a French school education (because we do a lot of oral exams and mock job interviews) also helped but unfortunately I was just lucky in that respect and don’t know how accessible that is to other people.

Prep, but don’t overprep. Have topics you like talking about. Pick the thing that got you into the language/culture and talk about that. I like the Space Race and have lots of things to say about that, which makes me look like a huge nerd — this is what they like to see.

Overprepping means staying up all night and not sleeping and not seeing friends because “I have to do reading!!” Don’t do this — it’s shooting yourself in the foot.

If you are also from a French system look for your local alumni groups and go to their September events (I didn’t because I was getting a visa but probably it would have been nice to go). Your teachers probably won’t know how to do an interview in a non-French way — get the Oxbridge group to do it. Usually you have to ask around the time you submit your UCAS application because the slots fill up.