Natural Sciences (Physical) @ Emmanuel, Cambridge in 2018

Interview format

NSAA; 2x interviews

Interview content

Interview 1: physics, mechanics exam-style; Interview 2: maths

Best preparation

Past papers

Advice in hindsight

-

Final thoughts

Revise your A level syllabus

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

Test taken: Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment (NSAA)

Number of interviews: 2

Skype interview: no

Time between interviews: 2 hours

Length of first interview: 30 minutes; Length of second interview: 30 minutes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

I had 1 Maths, 1 Physics interview. (You could pick Physics or Chemistry for second interview).

1st interview was physics, but it was basically all mechanics so very mathematical. Interviewers were friendly. Questions given on paper cards, wrote out solutions on paper. A lot like doing a mechanics exam while being watched. No questions on personal statement.

Maths interview actually felt less mathematical. Found it a little difficult communicating with the interviewers- felt our conversation went around in circles a bit. Questions had more context and were less direct. No questions on personal statement.

How did you prepare?

Past papers, looking through A-level spec

What advice do you have for future applicants?

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

Don't worry about trying to prepare answers about why you want to go to Cambridge/ extracurriculars etc. as that's not the most important thing - they're just aiming to take people they think will do well academically.

Basically all I was tested on was maths, and the maths they asked only required thoughtful application of a fairly basic syllabus. I would advise you just revise the material you've already covered well, don't try to cram stuff from other syllabuses.