Natural Sciences (Physical) @ Pembroke, Cambridge in 2018

Interview format

NSAA; 2x interviews

Interview content

Interview 1: general; Interview 2: specific

Best preparation

Past papers!

Advice in hindsight

-

Final thoughts

Mock interviews; revision

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

NSAA

Number of interviews: 2

Skype interview: no

Time between interviews: 3 hours

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

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

I had one chemistry and one physics based exam; as expressed in my personal statement, these were my favourite subjects. One of my interviews was general and one was tailored to me and one of my favourite topics. The interviewers were engaging and easy to talk to, and it was relatively fun, however I still came out of them with mixed feelings about how they went.

How did you prepare?

Do past papers, revise from A Level notes.

What advice do you have for future applicants?

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

My school assisted with mock interviews and information on the interview process. I also revised from my A level notes and prepped answers to possible generic questions (e.g. why did you choose this course), although I was not asked any of them.