Natural Sciences (Physical) @ Robinson, Cambridge in 2017

Interview format

1 test and 1 interview.

Interview content

Test had basic chemistry, phsics and maths questions (easier than uni-wide test). In the interview we talked about capcitors.

Best preparation

Old Oxford physics entrance exam papers.

Final thoughts

Thought process is more important than 'right answers'. Some questions require a conceptual 'leap'.

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

One test and one interview.

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

I arrived in the morning and Robinson was filled with student helpers who took me to the JCR. I had my test first which was about an hour long. It was considerably easier than the uni wide test (which tbh felt like a shitshow) with very easy chemistry and physics questions and slightly tough maths. Felt more like a check of rough ability than very hard.

After that I was taken to the interview - it was much more relaxed than my Emmanuel interview which was great. We talked a bit about capacitors and manipulated relevant equations using A level maths/further maths techniques. The chemistry part of interview involved a few A-Level mechanisms and a discussion of why mechanisms occur. It took me ages to notice a cyclisation mechanism.

The interview was significantly more tough but felt like it had more things I actually knew than my Emmanuel interview.

How did you prepare?

Old oxford entrance exams physics papers.

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

The interview is more interested in seeing how you think than whether you get a correct answer. There was usually a leap to be made in each question and once you saw that (or didn’t at some points!) it’s easier. Just remember you don’t have to get everything right and do the best you can - it’s meant to be hard!