Natural Sciences (Physical) @ Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 2014

Interview format

2x interviews

Interview content

1st: maths/physics focus; 2nd: chemistry

Best preparation

Study materials based on A level

Final thoughts

More familiar process if you went to grammar/private school

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

Two interviews, each with two interviewers. One on maths/physics, one on chemistry (didn't expect the latter).

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

Topics such as calculus, toy examples of physical systems (e.g. springs), and chemical reaction mechanisms. It was very nerve-wracking.

How did you prepare?

Nothing organised at school, I just revised for it using A Level material. No contact with current students.

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

The interview process probably favours students who went to grammar and private schools where small group teaching is the norm.