Philosophy @ Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 2015

Interview format

1x test (1 hour). 2x interviews (30 mins each)

Interview content

First interview: focused on a specific paradox and implications; second interview: discussed broader issues in society

Best preparation

Didn't feel any specific preparation was necessary

Final thoughts

Have fun and stay relaxed

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 hour test in two parts: (a) 15 minutes to answer 15 multiple-choice questions (b) 45 minutes for a short essay, one question from a choice of two.

Two half-hour interviews with two different fellows. They asked about topics of philosophical interest but no knowledge was presumed. Generally speaking, the purpose of the interviews is to just to get the candidate to engage with a philosophical question and see how they work through their thinking and defend their views.

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

The multiple-choice questions on the test focused on basic logic and philosophical reasoning. The essay questions will normally be related to current philosophical debates, but posed in ways that don't require any knowledge of them.

My first interview focused on a specific paradox. It was described to me, and then we tried to work through some of the implications. My second interview was slightly broader - we covered various questions relating to wider society. Generally I think you can expect your interviewer to ask you a question, and then challenge your position to test your ability to defend your answers.

How did you prepare?

I didn't find it necessary to do any specific preparation.

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

Remember to have fun! The fellows won't bite, and if you're relaxed you'll do a better job of answering their questions.