Biology @ Wadham, Oxford in 2016

Interview format

3x 20 min interviews, over 1 day

Interview content

Graphs, general discussion, questions on seed specimens

Best preparation

-

Advice in hindsight

-

Final thoughts

Try not to compare yourself to other interviewees; try to be friendly and engaged at interview.

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

Number of interviews: 3

Skype interview: No

All interviews on one day

Length of interviews: about 20minutes each

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

I was given some graphs and asked to explain them, as well as my thought process in explaining them. I was asked about what I found most interesting in biology, and this developed into a conversational debate about why biology is important. I was given some seed specimens to hold and discuss how they might be dispersed or where they would be found.

How did you prepare?

-

What advice do you have for future applicants?

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

Try not to compare yourself to other interviewees - just be yourself and try to enjoy the experience.

Let your love of your subject come through and show that you can be personable and friendly. The tutors will work with you throughout your degree, so it’s good if they like you because you’re polite and engaged!