Classics Admissions Test, 2x interviews
Interview 1: Questions based on a short Latin text, Translation of a Greek text; Interview 2: Questions using applied logic, Questions based on a given scenario
Discussed topics with friends, Completed mock interviews
Completed past papers, Going over content
The most essential thing to have is enthusiasm for your subject. If you have that, it may make you more competitive an applicant than someone who is stronger on paper.
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.
Test taken:
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: Just under a day
Length of interviews: 25 minutes
Online interview: Yes
In the Classics interview, I was asked why about book I had mentioned in my personal statement, and then we moved on to discussing a short Latin text; I had to read it aloud, and then I was asked questions about it (these were on the paper with the Latin text I was given before interview). These ranged from linguistic to structure of the text to one on the translation given (which we did not have time for in the end). Then I was given the text of the Greek Verse CAT, and my translation of it, and asked to improve my translation. At this point all my Greek left me, and I stuttered for what felt like an age, before I was finally told ‘No, it is…’. After my question, the interview finished and I felt I had done terribly because of that Greek.
The second one felt much easier (after a terrifying battle with technology), because it was about logic applied to a series of gradually more difficult examples. I actually said aloud somewhat crossly at one example ‘how can this be logical because’ explaining my problem with it. I wasn’t answered on it though. In the second half, I was asked about a scenario. At the end, I felt frustrated because I couldn’t see how I could have done any worse, or any better. But during both interviews, I did forget that I was in interview except for brief moments. Neither did I face any really odd questions personally
I did chat about Classics a lot with a friend also applying, and I had several
Masses of past papers; there aren’t any answers for the first two sections (for people studying Latin and/or Classical Greek A-level), so my teachers went through them with me. I looked at vocabulary lists, and some noun and verb tables for Greek for other preparation.
I didn’t realise how much I would be in the back foot in interview. This feeling may not be universal to all candidates, but it means that the tutors are trying to get as much as possible out of you, and they are pushing you to your limits. So don’t worry about it if you have this experience!
The most essential thing to have is enthusiasm for your subject. If you have that, it may make you more competitive an applicant than someone who is stronger on paper. My GCSEs were far below the straight-9s average of successful applicants (one 6, and everything else 7 except my languages and Ancient History which were 9s and 8), but I really love my subject. If I did it, you can too.