3 x 20 min interviews, ELAT
In my best interview, I took more initiative and steered the conversation towards texts I personally wanted to talk about using their initial topic as the starting point.
I just made sure I had reread and familiarised myself with the books I had mentioned in my personal statement, as well as the essay I had submitted, so I knew exactly what my stance was for each element.
Past papers, essay plans, close readings of unseen texts
Don't be too intimidated by your peers during interviews just focus on yourself.
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: English Literature Admissions Test (
Number of interviews: 3
Time between interviews: a couple of hours
Length of interviews: Around 20 minutes
Online interview: No
Somehow we got onto the topic of Pride and Prejudice but they kept asking me about the TV and film adaptations, so be aware the interview could steer away from just strictly literature. In my best interview, I took more initiative and steered the conversation towards texts I personally wanted to talk about using their initial topic as the starting point.
I just made sure I had reread and familiarised myself with the books I had mentioned in my personal statement, as well as the essay I had submitted, so I knew exactly what my stance was for each element. I think it's just important to make sure you know what you're talking about for the literally you personally enjoy and are passionate about. There's not much point in trying to be super intellectual about everything just focus on what you know and enjoy. Before my interviews I didn't try and plan general topics or answers to try and remember, you need to just maintain an organic thought process in the moment.
I tried to go through all the past papers and make essay plans, and my teacher and I would do close readings of the unseen texts to practice that element of them.
Don't try and present your interests as what you think they think is ideal or high brow or impressive. Stick to what you enjoy and your knowledge and passion will shine through. Don't be too intimidated by your peers during interviews just focus on yourself.