2x 15-20 min interviews, 1 hr apart
Interview 1: personal statement; Interview 2: unseen text
Did practice tests; looked at mark schemes and model answers
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Revised texts on personal statement; asked friends and family to ask sample interview questions found online. Don't 'script' ideas for interview; be confident in your texts; it's fine to pause to think or to change your opinion.
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
Skype interview: No
Time between each interview: 1 hour
Length of interviews: 15-20 minutes each
In the general interview I was asked about my opinions on the texts mentioned on my personal statement and they tried to get me to view the texts from different angles, e.g. '1984' - they asked me a general question and then became increasingly specific. They wanted to see how I could think deeply into an argument and justify it, and also see if I could address alternative angles.
The interview with the unseen text focused on how I could understand a poem unaided and think creatively to come up with a variety of interpretations. It tested my knowledge of close analysis and my personal response. They wanted me to be creative and think outside the box but also understand the groundwork.
I took a couple of practice tests and
I revised the texts on my personal statement and found sample questions online. I then asked friends and family to ask me these questions - this was helpful because it tested my ability to speak clearly and concisely and convey my meaning effectively.
Prep was mainly useful for giving me a sense of control and keeping the texts fresh. It's important not to try to "script" ideas for the interview though; fresh thinking is much better.
I think the most important things are to be confident in your texts and have some interesting opinions about them. It's ok to take time to think or change your opinion (with justification).