Geography @ Hertford, Oxford in 2020

Interview format

2x interviews

Interview content

Interview 1: explaining trends from a map; Interview 2: questions based on images

Best preparation

Prepared sample questions based on personal statement

Final thoughts

Let the interviewers know if you don't understand something, but always try to work towards an answer.

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

Test taken: None
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: A day
Length of interviews: 20 mins
Online interview: Yes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

Both my interviews were similar. You could not prepare for either in anyway. The first involved looking at a map and describing and explaining trends across the country. The second involved looking at images and answering questions about them.

How did you prepare for your interviews?

I thought about what they might ask related to my personal statement and came up with a couple of answers. I also watched and read Geography-related things.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

Don’t stress! In the interview, be yourself. They will see through you if you're trying to fake stuff. Admit if you don’t know. Give everything a go and don’t be afraid to disagree with the interviewers.