2x 1 hr interviews, 30 min apart
Interview 1 (English): books studied at school, general discussion; Interview 2 (English): poem given beforehand; Interview 3 (History): personal statement; Interview 4 (History): source given beforehand
Practise talking about books and concepts mentioned in personal statement
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For Skype interviews, enunciate clearly.
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: Yes
Time between each interview: 30 minutes
Length of interviews: 1 hour each
English: I was asked about books we studied at school and asked to compare them. We went through both older and more contemporary works, and I think the
History: In the general interview I was asked about interests and readings I listed in my personal statement, and the tutors were especially interested in my opinions on certain books. In the other interview I was given an excerpt on the Vikings and asked to talk about historical information I can gather from the source.
I did both interviews via Skype at my school; the internet connection was good and generally I felt more relaxed than I had imagined. The questions and discussions were genuinely interesting, and I did not feel too intimidated.
1. Do past papers.
2. Practise talking about specific books and concepts you mention in your personal statement.
3. If possible, do a
If you are having a Skype interview, it is immportant to have clear enunciation.