Human Sciences @ Keble, Oxford in 2018

Interview format

2x 25 min interviews, 1 day apart

Interview content

All interviews: questions on graph / picture

Best preparation

Practise speaking to people

Advice in hindsight

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Final thoughts

They're looking for someone they can teach.

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: TSA

Number of interviews: 3

Skype interview: No

Time between each interview: 1 day

Length of interviews: about 25 minutes each

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

There were set questions and then I was questioned on my answers, so whilst there was set questions it could go down different routes. In all three of my interviews I was shown a graph or picture and asked questions on it. I had minimal questions on my personal statement and in more than one I was asked why I wanted to study my subject, though I think this was something of an opening question to get us to relax. The atmosphere in the room was friendly but quite formal. I did really enjoy them after I relaxed into it, which took a couple questions.

How did you prepare?

I looked at the practice papers and did some essays.

I looked up practice questions online and had some practice interviews organised with my school. If you aren’t naturally comfortable speaking to people I would advise practising that. I think the best advice I got was from a second year saying that you want them to want to teach you.

What advice do you have for future applicants?

Looking back, what advice would you give to your past self?

I think my preparation just made me feel more comfortable and confident going in to it, which I actually think was key. It was less of a free flowing conversation than I expected. I was also advised to back up everything I said with my own research. E.g “When I read this book it said this, which leads me to this conclusion...” I think to a certain extent they just want someone they can teach and who shows potential.