2 x 10-20 min interviews PAT
The questions built up in difficulty and finished with a very maths-heavy physics problem using 2nd-degree differential equations. A problem with 3D graphing and differentiation, and then some about amorphous metals
2 mock interviews, personal statement, Cambridge MatSci page
Past Papers
Say what you are thinking and if you are having trouble.
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: Physics Aptitude Test (
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 2-3 hours
Length of interviews: 10-20 minutes
Online interview: No
1st Interview: This was a very hands-on interview, where I was given things and then asked questions about them, e.g. a zirconium rod and what properties it should have. My personal statement was not mentioned at all. I was interviewed by the professor and a grad student. The questions built up in difficulty and finished with a very mats-heavy physics problem using 2nd-degree differential equations. At first, I was extremely nervous, and mostly stayed that way, but I did ease up a little. The tutor and grad student were friendly, but also direct. At one point I said "I've never done this before" and the tutor said "yes that's the point". I finished this interview quite quickly, and to pass more time they asked me the classic question about a circle around the earth increasing by 1m in length. This interview went quite well.
2nd Interview: As my last interview had gone quite well I was less nervous for this one, but this led me to not prepare as much and so I struggled a little more overall. In this interview they asked a lot more theoretical questions. There was a problem with 3D graphing and differentiation, and then some about amorphous metals. This one did not go as well as my 1st interview though as I stuttered and was quite confused by many of the questions.
The Uni counselor at my school put me in touch with a MatSci student at Cambridge who conducted 2 mock interviews by skype. This helped a lot as he provided feedback on what I had said and how it could be improved. I also went through my personal statement and made sure I knew all of the topics I had mentioned in it very well. The day of the interviews I spent a lot of time reading up on the Cambridge MatSci page
I used past papers from https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/admissions/pat/
The main advice I would give is to be open while answering questions. Say what you are thinking and if you are having trouble - the tutors want to help you get to an answer!