One thing that dies very hard is the idea that weird questions are asked. If interviewees have already responded to questions listed on the interview guide, then it is thought to be good practice to refrain from asking questions again (e.g. It's that time of year again and questions are flooding in about preparing for Oxbridge interviews to read Modern and Mediaeval Languages. We spoke for about ten minutes about the poem, my opinion of it, and what I thought it was about. If you were in my position, would you let yourself in? Open questions, general discussion. Oxford Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL) Students and Applicants ... Oxford interview questions revealed I didn't apply to Oxbridge and that's OK How to be ready for your Oxford interview Interview tips from an Oxford … At least a few students would have been happier elsewhere. Students from outside Europe are often required to pay far higher fees, but demand was still strong from them, with numbers up by 5.1 per cent to more than 10,000. Daily Telegraph – Five things you should know about Oxbridge applications. Cambridge tests are also less centralised – not all colleges set tests, and those that do (which depends on the staff’s preference, not how competitive or prestigious they are) often set their own. Some schools are very experienced with applications to Oxford and provide a great amount of support to applicants. My French interview was first. In recent years, the interview has become just one element in a selection process that includes written assessments and the submission of written work. “What you have to remember, though, is that getting the kids to do their best can sometimes involve surprising them. Best preparation. But in a more traditional, John-Belushi’s-character-in-Animal House sense of rebellious glamour, characterised by a dedication to hard partying and a healthy disregard for “the man”? Don’t rely on public transport. Budding philosophers, linguists, mathematicians and historians can do no better than head to Oxbridge to study, new research suggests. The following article featured in The Daily Telegraph is entitled “Oxbridge applications: a don’s guide”. “It’s easier to fly to the moon than read history at Magdalen.”. Speed of response won’t impress. Prerequisites. Many candidates will have applied already. Past papers, reading. He asked me to imagine a parallel world where short people went to war with tall people. Was there really ever an interviewee who, when the don said “Surprise me!”, set fire to his newspaper? The following article recently featured in The Daily Telegraph discusses “Record Oxbridge applications as students seek good value ”. An interviewee will be taken beyond what they’re expected to know, to their intellectual limits. Alissa had two interviews at different colleges, both of which were subject-based.. As for all other universities, you need to submit a Ucas form (including a personal statement), but by the earlier deadline of October 15. I was again given a poem before my German interview, which was taken from the first year syllabus, and had 30 minutes to analyse it. You can also look at the published statistics to see which are more academic – or competitive – but remember, it’s a very personal choice. Given the calibre of students that the two universities attract, it is also not surprising that so many of our leading politicians, scientists and businessmen are Oxbridge educated. All Rights Reserved. In 2012, Magdalen came top and Lady Margaret Hall bottom of the 30 Oxford colleges. The other eight were all US institutions. Our Mock Interview service gives you an opportunity to experience what to expect from your subject or general interview, as well as to receive objective feedback. Copyright © 2021 Oxford Interview Questions. Universities such as Durham and UCL are beginning to interview candidates more again, but at Oxbridge you won’t get an offer without going through two or three interviews. Don’t let the competition intimidate you. Read more. The academic experience is the same. Download a sample page here. But as the deadline for applications approaches (October 15) don’t be put off by the Brideshead stereotypes. At Merton College, Thomas Braun, an ancient history fellow who specialised in Herodotus, tied me up in agonisingly tight knots. The best place to start is Oxford's official information on preparing for interviews. They have been specially edited for applicants for each subject by a team of Oxford and Cambridge graduates. Norman Stone, former professor of modern history at Oxford and a former director of studies at Jesus College, Cambridge, says of successful interviewees: “You could always judge them by the flash of the eyes.”. Over my three years at Cambridge, it was clear that students were varyingly well suited to the system and the place. If I took any given question you might ask me outside of the context of our conversation it could be made to seem weird. You look at the bones for half an hour, before trying to identify them. ... My French interview was first. The discussion session also gives you an opportunity to ask any questions about the course and life at Oxford. But if you have good grades and feel able to take a pragmatic approach to your Oxbridge application, why not give it a go? Cambridge was also ahead of MIT for maths, with Harvard in third place, University of California, Berkeley fourth and Oxford in fifth place. You are not expected to get it right — but you will be rewarded for, say, working out that the skull belongs to an aquatic mammal, that the porcupine spine is a backbone. They chatted briefly to me then they asked me to translate a short section of very difficult grammatical structure. Quite often, the questions will be out of left field, not to throw the students off, but to probe the way they think.”, Oxford released some of those questions last year: questions such as: “Would it matter if tigers became extinct?” “Why do lions have manes?” and “Ladybirds are red. This guide is now available to download: The Oxford Interview Guide. Undergraduates can get involved in college-based sport, music or drama. And for all the academic rigour, the courses can be more prescriptive than elsewhere. These are not formulaic – they differ massively college to college – but around 75 per cent of candidates will be given unseen material, such as a poem to analyse for English students. Yesterday’s figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service cover applications to Oxford and Cambridge, which must be submitted by Oct 15. Two features of the universities make them especially attractive: the first is that students are primarily taught individually or in small groups (called “tutorials” in Oxford and “supervisions” in Cambridge), rather than through lectures and large seminars. Biochemistry. College life rewards joiners-in. It’s more of a discussion point for the interview – it’s not a deal-maker or a deal-breaker. Then, as before, I was asked, in German, if I had been to Germany, and I was expected to reply with only one sentence. There was also a short bit about why Italian and my ability to cope with the demands of the ab initio course. We will discuss your application with you, and how best to prepare for your interview – including reading suggestions. The following article recently featured in The Independent discusses “Oxbridge best in the world for seven subjects”. And you’ll be more irritated when you’re woken up by the Guatemalan Trombone League than you would otherwise. I think there are always going to be odd questions and parts of the interview where you feel under pressure or that you're flailing a little, but once you admit you're not sure, then even the tutor has to move on. I was given a poem 30 minutes beforehand, and went to the library to analyse it as best I could. There were the usual Trotskyite rebels, but they too spent at least as much time in the library as they did smoking rollies and “sitting in” at various protests. More details about this are available on the universities’ websites. Whilst it’s true that some oxbridge interview questions are unusual, they are always asked in a logical manner and you’re unlikely to get asked multiple “strange” questions in an interview. The process took 1+ week. Contact us now to schedule your Interview Preparation Session. “If you want to go to a particular university, don’t apply to the hardest college,” says Woody Webster. Anyone with a strong academic background, a genuine interest in their subject and a self-motivated and enthusiastic approach should consider applying to Oxbridge. The deadline for Oxbridge – as well as medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences – is October 15. But there is still quite a lot of insider knowledge about the process that you will find worth ingesting. They should submit the essay they are most confidant talking about and going further with. Recent favourites include a porcupine spine and an otter’s skull. One-fifth of our applicants submit open applications. Every year we hear from students that they are most apprehensive about the interview. Terms are short but hectic. We offer a range of free and premium services to give you the best chance of getting into Oxford; click below for further details. However the majority of schools are not familiar with the process, leaving their students at a huge disadvantage. Better to decide early and make the right decision, than follow the glistening name to three years of wondering what could have been. It’s not a barrier – it allows a reduced emphasis on other aspects of the application process such as the personal statement. We asked Mike Sewell, the new director of admissions at Cambridge, and Peter Claus, the first full-time access don at an Oxford college, what students need to know to maximise their chances. The best place to start is Oxford's official information on preparing for interviews. At Oxford you may be “pooled” during your interview visit and meet tutors from various colleges, whereas Cambridge will only enter you into the pool after your initial interviews. If all you want is a library and some quiet, you can find it, but it would be a waste. This appears to contradict claims by universities that foreign students would be put off applying to British universities by tough new visa regulations. What would be the point? A popular technique for biological sciences applicants is to give them an unrecognisable animal skeleton. Why?” I then had a brief conversation with an interviewer in French about my holidays - very simple and comfortable conversation which any A level student should be capable of. It's nerve-wracking but you just have to go for it; as long as you show some form of intelligent thought process then your answer is of secondary importance. The second unusual feature of an Oxbridge education is its “collegiate” nature. Contact us now to schedule your Personal Statement Review and consultation. You can request a free consultation from one of our expert admissions consultants, all of whom studied at Oxford or Cambridge themselves: Maybe this isn't ideal but the tutor went along with it and I'm sure we discussed the same questions about an Agatha Christie book that we could've discussed about a Shakespeare play, or a Milton poem. 2x interviews, 1 day apart. I was asked about what I had written in my personal statement, i.e. Oxford will use these tests to decide whom to call for interview, so it’s worth looking at some sample papers to get a sense of what is required. Just think about your subjects and why you want to study them at Oxford, and keep reading. You should also enjoy reading around your subject in your own time and relish the chance to discuss ideas with your peers. QS head of research Ben Sowter said the chances of gaining a job are becoming increasingly important to students who are often now paying more to study for a degree. It is very clear from our experience that there is a vast discrepancy in the amount of preparation candidates do before their Oxford interview. Certain courses at both universities require students to take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA). In response a team of Oxford and Cambridge graduates have worked to put together “Oxford Interview Guide – The General Interview”. The Thinking Skills Assessment is a pre-interview test for those students applying to Oxford for Economics and Management, Experimental Psychology, Human Sciences, Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics. I made the mistake of choosing something I hadn't read, but that sounded impressive (Jane Austen). Consider whether you want a central location, a smaller community, or are interested in a thriving sport or music scene. In my first French interview I was given a poem to read before for 15 minutes. I was then given an Ungaretti poem with both a literal and literary translation, and I was asked a few questions about the poem and translations. If you fall behind, or go wildly off-piste, you are told about it quickly. Linguistics is a dynamic subject that offers students the opportunity to study how languages work. Meeker students, terrifyingly brilliant in writing, could wither in the glare of a more boisterous student. Archaeology. The following article recently featured in The Guardian discusses “How hard is it to get into Oxbridge?”. The questions below are drawn from our clients’ interview reports, as well as from sites like clearadmit.com. I think it's better to say you don't understand too; then struggle through it. Do practice. Here is their step-by-step guide: MS: Students need to remember that subject matter and exam regime will be identical across the colleges. Cambridge admissions tutor Mike Sewell and Oxford college access don Peter Claus take us through it. In all language interviews you have to do part of it in the target language. Tell us about yourself… This popular opener can feel like an awkwardly open ‘question’. It led to a sharp drop in applications this year but the latest figures suggest that opposition to the higher fees regime is now beginning to soften. Biology. Some considerations students should make are whether they want to live next door or half a mile from their department; and whether they want to live in an old, beautiful base but which attracts tourists, or further out from the centre. David Cameron, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher are all Oxford graduates. Oxbridge dons describe the admissions process as ‘exhaustive and exhausting’. The first step was a phone interview with the leader of the team that had the opening. Don’t worry about your accent or pronunciation — unless of course you’re applying for modern languages. “If you do lots of mock interviews with recent graduates, it insures you against melting down and your brain turning to mush on the day.”. The images of beautiful quads and manicured lawns all suggest that costs will be dramatically high at Oxbridge. Why?” Do arrive in plenty of time and as relaxed as possible. Our Subject Interview Guides help you to prepare and go into your interview with confidence. “I’m not trying to trip them up. I was then asked, in French, whether I had been to France, and only a short sentence was expected in response. But neither is a heaving metropolis. I was not asked a strange/obscure/impossible question. The interview is a piece of the jigsaw – it doesn’t overrule it. What is the most rewarding project you have worked on as a Linguist? Oxford and Cambridge are both tiny. You can file an open application, but more and more people are applying to a specific college. It felt like an informal chat more than an assessment, which was comforting, though I think they are hoping you'll say something quite literary and high-brow whereas I went on and on about my favourite crime novel. It was unusual but I think the tutors just want to hear how you think out loud. Remember, some colleges don’t offer certain subjects. You remember the miseries of life better than the good times, don’t you? The approach is different between the two universities. Classics. But not any more. Interviews are a stressful experience – but not necessarily entirely. The following article featured in The Daily Telegraph discusses “Why Oxford and Cambridge might not be for you”. This website holds a collection of past interview questions for students who have applied to Oxford University or Cambridge University (Oxbridge). I had to read a poem about a spider and then imagine I was that spider and someone had broken the web I had just made - how did that make me feel? I was then even asked if I could quote from my favourite passage. Linguistics. If they think “I got a B but I still found it fascinating” I would much rather see that one. Whatever you think of ‘drinking societies’, they are indisputably pervasive, and formal swaps (where a single-gender group meets an opposite single-gender group) are the main way to meet a lot of people quickly. Interview content. 8 interviewers, 1 hour for each. Most of the interview was taken up with discussion about the poem, and, although that sounds daunting on paper, it went very quickly. Nnumbers were up by two per cent among students from Northern Ireland. I was then asked a bit about my Extended Project Qualification, which I'd done on German literature and finally I was asked to speak in German and talk a little about the work experience I'd done in a Berlin primary school. You apply to a college, not just a university. I was asked why I hadn't got an A, which put me on the spot a little. This was absolutely fine (they knew it was difficult, that's why they set it) but then I was made to guess about meaning, vocab, form etc. Oxbridge is the exciting and vibrant option it is precisely because of the diverse nature of its student body. The other tutor in the interview then asked me about a book I mentioned in my personal statement, and we discussed the changes noticeable in one of the main characters for approximately 10 minutes. If you’re offered an interview you will need to prepare for it, which could detract from your A-level studies. They are designed to work from what students would know from their curriculum and general knowledge, and to test how they solve problems and think critically. These sessions are conducted by leading experts in their field, rather than by postgraduates, allowing students to discuss their work and ideas with some of the key thinkers in the world today. He insisted that the QS rankings are the only ones that take into account employers’ views of degree courses. Between them, Oxford and Cambridge are the top universities in the world for seven disciplines, according to a new league table. Five Oxford interview questions and five answers. There is absolutely no evidence to support the view that there is discrimination either in favour of, or against, applicants from independent schools. The Oxford Interview Guide – Economics and Management, The Oxford Interview Guide – Archaeology and Anthropology, The Oxford Interview Guide – Biological Sciences. I didn’t get into Merton but I did make it into Magdalen, my first choice. Below you will find information about the specific degree courses offered by Oxford and Cambridge Universities to study Linguistics, how to prepare, and how Oxbridge Interviews can help you with your application. There might have been a time when they were enormous stables for braying hoorahs. Cambridge will also ask to see individual module scores, which should be above 90 per cent on average. At the start of the interview I read the poem aloud, then was asked what I thought it was about. Go to open days if you can, though tutors are often more than happy to see you on an ad hoc basis during informal visits. “But Dr Richardson’s taller than me,” he said, gesturing towards the rangy Homer expert next to him, “And I get on with him very well. In applied linguistics, interview research has increased dramatically in recent years, particularly in qualitative studies that aim to investigate participants’ identities, experiences, beliefs, and orientations toward a range of … They know you are nervous and make allowances for the odd slip-up. Tutors are interested in your ability to think, not in your social background. My experience is of… I met confident, charismatic, witty individuals, but on the whole their paroxysms of hard partying would be interrupted by the fact that they had an essay to write. A: At undergraduate level at Oxford, linguistics is only available in combination with other subjects. This service is available both in person and online via Skype. Christ Church (Interview #2): I was asked again what my favourite English book was in a French interview. Q: Do I need to be taking English Literature or English Language A-level (or equivalent) to apply for a degree that includes linguistics? This isn’t to say that you won’t see the odd Jack Wills gilet. Oxford and Cambridge are consistently ranked among the top five universities in the world and attract students from any background. Students starting courses next year will be only the second cohort to pay annual tuition fees of up to £9,000 — almost three times the previous limit. You deserve to be there every bit as much as they do. Don’t miss it. Colleges also trade teachers – it’s a myth that needs busting that you will always be taught by teachers from your own college. Tests discipline, focus, and attention to... 3. In the latest QS global survey of universities, the top-ranking universities in the world were Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Yale and Oxford. All these stories usually come from specific questions taken out of their context of a subject-focused discussion. Even lazy students can’t help but write at least an essay a week. Oxbridge interview questions range from the generic “Why do you want to study blah?” and “What's your greatest weakness?” (more on these here) to the specific. “There are no trick questions and the interviews are arranged to be as fair as possible to all candidates. I didn't want to blame a teacher for my grade, but also didn't want to allude that I wasn't myself smart enough to get the A. I told them I planned to re-take (which I did, and upped the grade). There are plenty of myths about Oxbridge, most of which are completely untrue. The Faculty has thriving units in General Linguistics and Phonetics, and has close links with the Faculty of Medieval & Modern There are myriad clubs, societies, sports and minority interest groups to involve yourself in. Usually more. And despite the stereotypes, this isn’t because the universities are posh – they’re not. One of the interviewers took me to the company cafeteria and interviewed me while we had lunch together. But Oxbridge is a poor place to do this. Gone are the legendary encounters when dons hurled rugby balls at you to see if you’d make the First XV. Please Note: Other subject interview guides will be available for download soon – please enter your email below to receive a notification when your subject guide is available for download. Here’s what happened at my Oxford interview for Modern Languages, including the Oxford interview questions I was asked: Being in Oxford for interviews. For some students, hedonism is an important part of the university experience. Unsettling as it might seem, it’s helping them out.”, Interviewers are not necessarily looking for a right answer, but one that shows inquisitive and dynamic on-the-spot thinking. Quite intense with lots of technical questions on past work experience, linguistics, and computer science. Oxford & Cambridge (Oxbridge) Interview questions are renowned for being obscure and out-of-the box. We will let you know as soon as we have further information.There are lots of myths about interviews at Oxford, but really … Again, as in my French interview, I was invited to give my stance on the poem's meaning, and we followed it primarily line by line, but comparing the stanzas - this was appropriate for this specific poem. You are not allowed to get on with it on your own, at least not for the first few terms. For some, meeting the competition is inspiring, but others might be disheartened to be dropped into a larger pond. Admissions tests are increasingly common for many subjects, and you are more likely to have to take one at Oxbridge than elsewhere. I rambled on about the tyranny of small differences, before Braun interrupted. That said, an Oxbridge application should not be taken lightly. The college is home. Italian: This focused on my personal statement and what I'd written about the Calvino text I talked about. Oxford and Cambridge also took the top two places for geography, in a top 10 for the subject that included four other UK universities – the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Durham, University College London (UCL) and Manchester. The student’s personal statement had mentioned doing some work with plantains. 2x interviews (2 interviewers each; 1 interview was 25 mins, the other 35 mins); 1x test (1 hour) Interview content. I talked about language exchanges that I had been on (mentioned in my personal statement) or continued chatting about the books we were discussing, or even spoke about the French drama that was showing on BBC4 at the time. If you have excellent GCSE results and a brace of A grades at AS level, you may be thinking about applying to Oxbridge. Interview. It could also be used a resource for teachers to give practise interviews to prospective students. In English language and literature Oxford and Cambridge took first and second place respectively, the only two UK universities in the top 10 for the subject. The following article recently featured in The Daily Telegraph discusses “What it takes to make it to Oxbridge”. Applicants have two to four interviews and may well be interviewed at other colleges than their first choice. The following article recently featured in The Daily Telegraph discusses “A survivor’s guide to the Oxbridge interview”. For linguistics, Cambridge took first place ahead of MIT and the University of California, Los Angeles, with Oxford in fourth. Click the button below to receive your Oxford Interview Guide right now! I’m not impressed by a big A. By December students will know whether they have been offered a place (either conditionally or unconditionally depending on whether they’re applying before or after A-levels). To have a serious chance, you will need to have secured at least six A* grades at GCSE and all As at AS level. Why?” The questions are designed to make you stretch your brain in your subject area. I was really worried about this but it was the 'easiest' part. “As the UK and governments around the world move towards the ‘student pays’ model on higher education funding, employability is increasingly crucial to graduates,” he said. Demand was also up by 1.8 per cent among European students, who pay the same fees as their British counterparts. This interview was also really abstract in places. If someone is just coming out with a long speech on the wonders of Virgil they have learnt in advance, you do sometimes have to throw a googly – the ‘What did the Romans wear under their togas?’ style question – just to rescue them. Pembroke College: One odd question was about my grades in another AS subject, that weren't as high as they could have been. Do take your time and consider your answers. Subject for which you are applying (optional) Reveals candidates' areas of interest, their... 2. We spoke about things I said I had read on my Personal Statement in some detail. Every year we hear from students trying to prepare who have no idea where to start with these types of questions and what would sound like a strong answer. That’s a very good example. Interview Questions for Linguists: 1. She says, “Some of . I was given a poem in German to analyse for around 15 minutes then we spoke about it, I was asked a few questions about my EPQ in German and why I wanted to study the subject. We need to see that students have gone above and beyond, and are aware of the culture of their subject. Contact us now to schedule your Mock Interview session. In contrast, motivation for choosing the subject is very important. We are currently consulting tutors and departments before deciding whether interviews will be online in 2021 or whether we will revert to our usual process of inviting students to attend interviews in Oxford. Over 1000 past questions to help you prepare for your interview and get into Oxford. The aim is to provide a free resource to help prospective students get a flavour of the sorts of questions that they might get asked. Departments and colleges were invited to fact-check their pages but this does not constitute an official source of information and you should always check the official university website for the most up-to-date information. Last reviewed January 2016. official information on preparing for interviews. Demonstrating independent intellectual fervour around your subject is much more important than any Duke of Edinburgh awards. Oxbridge is only exclusive in the sense that it picks the most able students. They rarely stop to consider whether the universities are right for them in other ways. They aim to assess academic potential and give students the opportunity to demonstrate a genuine interest in the course they have applied for.”, Dr Julia Paolitto, an Oxford University press officer, says: “The interview is a chance for the tutor and prospective student to have a relatively brief but intense academic conversation. And if you are rejected, either before or after interview, you will have to cope with the disappointment and move on.
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