Computer Science @ Robinson, Cambridge in 2022

Interview format

Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA), 1x interview

Interview content

One maths problem, one computer science problem, then a discussion of personal statement

Best preparation

Using Youtube resources, mock interviews, reading around the subject and practicing public speaking

Test preparation

Practicing TMUA and similar questions in timed conditions

Final thoughts

Tell the interviewer what you're thinking

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: Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA)
Number of interviews: 1
Length of interviews: 45 minutes
Online interview: Yes

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

In my interview I got one maths problem and one CS problem and had 15 mins of talking about my personal statement. Initially, I couldn't solve the maths problem by myself, but I could come up with some key insights. I said what I was thinking to the interviewer and he helped me work through the problem until we got to the solution. Something that helped was taking a sip of water to collect my thoughts and calm my nerves. For the CS problem, I solved it instantly, and so the interviewer asked deeper questions about the problem.

Afterward, we talked about the projects I put in my personal statement, and we went into a lot of depth (I'm assuming because he found it very interesting). I found that the preparation I had done (looking over my code, and reading around the areas) really helped me articulate myself better. Also, it helped that I created all the projects by myself from scratch so I actually knew what I was talking about (please, please, please do not lie on your personal statement: it's not worth it).

How did you prepare for your interviews?

Before the interview, I looked on Youtube for examples of what the interview looks like and advice on what do to in the interview. I also pestered my maths and Computer Science teachers for mock interviews, but the usefulness of these depends on the teacher. Reading around the subject, and especially the areas you talk about in your personal statement is extremely useful (also I'd avoid lying on your personal statement). Lastly, I practiced public speaking by doing talks in debating and philosophy club, and I think any experience talking about intellectual topics is useful preparation. Another way you could practice this kind of speaking, is by explaining topics in your subject to other people.

If you took a test, how did you prepare?

The TMUA is a test of mathematical fluency, and to improve at this you really just need to do as much maths as possible. I did all the TMUA past papers in timed conditions and also used MAT and STEP past papers and textbooks (in the aim of becoming as fluent with maths as possible). Other things that help are starting revision early, reading through the spec on the TMUA website, and practicing multiple choice technique. In the TMUA you get very little time, and knowing how to manage it is a key skill.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

There are 4 parts of your application to maximise: qualifications, personal statement, TMUA score and interview performance. Do your best to maximise all of these. For qualifications, try your best to get good GCSEs and 4A*s predicted, but if you don't, don't stress because the other parts are more important. Also, if your school offers Further Maths, take it. For the personal statement, really try to make yourself stand out. They're looking for passion and intellectual curiosity. This could include projects or competitions that relate to CS, and it's really important to say how these experiences made you a better computer scientist. They don't care that much about extracurriculars so try not to include too many of these.

For the interview, tell the interviewer what you're thinking, and do as many mock interviews as possible. Also, make sure to read your personal statement again, and read around the areas you talked about in it. Good luck!