Computer Science @ Churchill, Cambridge in 2015

Interview format

2x interviews, 1x CSAT

Interview content

Technical questions; logic puzzles; short maths questions; longer questions

Best preparation

CSAT website; UMKT maths challenge

Final thoughts

Don't rush into answers and make silly mistakes

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

I had two 25 minute interviews and the CSAT test (I think it will be 120 minutes long for future applicants). Some applicants did the test then interviews, with a break in between, some did the opposite.

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

Both interviews were entirely technical; no small talk or questions about my personal statement at all. The first interview had two multistage questions about logic puzzles. The first one went well after an incredibly stupid initial mistake, the second went less well but I arrived at the answer eventually with some prompting. The second interview consisted of a few short maths questions based on A-level content which I found easy, and a longer question on a theoretical computer science topic which I luckily knew about.

How did you prepare?

The CSAT website has a lot of resources linked which will also be useful for preparation for the interview. Personally I found UKMT Senior Maths Challenge and MAT papers most helpful. The Oxf*rd Computer Science website has some example questions that are similar to the ones I had. My school organised a practice interview for me, but I didn't find it that helpful although it could be useful if you think you'd be especially nervous in an interview situation.

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

Especially at the start of the interview, don't rush into things and make stupid mistakes due to nerves. While it is true that successful applicants often feel like their interviews went badly because the interviewers try to push you, this can be overstated; they will generally try to put you at ease as well.