Computer Science @ Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 2016

Interview format

1x interview and 1x test

Interview content

Went over questions in the test.

Best preparation

Read around your subject.

Final thoughts

Don't be scared.

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 an interview in December. I stayed overnight the night before and went to have a look at the Computer Lab in the morning. There were various students around to chat to us, and I socialised with other candidates. I had a test, which was mostly based around maths and logic, immediately followed by an interview with 2 interviewers. (Both the Directors of Studies).

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

Discussed the contents of the test. Went over questions I had done well on, and talked about ones I hadn't attempted.

How did you prepare?

Read "The New Turing Omnibus". It contains am introduction on lots of subjects so is useful as you have a broad basic knowledge.

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

Don't be scared - just relax and be yourself, and try to forget that it's an interview. Mine was more like a conversation.