Engineering @ Robinson, Cambridge in 2016

Interview format

2x interviews; 1x test (1 hr)

Interview content

Test: 9 questions covering Engineering/Maths.

Best preparation

"i-want-to-study-engineering.com".

Final thoughts

Stay relaxed on the day - maybe read a good book.

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 took a 5am train to Robinson on the day because they couldn't provide accommodation. It was raining. I had mixed feelings because on one hand I had messed up the previous interview but I was glad to have a second chance. It could have been worse. One of the supervisors went through a Q&A at 9.30am. It was a informal Q&A but I don't remember what was asked. Took an hour long test. I think there were two interviews, each had two interviewers with each interviewer asking a question (I think?)

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

The test was about engineering related questions: a mix of A-Level standard (mechanics and structures) and some which went beyond A-Level. There was some maths questions too but no 'physics ones'. There were about 9 questions. A few practical questions about some examples they demonstrated in person. I had some circuit questions but didn't remember much else. I had a question about a law in electronics but I told the interviewer I couldn't remember it so he had to explain it to me.

How did you prepare?

My previous interview was a similar experience in terms of being asked questions; "i-want-to-study-engineering.com".

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

Stay relaxed on the day. In the JCR some people were reading through notes and it seemed to make them quite stressed. To relax I just read a novel, which put me in a better frame of mind. It's worth finding a way to stay relaxed because it's a long wait, you have no idea what you're going to be asked, and also it's a little bit awkward because you are waiting with all your competition. I spoke to a few of the other applicants and while it didn't stress me out it didn't relax me either. Some did tell me which questions to expect though(!).