2x interviews (30 mins)
Both: personal statement; asked interviewer to clarify at one point which went down well
Looking through personal statement; look up Cambridge course; mock interviews
Spoke about outside interests
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.
I had two interviews lasting half an hour each. Before the first interview I read an extract from a famous text about the concept of nations. Two interviewers each - a reasonably informal chat in an office.
Be up to scratch with current affairs & terms used in the media. Discussed personal statement - theme of feminism in first interview and democracy in second interview.
They asked me about referenda, and used a word I didn't know so I just asked. I think she was impressed by my ability to own up to not knowing something I probably should have known and my eagerness to learn from her so my no1 tip is not to be afraid to think out loud.
Highlighting personal statement beforehand.
Looking up paper guides for first year to know relevant topics.
At the end of my second interview we spoke about my general reading! Doesn’t have to be subject related they just want to know you enjoy reading.