Maths @ Girton, Cambridge in 2016

Interview format

1x test (1hr); 3x interviews (30mins)

Interview content

Split between pure & applied maths

Best preparation

STEP & online resources

Final thoughts

No

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

There was an initial testin the morning that lasted an hour (I think) which was similar to STEP questions in a range of areas. Then had two interviews following (both had two people in although one person always seemed to lead).

One started with some generic questions about maths, and interests, whilst the other one went straight into the questions. The interviews split between the questions on pure maths and applied maths I did in my test and it was essentially like a supervision

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

Answered most of this above. The "pure maths" interview was not great (you can tell why I applied to maths with physics) and I was essentially led to the answer and did not feel the best after that one. The others both went okay and hints were given when they felt I wasn't making much progress.

How did you prepare?

STEP papers by far the best preparation. Also try out Cambridge interview questions they are of a similar style and it's good practice.

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

Nope!