Test taken: None
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 3 hours and 25 minutes.
Length of interviews: The first (subject-based) was 50 minutes long, and the second (general) was 20 minutes long.
Online interview: No

In my subject interview, the first interview, I was interviewed by two individuals, one of them being my Director of Studies. We used much time to discuss the score and the article that I was given to analyse in my preliminary test. In the score, we ran through theory, the relationship between the music and the lyrics (as I was given a French mélodie), which ended up in a guessing of the origin and context of the work.

We then talked through some guiding questions that were present in the article, and I was asked to postulate answers and articulate my ideas. Finally, we discussed my personal statement and the reasoning behind my way of thinking. While there was a clear question-answer dynamic, my Director of Studies visibly helped me ease into the process.

My second interview was a general interview. My interviewer and I discussed my personal statement and academic interests, particularly the aspects out of my chosen subject. She also asked about my background and confirmed my motivations for studying at Cambridge. The second interview was decidedly slower-paced and much more relaxed, as it was not subject-intensive.

Reading different academic perspectives on different musical topics was a crucial part of the preparation; many can be found on websites such as JSTOR. It is also helpful to shore up on detailed knowledge in a broad range of areas. In that regard, the Oxford History of Western Music by Richard Taruskin was immensely comprehensive and useful, as it was divided into different volumes corresponding to different musical periods, and there were many specific sections on different composers and works. In particular, I read up heavily on my area of interest, the late 19th and early 20th century. It may also be beneficial to look up your Director of Studies' field of expertise if you applied to a specific college in order to anticipate what kind musical topics they may ask you about.

An equally useful part of preparation is practicing for the pre-interview exercise and the interview itself; practice the analysis of scores and explaining your thought processes in front of others. Conduct a mock interview with your teacher, or do it on yourself if needed. An alumna of my high school applied for the same course a few years back, and she walked me through the rough process: use around 40 minutes to analyse a score and academic paper, then present your thoughts and discuss them with the mock subject interviewer.

Don't be afraid to articulate every single one of your ideas, as silly as any of them may sound. You never know; they may be the answer the interviewers are looking for.

That said, it is absolutely fine to get answers wrong. The interview is a process which probes at your thinking process and investigates whether you are receptive to the Cambridge style of teaching. Showing that you can bounce back from wrong answers and build on your points after being corrected only shows that you can adapt, not that you are unqualified. Elaborate on your thoughts, be honest with yourself, and be honest with your answers.