Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment (NSAA); 2x interviews
Interview 1: biology, cell division; Interview 2: biochemistry
Revised A Level content
Practise papers
Try to see the interviews as an opportunity to learn
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.
Test taken:
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 1hr25
Length of interviews: 20mins
Online interview: No
I had a biology interview which discussed an ecology and cell division question, and a biochemistry interview, which discussed biochemistry and chemistry. They were mostly discussions type questions. I enjoyed the interview process a lot as the interviewers were very kind. I think a myth is that if you find it easy, you were bad. I was told that if it was hard, it means that they are seeing how you think and that they are challenging you. Although my interviews were certainly challenging, I was able to reach all of the correct conclusions. I was very concerned that I had messed up, but in the end I got in anyway.
I revised A-level content and looked over subjects mentioned in personal statement. I also had a
Practice papers for NSAA and
My advice is to enjoy the interview. You are speaking to top academics in a subject that you are both interested in. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn. I think the interviewers were looking for a willingness to learn, but also the ability to take in new information and use it to develop your answers.