Theology, Religion, And Philosophy Of Religion @ St John's, Cambridge in 2019

Interview format

Theology at-interview assessment; 3x interviews.

Interview content

(Contents of interview were not specified).

Best preparation

Subject-related extracurricular activities, mock interviews, videos on Oxbridge interviews, re-reading the personal statement.

Test preparation

Online lectures on theological topics; practice papers from the Faculty of Divinity website

Final thoughts

Relax and give yourself positive affirmations before the interview; stay calm.

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

Test taken: Theology At-Interview Assessment
Number of interviews: 3
Time between interviews: Had to stay overnight; 35 minutes between subject interviews on same day
Length of interviews: 15 minutes - general interview; 25 minutes each - 2 subject interviews
Online interview: No

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

I was very nervous for my interviews but the interviewers were so lovely and really set me at ease. I was in a comfy office-type room for my general and first subject interview, which made settling in and chatting to my interviewers much easier. I didn't feel like they were interrogating me - but that I was just having a conversation about a subject that I love and my opinions really being taken seriously.

How did you prepare for your interviews?

I read through my personal statement and picked out key points, trying to think about potential questions they could ask me and how I would respond. I read and watched videos about other people's advice for Oxbridge interviews.

I did a few mock interviews - one at another school to get used to talking about my subject with an unfamiliar face, and a couple with teachers at my school who had different approaches. I also chatted with a friend who had gone to Oxford for Theology to ask for her advice and do a practice interview with her.

Most importantly I tried to immerse myself in theology - I read books and articles, watched debates, and listened to podcasts. I engaged with my Religious Studies A-level and went beyond the curriculum - delivering talks for our Theology society and writing articles in the magazine we published throughout the year. This is the best advice I can recommend to any Oxbridge applicant. Live and breathe your subject. It's not about rote memorisation or forcing yourself to be someone you're not in order to impress the interviewer. It's about engaging so deeply with your subject matter that even if you're faced with a question that throws you a little bit, you have the resources to think critically and give an educated answer that shows you are thinking like a true theologian.

If you took a test, how did you prepare?

Watching online lectures about theological topics; doing practice papers found on Faculty of Divinity website

What advice would you give to future applicants?

My advice would be to take a deep breath and relax before each interview. It is easy to get caught up in extreme thoughts: "This interview will determine my future" or "I have to do well or everything is ruined" but these thoughts are untrue and unhelpful. Cast them out and replace them with positive and life-filled affirmations: "I am intelligent" and "I can do this." Then just go in there and do your best!

The interviewers aren't looking for perfection, they are looking for students with curiosity and critical thinking skills who are able to make logical deductions even if they don't have all the information. Stay calm and let your love for your subject shine through. God bless you all!