Test taken: Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment (NSAA)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 15 minutes
Length of interviews: 20 minutes
Online interview: No

First interview started with them asking why I want to be a vet and asking me about a clinical case I had seen in work experience - they questioned me on haemophilia (the dog I spoke about in personal statement had haemophilia) to see if I understood it and researched it as I claimed to (got so nervous I forgot some key details...) but this was only for the first couple of minutes.

Then they gave me this difficult equation and told me to draw its graph, but they also explained it was supposed to be hard. Honestly, I had no idea what was going on and it was like pulling teeth for them, but they walked me through it and when I would get things wrong, they would nudge me in the right direction (I think they want to see that you can be taught). They were very nice about it! This was for 7-8 mins on this one question.

Then I was asked a couple questions asking me to try and explain different behaviours in animals, I guess as more of a logic problem. Again, I wasn't really getting the point but they nudged me in the right direction. In both interviews it was very clear that it was okay to get things wrong! They just want to see that they can teach you and that you pick things up fairly quickly by asking you follow up questions to apply what you have just learnt.

My second interview was far more based on my knowledge of bio and chem from my IB (International Baccalaureate) Syllabus - I was asked to draw some biological molecules and discuss selective breeding. It was more of a general discussion around concepts such as genetics and biochemistry. I found this interview much easier but there were still questions I couldn't answer but they would tell me the answer if I didn't know.

Both interviews were very relaxed and in each I had a professor and a vet student present. Of course, you will be nervous anyway but biggest advice is take a breath before you answer and work logically through the problem, applying what you already know. Questions are designed to make you think and the interviewers care far more about the logic you use to get to your answer than the answer itself.

I used my revision guides for biology and chemistry for some basic knowledge. Also read up on current events in the vet world. In retrospect, I wish I had done more revision of maths (especially graph transformations and trigonometry).

I would recommend having a prepared answer for why you want to be a vet (try not to be too cliché - they probably know you love animals!). I also reread my personal statement and reminded myself what I talked about which came in handy!

Focus on revision of maths and some basic bio and chem concepts. Don't over-revise - its not an exam and you know more than you think you do.

Lots of practice questions and revision of IB content (I was a gap year applicant) - MCQs from both IB and A-Level past paper were helpful too and then the longer answer questions from IB Bio and Chem papers.

First and foremost, believe in your abilities and the power of adrenaline. I found I remembered far more than I was expecting to in the room. Take a breath before you answer and think things through before you start speaking - you don't want to have to backtrack on yourself.

I was expecting the interviews to be far less relaxed and more like an exam but often, it just felt like quite a difficult lesson.

The questions are supposed to be difficult - they don't need to test you on A-Level things, they have your grades for that; much more important is the way you work through a problem and whether you are able to be taught.

I wish I had spread my interview prep out a bit more instead of cramming on the day before because that was just unnecessary stress.

Try to relax as much as possible and treat yourself to the fattest meal afterwards. Good luck! :)