Map Oxbridge Applications, 14 – 16 Waterloo Place, London, SW1Y 4AR
Home School Support Schools Interview Preparation Course

The interview is the final chance for a student to make an impression on admissions tutors and win their offer from Oxford or Cambridge. For many students, this is the first interview of any kind, certainly of a formal nature, that they will have taken part in. As such, preparation is key. 

 

Our Interview Preparation Course gives each student dedicated one-to-one time with an Oxbridge-graduate tutor to practise their interview skills and receive personalised feedback with which they can tailor their preparation.

The Interview Preparation Course consists of four x 30-minute mock interviews with an Oxbridge Applications tutor. Sessions are typically held once a week over the course of four weeks, and each session is followed up with both verbal and written feedback, complete with suggestions for reading or practice work going forward.

Sessions run any day of the week and at any time which is convenient for the individual student. This allows for a tailored approach which can be adjusted to suit each student’s needs, as well as affording direct, personalised feedback. Students may also show a preference for one tutor throughout or different tutors each week, which we will try our best to arrange according to the students’ preference and our tutors’ availability. Please feel free to get in touch with our Schools Team for more information on specific arrangements for your pupils.

What students receive with the Interview Preparation Course

Mock Interviews

Four x 30-minute one-to-one subject-specific mock Oxbridge Interviews. Crucially, this experience helps give students experience in what it feels like to sit the real interview.

 

Sessions

Sessions are typically held once a week over the course of four weeks, and are scheduled according to the student’s timing. Each session is followed up with both verbal and written feedback, complete with suggestions for reading or practice work going forward.

 

Convenience

Sessions are run on any day of the week and at whichever time is convenient for the individual student. This allows for a tailored approach which can be adjusted to suit each student’s needs, as well as affording the ability for tutors to give direct feedback based on the progress each student is making.

Tutors

Students may also show a preference for one tutor throughout or different tutors for each session, which we will try our best to arrange accordingly.

Example Package 1

 

Angeline is applying for Medicine at Cambridge. She has two and a half weeks between now and her interview and spreads her sessions out across this time. Here’s an example of the kinds of interviewers we might set her up with.

Interview One: with James, currently studying in his sixth year of Medicine, having finished his pre-clinical work at Cambridge. He interviews her in the kind of content that he encountered in his first year studying pre-clinical Medicine at Cambridge.

Interview Two: with Mo, who studied Biomedical Sciences at Oxford and interviews Angeline using a combination of real interview questions asked in Oxford and Cambridge Medicine interviews, but also testing the application of her biological knowledge to these questions.

Interview Three: with Aanya, who graduated in Medicine at Cambridge and is now studying for a PhD in Neuroscience. Aanya tests Angeline’s response to unseen material, seeing how she responds to information she has never encountered before.

Interview Four: with Caleb, who graduated in Philosophy from Cambridge and interviews Angeline on medical ethics, and the relevance and value of the NHS.

 

Request a Callback

Call +44 (0)207 499 2394 or EMAIL US

Example Package 2

 

Isaac is applying for Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at Oxford. He has five days before his interviews and so does all four mock interviews over the course of a weekend. Here’s an example of the kinds of interviewers we might set him up with.

Interview One: with Zain, who graduated in PPE from Oxford a year ago and now works at a major London strategy consultancy firm. Zain focuses on three difficult problems with Isaac, testing his understanding of Game Theory

Interview Two: with Alison, who is a graduate in Maths and Philosophy from Oxford and tests Isaac’s mathematical ability. The Oxford PPE course is highly mathematical, and a high level in Maths ability is an important part of the interview process.

Interview Three: with Ben, who graduated in History and Politics at Oxford and is currently working for an MP. Ben interviews Isaac on his wider reading and understanding of advanced tests he’s come across in his pursuit of Politics beyond his IB syllabus.

Interview Four: with Nabil, who graduated in PPE at Oxford and tutors full-time. Nabil builds on past Oxbridge interview questions, testing Isaac’s ability to relate them to his studies, as well as discussing Isaac’s response to events in UK news.

 

Request a Callback

Call +44 (0)207 499 2394 or EMAIL US

Our mock interviews help candidates familiarise themselves with the interview process and expectations of them in order to successfully win an offer to Oxford or Cambridge. They present the opportunity to get expert, detailed answers based on our 20+ years of research to questions such as these:

1/3
What kinds of questions might be asked of me?
2/3
What areas of my performance could be improved?
3/3
How should I spend my time between now and the interview?

We have been leading the way since 1999 as the trusted in-house Oxbridge applications support to many of the UK’s highest-achieving schools

Hear From Our School Partners

 

"At Cardiff Sixth Form College, one of the cornerstones of our provision is that we 'demand and deliver excellence'. Our partnership with Oxbridge Applications, is a wonderful example of this, with expert guidance provided for our students and expert training provided for our staff in the pursuit of the highest university ambitions."

Gareth Collier, Principal, Cardiff Sixth Form College

"Oxbridge Applications have offered an invaluable service in supplementing Marlborough College's programme of preparation for Oxbridge admissions tests and interviews. Their bespoke approach is flexible but robust, and has offered our pupils greater exposure to admissions test papers and interviews. The quality of their tutors always impresses our pupils, whose feedback is consistently positive."

Andrew Oxburgh, Head of Oxbridge, Marlborough College

"We have been really happy with the way Oxbridge Applications have helped to guide our students through the demands of the application process, providing high quality feedback and support at all stages."

Ruth Lexton, Head of Oxbridge, Wellington College

“Thank you so much for the interview day today. The students were nervous (which is normal) but they all commented on just how interesting and stimulating the interviews were. They all commented on the professionalism of the tutors, and they all learned a lot from the experience. They will certainly be more confident and prepared for any Oxbridge interviews that they might face in the future. Thank you again for a wonderful event!! We look forward to working with you again in the future!"

Peter Sullivan, British School of Madrid

“Another great day and the students, as ever, got a huge amount out of it. We hope to see you next year!”

Ed Lamb, Davenport High School

I just wanted to let you know the wonderful news that [student] has received an offer! I have no doubt that the two interviews with you played a massively vital role in securing this offer and wish to offer my most profound gratitude. Your patient and kindly approach really settled his nerves and he performed superbly well in his interviews with Cambridge. A huge "thank you" to Alison and Alicia for all of your help.

House Mistress at King's Ely School

We’ve had Oxbridge Applications help us for eight years. Efficiency, quality and adaptability are what recommend them to us, and they are consistently rated ‘outstanding’ by the pupils.

Guy Nobes, Marlborough College

Can I just say a huge thank you to you and your team. You have been amazing. The amount and quality of support has been phenomenal and we are incredibly grateful.

Nick Berman, Future Academies

Thank you so much for this afternoon with our Year 12s - the session was really useful and the feedback has been great.

Jane Collier, Head of University Advice, Hurtwood House

“Aspirational, inspirational and thought-provoking; OA provided expert advice whilst engaging in an engaging and accessible manner. Absolutely hit the spot. Thank you!”

Susan Gower, Director of Sixth Form Experience, Croydon High School

School Partner

Andrew Oxburgh, Marlborough College 

"Oxbridge Applications have offered an invaluable service in supplementing Marlborough College’s programme of preparation for Oxbridge admissions tests and interviews. Their bespoke approach is flexible but robust, and has offered our pupils greater exposure to admissions test papers and interviews. The quality of their tutors always impresses our pupils, whose feedback is consistently positive."

School Partner

Julia Johnson, Emanuel School

“Thank you again - from my point of view, the remote interviews worked really well. It was good to have access to a larger number of tutors, to give all the pupils two interviews, and for me to be able to drop in on them too. I was particularly impressed with Alison's interviewing! Really helpful!

Surbiton high school

School Partner

Terry McDermott, Surbiton High School

“I have used Oxbridge Applications with many students over the years and have found them to be excellent. They have contributed to innovations in our Oxbridge support which has seen our Oxbridge offers at Surbiton High triple in recent years when most independent schools are seeing their offers go in the opposite direction. I am happy to use their services year after year."

To book an Interview Preparation Course or to find out more about how we can help your students prepare for their Oxbridge Interviews, call our Head of Schools on +44 (0)20 7499 2394 or email us on [email protected],

Oxbridge Applications Logo

Our Oxbridge-graduate consultants are available between 9.00 am – 5.00 pm from Monday to Friday, with additional evening availability when requested.

Oxbridge Applications, 14 – 16 Waterloo Place, London, SW1Y 4AR


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