How should I prepare for an interview to read English at University?

English interviews are all about testing how critically you think, and how well-read you are. The best way to demonstrate that you are genuinely committed to your chosen field is by evidencing a love of literature that transcends the classroom. The interviewer won't expect you to have read everything (that's impossible, of course), but they are looking to see that you read and think critically outside of your prescribed texts. Reading across a broad timescale is essential for interview preparation (not just modern and contemporary fiction) and push yourself to consider the contexts of certain literary movements. Practices such as this set you up as an ideal candidate who is able to synthesise close reading through a cultural and historical lense.