How do I prepare for an Oxbridge interview?

Oxbridge interviews are tough and intend to get the applicant to think. As with any interview, you should look over your personal statement and any other work you have had to submit and make sure you can answer confidently on the areas you have specifically mentioned. You should also think about the topics you have said you are interested in. This may mean doing some extra reading around the area, but it also means thinking how these specific topics fit into your wider subject, as they tend not to ask you to list your knowledge, but rather to apply your knowledge to a broader setting or issue. It is equally important to practise your communication skills. In a stressful situation, you are likely to speak faster and less clearly, so it is definitely worth practising and working out ways to remind yourself to slow down or speak more clearly when you are feeling nervous. Finally, it is worth asking someone subject-specific, whether it be a tutor, teacher, or family member, to give you a mock interview. You should also remember that these interviews are difficult and nerve-racking, and so you will likely feel tired and perhaps sad afterwards, so, if possible, having someone with you or something nice to do afterwards is a good idea.

NJ

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