Oxbridge interview questions

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about interviews at Oxford and Cambridge - candidates asked to throw bricks out of windows, being left in ornate rooms for hours, met with stony-eyed, intimidating professors. The reality, thankfully, is much less daunting. Interviews are a chance for tutors to simulate what’s called a “tutorial” at Oxford and a “supervision” at Cambridge- small (often 1:1) teaching sessions with professors. The interview is a chance for candidates to demonstrate passion and thinking. They won’t be expected to recite prepared, articulate, decisive answers but to demonstrate incisive, independent analysis - an ability to respond to new material and to think innovatively on the spot. We have compiled a list of subject specific questions for both Oxford and Cambridge to help students as they prepare.

Sample questions by subject

Archaeology and Anthropology

- What is the difference between History of Art and Archaeology and Anthropology?
- Why, might you argue, is excavating battlefields morally unacceptable? 
- How would you test the material of pots and what are the different dating techniques?
- How do you justify the government funding archaeology and anthropology studies?
- What is the biggest challenge faced by modern anthropologists?

Architecture

- How would you design a classical building?
- What are your thoughts on modern developments?
- What buildings would you prefer to design?
- What do you think are the biggest challenges architects face today?
- Who is your favourite architect?

Biochemistry

- Describe how DNA is converted to protein
- Why do you want to study biochemistry when it is not taught at school?
- Why is life carbon based and not silicon based?
- Describe polypeptide formation
- What happens to aspirin when we dissolve it in water?

Biology

- How is the resting potential maintained in an electrically active cell?
- Can the Earth be seen as a living organism?
- Is genetic mutation good or bad?What is the general anatomy of the primate brain?
- What are the different oxygen affinities that a mountain goat and a foetus has?

Chemistry

- How many water molecules are there in a glass of water?
- Describe some of the trends across a periodic table and down a group
- Explain the bonding in benzene
- Why is water used to dilute solutions?
- Why can’t you unboil an egg?

Classics

- Can a translator ever make their translation completely neutral?
- How do languages spread and evolve?
- Is the Aeneid pro or anti Roman?
- What are the differences between Europides; and Sophocles’ ‘Electra’?
- Thoughts on the different portrayals of war and human suffering in the Aeneid and Illiad

Computer Science

- What properties would a computer system in an aeroplane need to have?
- Who invented the computer?
- How small can you make a computer?
- Can computers think?
- What are the different programming languages and what are their respective advantages?

Economics / Economics and Management

- Why are some countries rich and others poor? 
- Are there any resources that are not scarce?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of privatising the Royal MailWhat was the main cause of the global recession?Why is economics useful to society?

Engineering

- Why do we feel increasing pressure when going deeper underwater?
- Why do objects float in water?
- Why is aluminium silver and copper brownish?
- Derive an equation for the motion of a pendulum
- An empty glass with ice cubes at the bottom is filled to the top. The ice then melts: does the water level go up, down or stay the same?

English Literature

- What is satire?
- Is Austen’s use of direct speech as effective as her use of indirect free speech?
- What makes a book be loved and admired by readers?
- What is literature?
- Which of the books that you are studying do you enjoy the most and which is the text that is freshest in your mind?

Geography

- It is widely reported that humans impact the environment, but how does the environment impact humans?
- Define culture
- How can colonisation be related to globalisation?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of international aid?
- How does a geographer’s job differ to that of an economist or a politician?

History

- Does historiography eradicate or create myths?
- Which sources are best to use?
- How do you discriminate between opposing views of modern historians?
- Do we ever learn from the past?
- Can history stop the next war?

History of Art

- What is the definition of aesthetic?
- Would taxidermy be considered art?
- What is art?
- What work of art would you most like to own?
- How much can colour tell you about the social context of the painting?

Law

- Do we have a moral obligation to obey the law and on what grounds is this obligation founded?
- Discuss a legal issue that has been in the news recently?
- How would you reform the prison system?
- What justifications would you put forward for depriving a person of their liberty?

Mathematics

- n has 4 distinct divisors, including 1 and itself. the sum of the divisors = 80. Find n.
- Sketch y = x^5 - x^3. Hence sketch y^2 = x^5 - x^3
- A moving ball hits a stationary one and collides elastically, the resultant speeds are equal. Find the ratio of masses. 
- There are three pairs of shoes. When looking at one pair I have 1/3 chance to choose that pair and 1/3 chance to start looking at each of the others. If I start looking at pair A what is the chance that I will eventually pick it?
- The numbers 3,5,7 are three consecutive odd numbers which are all prime.  How many other such three consecutive odd numbers are there that are all prime.  Prove it.

Medicine

- How does dialysis work?
- What is epigenetics and is it important?
- What are the two most important scientific discoveries in medicine?
- What is so special about the structure of DNA?
- Discuss a medical ethics issue of your choice

Modern Languages

- What is the difference between a philosophical novel and a philosophy essay?
- What is the role of the translator?
- What determines how easy it is to learn a language?
- In what ways does language define our culture and identity?
- How do accents arise?

Oriental Studies

- What is the relationship between historical and modern events in the Middle East?
- How do you perceive the Middle East and their literature?
- What are the challenges China faces in the coming years?

PPE

- Who should pay for climate change?
- What is globalisation and how would you measure it?
- If you had to destroy the Sistine Chapel or the Grand Canyon which would you choose and why?
- What does logic mean to you?What is democracy?

Philosophy

- What is an explanation?
- To what extent should we have surveillance and where should the line be drawn between public and private domains?
- What is the philosophy of memory and what conditions are necessary to remeber anything?
- Are there any decisions in a democratic society that you believe should not be made by vote?
- What areas within philosophy are you interested in?

Physics

- Sketch the graph of exp (1/x)
- What velocity do you need to start off with to make a complete loop of a rollercoaster
- Why are soap bubbles spherical?
- Why do we feel pressure?
- Why does a helium balloon rise in the atmosphere?

Veterinary Science

- What is the role of the vet in society?
- What do you understand about the responsibility of the vet for human health?
- Explain the procedure of embryo implantation?
- What kind of qualities does a vet need?
- Describe an animal case that interests you.