Mock Interviews

I offer mock interviews for those applying to the following subjects:

• Cambridge for Mathematics or Mathematics with Physics
• Cambridge for Physical Natural Sciences (maths/physics interviews only)
• Oxford for Mathematic or Physics (or joint honours with these as a component)
• Oxford or Cambridge for Computer Science, or joint honours with Computer Science as a component (CompSci interviews are generally based on maths problems, with a bias towards topics such as logic or algorithms)

If you are applying to another university for one of these subjects, and expect to be invited for interview, please get in touch or book a free consultation to discuss if a mock interview will be helpful for you.

Interviews are generally the part of the Oxbridge admissions process which students fear most. Mock interviews help you to get used to thinking out loud about your mathematical and physical ideas and communicating them appropriately. The aim is to give you the confidence you need to succeed in your real interviews.

When should I schedule mock interviews for? I generally recommend scheduling mock interviews no earlier than the summer before you apply (i.e. the summer between Y12 and Y13). For support prior to this, students will generally benefit more from problem solving sessions for university admissions.

Is a mock interview right for me? A mock interview is right for you if you want to get a feel for a real interview, and try out some questions in an authentic setting. Mock interviews are not designed to provide long-term support, so most students will not benefit from having more than three. If you are looking to develop your problem-solving skills for interview, please instead consider problem solving sessions for university admissions.

Logistics

Mock interviews last 50 minutes, consisting of 35 minutes of mock interview questions, followed by 15 minutes of feedback and discussion. You will also be sent some short written feedback afterwards. If you are scheduling multiple interviews, I generally advise leaving at least two weeks between each one.

Most mock interviews take place virtually on Whereby, an online video conferencing platform. You will need a graphics tablet to be able to write on the online whiteboard. For more information on technology requirements, click here. In-person mock interviews are available in some parts of Greater London, subject to an upcharge. To discuss this possibility, book a free consultation, providing your postcode in the comments field.