What to expect at interview

We have now sent interview invitations for all subjects (except Medics being considered for interview on the 8^th – these invitations won’t come out until after the BMAT results have been released on Thursday 27^th November), so we thought we’d clear a few things up and let you know what will happen next.

Please make sure you reply to your interview invitation as soon as possible, and no later than 24^th November. Hopefully most of this was made clear in your interview invitation, but just to give you a rough idea of what to expect...

What to Expect at Interview

Below you can find details of what to expect for each subject.

ASNC: one 20 min general interview; one 30 min subject interview at the ASNC Faculty (5 mins interview prep).

Architecture: one 30 min subject interview (including discussion of portfolio).

AMES: generally, one 30 min general interview and one or two 30 min subject interviews but this will depend on language choices.

Chemical Engineering (aka Chem Eng) via Natural Sciences (aka NatSci): one 30 min Chemistry interview and one 30 min NatSci interview.

Chemical Engineering (aka Chem Eng) via Engineering: same as Engineering plus one 30 min Chem Eng interview.

Classics: one 30 min subject interview (plus 30 mins interview prep for those applying for 3-yr course); one interview at another College; a Language Assessment session at the faculty (4-yr applicants only).

Computer Science (aka CompSci): one 30 min subject interview; one or two further interviews (depending on route selected).

Economics: one 30 min subject interview.

Engineering: a 30 min subject interview; another 30 min subject interview (plus 45 mins interview prep, calculators are allowed); a 60 min multiple choice maths test with 10 mins pre-reading (calculators not allowed).

English: a 30 min subject interview; another 30 min subject interview (plus 15 mins interview prep); a 60 min test with 15 mins pre-reading.

History: a 30 min subject interview; another 30 min subject interview (plus 30 mins interview prep); a 60 min test with 15 mins pre-reading.

History of Art: one 30 min subject interview.

Law: a 30 min subject interview; another 30 min subject interview (plus 15 mins interview prep); Cambridge Law Test (likely to be essay based question, 60 mins).

Linguistics: one 40 min subject interview.

Maths: a 45 min subject interview; a 30 min subject interview.

Maths with Physics: same as Maths plus one 30 min Physics interview (plus 30 mins interview prep).

MML: generally - one 30 min general interview or a 40 min Spanish interview (plus 15 mins prep for Spanish); one 30 min interview for any other language (each with 15 mins interview prep, unless language is being taken ab initio); a 60 min test - but varies depending on subject.

Medicine: two 30 min subject interviews.

Music: one 20 min general interview; one 45 min subject interview (plus 30 mins interview prep) (at Robinson College); a 60 min test (also at Robinson College).

Natural Sciences (Bio): two 30 min subject interviews; a 40 min essay-based test.

Natural Sciences (Phys): a 30 min subject interview; another 30 min subject interview (plus 30 mins interview prep).

Philosophy: one 20 min general interview; one 30 min subject interview; a 60 min test.

Theology: one 20 min general interview; one 30 min subject interview; one interview at another college.

What does it all mean??
A ‘general interview’ is usually a shorter interview with one of the Admissions Tutors to discuss why you are applying for your subject. They may also discuss things you've mentioned in your personal statement. Subject interviews will be (as the name suggests!) much more subject focussed, perhaps discussing written work you've submitted or building on what you’ve studied at school. Please note that both interviews will still be academic in nature.

'Interview prep' normally means that you will be given a passage to read or problem sheet to look at immediately prior to your interview so that it can be discussed during the interview. Sometimes this takes place on a chair just outside of your interview room so it’s a good idea to bring something to lean on. Interview Preparation is supposed to be something you have not come across before so no preparation is necessary. It often helps to guide the interview such that it is more like an actual Cambridge supervision. You can find out much more here: http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/interviews/.

Unfortunately we cannot provide any more information than that (e.g. previous test questions) but we hope you find the above useful!

What to Bring to Interview

- Warm clothes: Cambridge is cold (and often wet!) in December. There is no specific dress code so it is important that you wear whatever you feel comfortable (and clever!) in.

- Sensible shoes: you may need to walk around a lot so make sure you are comfortable.

- A magazine/book/school work: you may spend some time sitting around waiting so make sure you bring something to keep you entertained.

- A mobile phone: if you have provided us with your mobile phone number then please bring it with you as we do sometimes need to make last minute changes to interview times if people are held up in traffic, etc. But please remember it must be switched off during any interviews, interview prep or tests.

- Your interview invitation: you will need this so that you know where you are going and when. Remember to go to the Porters’ Lodge at least 10 minutes before each appointment for all Peterhouse interviews. If you are being interviewed at another College or at a faculty then please make sure you know how to get there, and allow yourself plenty of time to find their Porters’ Lodge.

- A pen: the Porters will have some spare for those sitting tests but it helps if you can bring your own.

- Photo ID (passport or driving license): we may need to confirm your identity at the interview.

- Evidence of UMS marks: interviewers will be doing spot checks so make sure you bring them with you if you have declared UMS marks on your application.

- An alarm clock (if you are staying overnight): you don’t want to miss your interview!

How to get to Peterhouse

We thought it'd be helpful to show you some maps.

Here is a map of the city centre, including Peterhouse:

Here is how to get from Drummer Street bus station to Peterhouse (you will need to change the settings to ‘walking’): View Larger Map

Here is how to get from the railway station to Peterhouse: View Larger Map

Here is a link for a map of Peterhouse: http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/welcome-peterhouse/map-college

Please note things will be too hectic for us to arrange tours during interviews – feel free to look around by yourselves but please don't wander off to your interviews by yourselves. It is important that the Porters can tick you off before EACH appointment and have a Peterhouse student show you to the right interview/prep/test room and explain what you need to do. If you have a long wait between interviews then you can go and sit in the JCR (Junior Combination Room) which has sofas, a TV and a free pool table. You can ask the Porters/student helpers for directions on how to get there, or use the map below to find it yourself.

Please post any questions by commenting here - it saves us replying to hundreds of the same questions by email. But, if your comment/query is not relevant to other candidates then please DO NOT post it on the blog, just email us directly at admissions@pet.cam.ac.uk. We will not post every comment (especially if we receive the same comment more than once or if we think it is only relevant to an individual) but we will do our best to answer all questions.

Thanks (and Good Luck!),

Kathy & Martin