Oxford Interviews Q & A

[@SimonClark]

Two things 1) There is very little correlation between how well you think the interview went and how it actually went! Unless something got set on fire, you don't know how it went so there is no point stressing about it. 2) Not being interviewed at another college is not necessarily a bad thing - it could be a good thing, as it indicates that your college wants to hang on to you! Basically, you can't change anything by worrying so try not to think about it too much :) (easier said than done...)

[@SimonClark]

You can approach it from both ways - you can take the theoretical physics major option in the physics course, or take multiple modules in the maths course.

[@SimonClark]

It affects us all! Trust me, I've been struggling with it a fair bit this term, as have many of my friends. I think the best way to overcome it is to find a reason to push yourself - in my case once I had decided that I wanted to do a PhD I knew I wanted to get a 1st, and that motivated me a lot. Use the fact that you want to apply to Oxbridge as the incentive to do well - watch films like The History Boys or anything set in Oxford, research which college you want to apply to... Set your target!

[@SimonClark]

I practised by doing lots of senior maths challenge papers - they are very similar in format to the PAT and make you think in the same way. Ask your school if they keep old papers, and practise, practise, practise! Also there is a physics olympiad, but papers are more difficult to come across.

[@SimonClark]

There's some advice on the oxford physics website (study here - undergraduate - FAQs - PAT) but my personal advice would be to use senior maths challenge papers as revision - the question styles are very similar and there's plenty of them available!

[@SimonClark]

Well done! That's a good start, also if you can find any old questions try to get to get used to the style. Best of luck :)

[@mattt21]

Hi. I just got my rejection letter from cambridge today. I'm still in the bitter and achey phase about it all but I'm sure I'll recover. It's just hard to comprehend that I've failed my most major goal to date. However, thanks you for providing the transparency and advice you have. I've really enjoyed these videos and hope you continue to make them because I'm not hitting the unsubscribe button :)

[@angieminni6898]

Matt D L

[@cameronmckee8243]

7 years later would you say you're glad you got rejected or is it still a regret of yours?

[@SimonClark]

Unfortunately a common problem, and unfortunately there's not much that can be done about it. The interviewers will be looking for substance rather than style though, so if you are good at the material then the best that you can do is to try and stay calm in your interviews and be as clear and concise as possible. This is where mock interviews come in very useful, as does experience of public speaking. Best of luck :)

[@SimonClark]

Not for psychology and linguistics I'm afraid! Have you tried thestudentroom? That seems to have everything!

[@SimonClark]

I didn't do Chemistry A-level, and neither did a load of people that I know, so it can't be that much of a disadvantage to not do it! If you have the chance to do so though, I probably would though (unless there's another subject that you're really passionate about)

[@SimonClark]

As long as you get the grades (and ideally some mock interviews) you should go where will make you happy!

[@SimonClark]

There are now plenty of past papers available on the physics website if you would like to practise something closer to the real thing!

[@SimonClark]

As far as I know the department doesn't allow solutions to be distributed - they are more concerned with how you tackle the problem rather than necessarily getting it right.

[@krishmistry]

Very Helpful Video! I have my physics interview on Wednesday, I now have the correct mind set to go into the interview, that is, be yourself :) Might see you there as well...:P

[@whitenbald]

hopefully i'll get into oxford! I just got my first AS exam results back and i got all high As :D

[@SimonClark]

Yes and no. In the words of one of my tutors 'we don't care about finding out what you don't know - that would be too easy'. The tutors are more interested in the way you tackle problems than in the answer you get at the end. That said, it would obviously be better to get the questions right!

[@2718rob]

What would your advice be in preparing for the pat test? As all the advice I have had so far is "have a mars bar before you go in" and expect it to be hard.

[@SimonClark]

Oh yes! Basically three years of maths training before you take the masters option in theoretical physics - to be fair, as a subject it is basically maths with some physical applications!

[@casoandmaz]

Useful video!! thanks! I have been invited for an interview for Engineering Science...Do you have any advice to give me? Should I just revise the syllabus and make sure I am confident with everything in my PS?

[@Dannnytrules]

Can you please talk about the Physics Aptitude Test.

[@ollyprice543]

Physics Olympic tests or something like that is suggested by Oxford themselves.

[@michaelh13]

Will I be at an extreme disadvantage if I don't do chemistry for physics, as I hear it behooves you to have it at A-level?

[@mrnosy1]

What do you recommend for practicing the maths part of the PAT? The senior maths challenge papers I found to be quite different from the maths questions they ask in the PAT...

[@SimonClark]

Um, about 70% I think? Though the average mark varies wildly every year, so it's not a very useful comparison! I was in the top 50%, that's all I know for sure.

[@kc9performance]

Using this advice for my sixth form interviews which will be based on physics :) Cheers Simon

[@MacbookCore]

does it matter what college you go to because i am debating if i should go to peter symonds or i should go to qmc because i want to go to oxford.

[@fetrixkolozki29]

Hi Simon, what happens if you get the questions wrong? would that be detrimental to your admission?

[@adamdeane100]

is there a lot of maths in the physics course in oxford for theoretical physics? :)

[@ramansb1213]

What did you get on your PAT test, if you did it?

[@mrnosy1]

Do you have to take maths at undergrad in order to do theoretical physics?? Or can you still do theoretical physics by taking physics?

[@whitenbald]

How did you do in the PAT?

[@namnguyencong9299]

Hi, I am a student from canada, applying for Psychology and Linguistics. Do you know any source past-papers, sothat I can practise more. I am now in the 50-range. I want to get at least 60!

[@themusiclover1812]

What is a practical workbook?

[@emmamalmberg6120]

Is it easier for britains to get into Oxford than other people (like me) who is from Sweden?

[@nic_a_bic6780]

Emma Malmberg hi I am an Irish student applying to oxford. I have not been accepted or rejected yet, however, I did a lot of research and oxford is one of the most diverse by nationality with around 17 percent international students outside of the uk

[@abdimuhammed7867]

Hey Simon. Thanks for this, it is really helpful. I have always wanted to study in Oxford. I am very passionate of Medicine and really like to study it. But I have ADHD and I am not entirely sure how will that affect my application, I am doing great in my high school and getting really high grades. Should I hide my disability or bring it up and use it as an opportunity to get admitted because my grades are really great at least at the moment! Would like to know your thought. Thanks :)

[@nateraj2371]

superb video!!!!

[@AlchemistOfNirnroot]

Do they ever ask maths question for physics courses?

[@SimonClark]

+AlchemistOfNirnroot Yeah - you might want to check out my videos on my interview questions!

[@helenh5342]

Hi this is really helpful thank you. If you want to study history at Oxford, would it look bad on your GCSEs if you did combined sciences rather n each science separately in order to make room for Greek? Thank you for the video!

[@AirbusA380rox]

no

[@SimonClark]

Not at all! Your science GCSEs, grades aside, will make very little difference to a history application :)

[@helenh5342]

Thanks :)

[@zeee.s6674]

Hi Simon, I must say, I am an avid viewer. I have an interview for Human Sciences at HMC, and I am crapping myself. Do the tutors give indications that they like your answer or you're in the right track, vice-versa?

[@SimonClark]

I think you will do to watch Daniel's video on Oxvlog - MT8 - Interviews (specifically Human Sciences) !

[@zeee.s6674]

I've watched it already. I'm just gathering a more general advice. : ) thank you still! : )

[@shenseanchen]

We didn't read them!!!

[@leekai8521]

Hey,this is really useful thx! And about that video on medicine which has your friend in it, what is the title of the video? I'm rather interested in it!

[@SimonClark]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnTFeGWki7V4pJI

[@leekai8521]

SimonOxfPhys Thank you so much :) !

[@mrnosy1]

Awesome, thanks a lot :D

[@Dannnytrules]

LAD! :)