Oxbridge Classics Interview Pack
Don’t know what to expect for your Oxbridge Classics Interviews?
Interviews can seem daunting and hard to prepare for as you never quite know what to expect. However, they are extremely important: some candidates are successful based on interview performance alone.
This is an essential guide, prepared by U2's Classics tutors, all of whom graduated from the Oxford or Cambridge course. We walk you through how to prepare to ensure you stand out and increase your chances of success, as well as a number of tips on how to present yourself and communicate during the interview itself.
Core components of U2 Tuition's Classics guide:
The first section of our 23-page guide is dedicated to showing you how to build evidence of wider subject exploration to convey your passion and motivation for the subject. Our Classics graduates lead you through what to read (primary and secondary material), and how to cite key texts, or online resources e.g. podcasts, to justify your reasoning in answer to interview questions. Each book / resource recommendation comes with a thinking task - an interview question that responds directly to the text’s content. Note: ideally, this process should start at least a few months before you interviews take place so you have time to explore enough resources / material!
How to prepare for personal-statement based interview questions
What to expect in your academic interviews, including accounts from numerous successful Classics candidates. Each account will provide insight into the interview process, the precise questions they were asked, and preparation tips for tackling the different formats of interview (e.g. personal statement / general interviews, literature interview and combined history and philosophy interviews/ those designed to test your academic potential in three of the four major Classics disciplines)
4 longer worked through interview questions. These include clues for answering the questions and further suggested readings on the topic at hand
40 additional past interview questions including questions on Classics’ relevance now, Roman and Greek literature and history, Philosophy and Art & Archaeology
Final tips for success at interview
Looking for Oxbridge Classics mentoring to further direct your independent preparation?
Having a Classics tutor can present an invaluable learning opportunity - U2 has a wonderful network of Classics undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates, who would be delighted to host tutorial sessions giving you exposure to some of the key topic areas within the discipline, support personal statement writing, CAT test and interview preparation. Book a free consultation on our Contact Us page for further details on our offerings and to discuss your university application.