Oxbridge Mathematics Interview Preparation Guide

Don’t know what to expect in your Oxbridge Maths 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 Mathematics tutors, all of whom graduated from either Oxford or Cambridge. 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. (N.B. this guide will also be applicable if you receive an invitation to interview at any of the Top UK Russell Group Universities)

Core components of U2 Tuition's Mathematics guide:

• The first section of the our 25-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 Maths graduates lead you through what to read / explore (primary and secondary material), and how to utilise online resources available.

• Each resource recommendation comes with a thinking task. 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: your personal statement may be used as a springboard for discussion in at least one of your interviews!

• What to expect in your academic interviews, including accounts from numerous successful Mathematics candidates. Each account will provide insight into the interview process, the topics / questions they were asked

• Preparation tips and core concepts to understand. In Maths these include:

  • Techniques for proving statements

  • Complex numbers and manipulating equations

  • Probability

  • Basic combinatorics

  • Graph sketching

  • Basic proofs and well known facts

  • Geometry

  • Trigonometry

• Longer worked through interview questions (four in-depth questions with multiple sub-parts). These include clues for answering the questions and further suggested readings on the topic at hand.

• Additional past interview questions: 44 further questions including problem solving and abstract questions (N.B these are the most common types of question asked at Oxbridge interview!)

• Final tips for success at interview

Looking for a Maths tutor to further direct your independent preparation?

Having a Maths tutor can present an invaluable learning opportunity - U2 has a wonderful network of Mathematics 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, admissions 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.