You’d practise extensively for an exam, so it seems counterintuitive to not do so for the most important part of the Oxbridge application process; your interview. The five questions below are chosen and explained by real interviewers at Oxford colleges. Oxbridge interview questions range from the generic “Why do you want to study blah?” and “What's your greatest weakness?” ( more on these here ) … Is it possible to live a nor… Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites, if I could pass any piece of legislation through parliament, what would it be? Let us know if you have any questions about this article or anything related to Philosophy at Oxbridge at all. This website holds a collection of past interview questions for students who have applied to Oxford University or Cambridge University (Oxbridge). The aim is to provide a free resource to help prospective students get a flavour of the sorts of questions that they might get asked. Either way, it is likely to be a memorable experience. It could also be used a resource for teachers to give practise interviews to prospective students. Zain focuses on three difficult problems with Isaac, testing his understanding of Game Theory. This doesn’t mean to change your opinion whenever they something new; just don’t be afraid of letting the tutors know if your opinion does actually change. – Is it easier for organisms to live in the sea or on land? You can do this by providing useful insights when asked complex Philosophical questions; their questions will be nuanced and will not lend themselves to yes/no answers. I couldn’t answer it, and they only seemed to have that one question, so I just sat there for 20 minutes looking blank and vacant. Do you think you’re clever? Alternatively, book support now with Kes, using the form below. Skip to content … 4. Why did you choose this university? On this note, it's important to have your own opinions; they will explicitly ask you for them. This is definitely easier said than done – … The University of Oxford interview process is often perceived as a way to catch prospective students out, but this isn't actually the case. Be it with friends, teachers or professionals it is very important to practise. 2. Five examples of Oxford University interview questions. – Here’s a cactus. Zain focuses on three difficult problems with Isaac, testing his understanding of Game Theory. Interviewer: An argument is valid if it’s impossible for the premises to be true and … I found this interview difficult and it was mainly about thinking … - philosophy, (Cambridge, Oxbridge. Philosophy Cambridge Questions: CIQ has over 1000 practice interview questions to help you prepare for your Philosophu interview at Cambridge University. Can you impress the University of Oxford scholars? * Considering that the 2020 thread is one year old now and that rejections from colleges have started coming in, … why do you think grandparents feel the need to academically surpass their, Oxford & Cambridge (Oxbridge) Interview Questions, Is the chair really there? Instead the aim of the interview is to determine how students approach questions in their chosen field of … Doxa Group Limited is a company registered in England and Wales (Company Number: 11366452), About - FAQs - Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy, Woj, Oxford, Cambridge, Oxbridge, Application, Oxbridge Application, Personal Statement, English, Geography, History, PPE, Philosophy, Human Sciences, HSPS, Economics, Economics and Management, E&M, Politics Philosophy and Economics, Languages, Psychology, PPL, Oxford & Cambridge, Kes, Oxford, Cambridge, Oxbridge, Application, Oxbridge Application, Personal Statement, Philosophy, Theology, Oxford & Cambridge, Philosophy & Theology, Acing the Cambridge Economics Admissions Assessment, How to write the PERFECT Oxbridge Personal Statement, Writing the PERFECT Classics Personal Statement, The Only Guide You'll Need to Become a Lawyer. Oxford University publishes sample interview questions as the application deadline for 2016 entry approaches. You may begin with a generic 'ice-breaker' question, designed to put you at your ease after the challenge of the logic puzzle. Valid arguments. The questions are perceived to be tough as they won’t always have a right or wrong answer. 6. Notes on interview format More resources Three questions o Sample solutions o Hints and prompts Introduction This pack is intended to provide the resources needed for a teacher to run a mock interview for a student who has applied for Physics at Oxford. how do we know if 1 + 1 = 2 if the concept of numbers was in fact 'invented' by humans? If so, do we have free will? *OXFORD OFFICIAL 2021 APPLICANTS THREAD! Let us know if you have any questions about this article or anything related to Philosophy at Oxbridge at all. Of course, I was convinced I wouldn’t get in, but I was wrong. Others will be interested in the literature you have mentioned and may well grill you on your insight and understanding. The interview itself is a great way for not only the tutors to determine whether you are suited to Oxbridge, but for you to also make the same judgement. ', 'Why PPE? Discussion may well lead into areas which could crop up during a degree in philosophy, including questions in ethics, the philosophy of mind and of language. This article was written by Kes (Oxford - PPE). But after you've looked there, read on to hear some students talk about their Philosophy, Politics and Economics interviews. ', etc. This combined with arrogance is a sure fire way to ensure you fail at interview. Where does your self-worth come from? The interviewers want to see how you think and aim to test your critical thinking skills. The aim is to provide a free resource to help prospective students get a flavour of the sorts of questions that they might get asked. Initially I was interested in questions to do with ethics and morality, and also the philosophy of religion, but I also discovered that physics and philosophy was a course at Oxford and so started to try to find out what that was all about and read a bit about the philosophy of science. In my mentoring, I like to focus on building critical thinking and communication skills, which are fundamental to both PPE. Most of us will never interview for a place at the prestigious universities of Oxford or Cambridge, but that’s not to say you can’t ponder how you’d get on. Tutors are looking for someone they will be able to spend a lot of time with, as the Oxbridge system of teaching operates this way. Taking time to think through questions properly, constructing your own opinions, then vocalising and defending those opinions takes practice to do well like any other area of life. This website holds a collection of past interview questions for students who have applied to Oxford University or Cambridge University (Oxbridge). 10. Once the logic puzzle has been dealt with, the remainder of your Oxford PPE interview questions can typically be divided into three types. Your Philosophy interview is likely to be mentally stimulating, intellectually challenging and often at times downright mind-boggling. It could also be used a resource for teachers to give practise interviews to prospective students. 6 wonderful Oxford interview questions. Practice constructing your philosophical thoughts clearly. If you don't know something say you don't know; they will not mind. In the first year, the course is roughly half formal logic (an important tool for much of philosophy), one quarter general topics in philosophy (such as knowledge, scepticism, and the mind-body problem) and one quarter philosophy of physics (mostly questions about the nature of space and time). If so, what is it? If you read it a while ago, recap it. It’s not just your particular subject that admissions tutors want … The assumption is that you are a physics teacher, Real Oxbridge Interview Questions Remembered by Successful Candidates The best way to prepare for any interview is to anticipate the questions you'll be asked. (Oxbridge Applications), Is it moral to hook up a psychopath (whose only pleasure is killing) to a reality-simulating machine so that he can believe he is in the real world and kill as much as he likes? (molivam42's weblog), If you were to form a government of philosophers what selection process would you use? This website holds a collection of past interview questions for students who have applied to Oxford University or Cambridge University (Oxbridge). In my experience, the best way to build these skills is through understanding argument structure and then applying it to different scenarios. What a way to start. What aspects of philosophy are covered by the course? Like any standard interview, your Oxbridge interview may kick-off with an utterly predictable 'ice-breaker' question intended to put you at your ease. The first interview I had was a philosophy interview in which I was given a set of syllogisms and asked to talk them through and work out whether they made sense logically and work out any logical fallacies. This type of interview is referred to as structured because it follows a step-by-step process that focuses on the required education, skills and traits for the job. The aim is to provide a free resource to help prospective students get a flavour of the sorts of questions that they might get asked. This article was written by Kes (Oxford - PPE). If the tutors open your eyes to a set of new information which fundamentally changes the argument and your opinion, do not be afraid to change your mind. ... Having been a student myself at both Oxford and Cambridge, and also a part-time philosophy tutor at Oxford, I understand well the special demands of applying to study philosophy at Oxbridge. Is free will real or just an illusion? Try to enjoy your interview; you get to speak to world-experts on a subject you’re really interested in and intellectually stimulated by. ; though there may be more testing variants on this theme, such as 'Why … The Philosophy Test, for Philosophy and Theology candidates, is a test of philosophical reasoning skills. 1. 1. – Why do lions have manes? Alternatively, book support now with Kes, using the form below. Interview guide The Interview Process . Example Oxbridge Interview Questions. Some tutors will ask one or two questions about them to get the interview going, or potentially none at all. If you do hate it, then Oxbridge may not be right for you, given that the tutorial/supervision system (which the interview a simulation of) is the main way in which you learn there. Do not go to the interview without being familiar with the books you have previously mentioned. Like any standard interview, your Oxbridge interview may kick-off with an utterly predictable 'ice-breaker' question intended to put you at your ease. Generally speaking, Oxford or Cambridge interview questions typically break down into four broad kinds. Give the questions a go. If you would like some practice Oxford PPE interviews with an experienced Oxford philosophy tutor, by all means email me: Oxford PPE Interview Questions Many Oxford colleges now begin PPE interviews with questions concerning a logic puzzle, or thought-experiment, that you will have been given shortly before the interview. The first interview I had was a philosophy interview in which I was given a set of syllogisms and asked to talk them through and work out whether they made sense logically and work out any logical fallacies. Do you believe in fairies at the end of the garden? Congratulations to Jessie Munton for winning the 2020 Sanders Prize in the Philosophy of Mind, for her essay "Prejudice as the Misattribution of Salience" Nov 30, 2020 Applications are invited for two permanent University Lectureships The questions have been released ahead of the deadline day for students to apply to study at Oxford University next year (15 October). Don’t panic beforehand and remember that you are assessing whether you fit into the environment as well as the tutors assessing you. This interview is not a knowledge test; it is a test of your ability to think critically under pressure. In a valiant attempt to demystify the notorious University of Oxford interview, the top-ranking institution has released a set of sample questions on which prospective applicants – … We've collected past Oxbridge interview experiences from our vast network of tutors who are current Oxbridge students or Oxbridge graduates. Interview One: with Zain, who graduated in PPE from Oxford a year ago and now works at a major London strategy consultancy firm. Take time to think through what you want to say before saying it. 11. This is likely to only cloud your thoughts during the interview. Based on the information given during the application process, and the results of the MAT test, over half of our applicants are invited to come for an interview. What should be the goal of humanity? – Ladybirds are red. This is a perfect question for tricking the candidate into thinking that the Oxford interviews ... 2. If you find this content useful, please visit Kes' profile for further information on applying to Oxbridge. 1. The University of Oxford today releases sample interview questions from tutors who conduct Oxford interviews. The tutors may well do this on purpose to ensure that you are not disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing. The Philosophy Test is a paper-based test. Where is the line between art and not art? Alternatively, book support now with Kes, using the form below. 9. 3. If you find this content useful, please visit Kes' profile for further information on applying to Oxbridge. In addition, think creatively and avoid one-word answers. It is a 60-minute admissions test for applicants to the joint course of Philosophy and Theology at the University of Oxford. Is there a meaning to life? 8. Modern languages (French): What makes a novel or play ‘political’? The best place to start is Oxford's official information on preparing for interviews. What does it mean to live a good life? Whilst it's important to have your own opinions (and disagree with those of the tutors if you believe you have a legitimate reason for doing so) it is also important not to be cantankerous. It could also be used a resource for teachers to give practise interviews to prospective students. If you’re applying for the Oxford Maths and Philosophy degree, you’ll find that getting ready to prepare for an Oxbridge philosophy interview is a very different process to preparing for a maths interview – take a look at our guide to preparing for maths interviews to compare. It was still a bizarre interview. Interview One: with Zain, who graduated in PPE from Oxford a year ago and now works at a major London strategy consultancy firm. What tutors do mind are students who pretend to know when they don't. Tell me about it. 20 Philosophy Interview Questions on your Personal Statement. Why does Oxford interview? Why? Try to enjoy it; avoid panicking in advance of it or trying to cram information at the last moment. Thus, it is very important to engage well, in order to convince them that you are worth spending time with. 5. Does fate exist? – If you could save either the rainforests or the coral reefs, which would you choose? 7. So are strawberries. Initially I was interested in questions to do with ethics and morality, and also the philosophy of religion, but I also discovered that physics and philosophy was a course at Oxford and so started to try to find out what that was all about and read a bit about the philosophy of science. I found this interview difficult and it was mainly about thinking … If you mention literature in your personal statement, be familiar with it. How will humans as a species go extinct? Kick-Off with an utterly predictable 'ice-breaker ' question intended to put you your. Teachers or professionals it is a paper-based test chosen and explained by interviewers! 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