MLAT/Modern Languages Applicants 2023 Discussion

Hey linguists!

Thought I'd make a thread for discussing the 2022 MLAT/Modern Languages applications, as there doesn't seem to be one for this year.

Language combination (sole/joint school):
Chosen college:
Favourite MFL novel:


How does everyone feel about the MLAT? How are you preparing - it's only a few days away now (No sharing of test material/interview questions as per TSR and Oxford rules)

Language combination: German sole
Chosen college: Exeter
Favourite MFL novel: Das Parfummmmm😍
Omg I can’t believe MLAT is in less than a week. Does anyone know what scores we should be aiming for? Also how do you calculate the single digit score as the raw mark is out of 100?

Language combination: German sole
Chosen college: Exeter
Favourite MFL novel: Das Parfummmmm😍
Omg I can’t believe MLAT is in less than a week. Does anyone know what scores we should be aiming for? Also how do you calculate the single digit score as the raw mark is out of 100?

hang on - this is same degree and same college my son did.

Good luck!

Even half marks on this test may well get you an interview. Make sure you know your grammar as the sentences from English to German revolve around certain grammar points. If you are well read in German, this should make the German to English sentences easier.

Haha yes! Your son’s Oxford demystified post has really helped with my application prep and given me a better idea of what to expect in the interview, and possibly even subconsciously influenced my college choice🤭 (don’t get me wrong, I love Exeter for a variety of reasons, but my attention was first drawn to it from reading about his experience) Do you think it would be possible to dm me his email address or whatever social media he uses, so I could ask him a few additional questions regarding the written work and the interview? If he isn’t willing it’s no problem either. Thank you so much!

My daughter is reading German at New College ( along with Philosophy). She too benefited enormously from OM's son's chapter! Good luck.

Does anyone know whether on the test day we are given both a language (Spanish in my case) section and the LAT section at the beginning of the test (so we have 1 hour total with both sections available at the same time) or if the test centre gives you the Spanish language section for 30 mins, then takes it away and gives the LAT paper for 30 mins?
It's just that I can only just about finish both if I manage my own time and devote more minutes to the LAT section (by finishing the Spanish section quickly!).

Haha yes! Your son’s Oxford demystified post has really helped with my application prep and given me a better idea of what to expect in the interview, and possibly even subconsciously influenced my college choice🤭 (don’t get me wrong, I love Exeter for a variety of reasons, but my attention was first drawn to it from reading about his experience) Do you think it would be possible to dm me his email address or whatever social media he uses, so I could ask him a few additional questions regarding the written work and the interview? If he isn’t willing it’s no problem either. Thank you so much!

Thank you! There are actually very few blogs/ videos on applying to Oxbridge for modern languages compared with other more popular courses. Oxford mum’s son’s chapter has got to be the broadest yet most detailed one, covering almost all aspects. Again a tremendous thank you to him!

Pretty sure it all comes in one paper - and you pick the ones you need - probably down to how strict your invigilation is(!)

Sorry I can’t do that as he is not interested in the student room. However if you want to ask more questions I may be able to answer them

No problem! I was wondering how many words I should aim for in my written work in German, and what kind of topics I should be choosing, as it is all very vague on the webpage. In school our German essays are usually quite short, not surpassing 400 words, so my teachers suggested me to write up a new one on a topic of my choice. Thanks.

Does anyone know whether on the test day we are given both a language (Spanish in my case) section and the LAT section at the beginning of the test (so we have 1 hour total with both sections available at the same time) or if the test centre gives you the Spanish language section for 30 mins, then takes it away and gives the LAT paper for 30 mins?
It's just that I can only just about finish both if I manage my own time and devote more minutes to the LAT section (by finishing the Spanish section quickly!).

I know this may not be the right forum to ask on, but is anyone else not able to access the main forum atm? I'm getting notifactions and everything, and can access others obviously, but it just comes up as 'invalid' and does even appear on the main page.

I know this may not be the right forum to ask on, but is anyone else not able to access the main forum atm? I'm getting notifactions and everything, and can access others obviously, but it just comes up as 'invalid' and does even appear on the main page.

I’m not a languages student but I’ve been having the same problem and have been looking to see if anyone else has.