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cambridge physical natural sciences interview content

i applied to physical natural sciences at clare college and am not sure what the interviews will consist of, should i be invited to interview. i take maths, further maths, physics and chemistry so i assume they could ask anything based on the topics i listed in my cambridge application.

but, what will the interviews actually be like? a physics one, then a chemistry one? a maths one? or does it vary?

and, what should i be doing to prepare for the interview? i've started doing isacc physics challenge questions for physics, chemistry and maths - is this good prep? i've also been looking back over my personal statement to make sure i can expand on the topics i wrote about, if they ask. one of my physics teachers got an interview for natsci and said she would try to run a (more informal) mock interview for me, alongside a chemistry teacher, though she applied around 10 years ago so i'm not sure if things have significantly changed. does anyone have any resources they'd recommend?

thank you so much in advance :biggrin:
(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 1

My friend applied for physical natsci last year with your same subjects, and he did lots of preparation by doing lots of extension questions relating around chemistry/physics/maths, i think he did use Isaac physics, but basically doing lots of extension questions above a-level and practising explaining this out loud (every step you do) while writing down the maths behind it.
His whole interview was just him answering questions so practise lots of questions with your thought process out loud.

Also i think you also specify what kind of questions you get for your interview like if it’s more focused on physics or what i think? (Not 100% sure you should check online)

Reply 2

Original post
by Mr.Hyde
My friend applied for physical natsci last year with your same subjects, and he did lots of preparation by doing lots of extension questions relating around chemistry/physics/maths, i think he did use Isaac physics, but basically doing lots of extension questions above a-level and practising explaining this out loud (every step you do) while writing down the maths behind it.
His whole interview was just him answering questions so practise lots of questions with your thought process out loud.
Also i think you also specify what kind of questions you get for your interview like if it’s more focused on physics or what i think? (Not 100% sure you should check online)

thank you so much, this is really helpful! i'll definitely work on doing my working out loud as that's something i'm not so used to

i actually wasn't asked by my college to specify between physics and chem for my interview (they already sent me a form about the practicalities of the interview and there was nowhere to choose which subject i want to be asked about) - maybe i'll contact them to ask what they expect

thank you again!

Reply 3

Original post
by ‎♡₊˚ ୨୧・₊✧
thank you so much, this is really helpful! i'll definitely work on doing my working out loud as that's something i'm not so used to
i actually wasn't asked by my college to specify between physics and chem for my interview (they already sent me a form about the practicalities of the interview and there was nowhere to choose which subject i want to be asked about) - maybe i'll contact them to ask what they expect
thank you again!

Best of luck!! Lmk how it goes :smile:))

Reply 4

Original post
by ‎♡₊˚ ୨୧・₊✧
thank you so much, this is really helpful! i'll definitely work on doing my working out loud as that's something i'm not so used to
i actually wasn't asked by my college to specify between physics and chem for my interview (they already sent me a form about the practicalities of the interview and there was nowhere to choose which subject i want to be asked about) - maybe i'll contact them to ask what they expect
thank you again!


I've applied for bioNatSci and I've been sent a form where I can choose between two topics that'll form a big part of the interview if I get one. Maybe you could get something similar, not sure if it was just the college I applied to

Reply 5

Original post
by MewTube288
I've applied for bioNatSci and I've been sent a form where I can choose between two topics that'll form a big part of the interview if I get one. Maybe you could get something similar, not sure if it was just the college I applied to

i got a form asking about practical arrangements but nothing about topics - i'll wait and see if they send anything else. and good luck with your application :smile:

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