English Literature Interview - Wish I'd Known (Expert Oxford & Cambridge Application Advice)
The English interview normally involves two interviews, although the exact number will depend on your college. One interview will discuss your personal statement and the books you’ve studied at sixth form, as well as your ideas about the subject, your reading philosophies, and any other questions your interviewers might have. Some of the questions may surprise you - in the past, interviewees have been asked everything from what they think the purpose of children’s literature is, to whether poetry has a purpose. Be prepared to draw upon your learning and knowledge as a whole - if something you studied in another of your subjects seems relevant, then mention it.
The second interview will give you an unseen piece of literature and give you a few minutes to collect your thoughts before you discuss the piece with your interviewer, and you will normally be allowed to make notes or write a quick, speech-style commentary to supplement your discussion.
On the whole, the interviewers are more interested in your ability to discuss your ideas and respond to counter-arguments and criticism than they are in you having read every single book in the canon.
By all means read widely, but do not be put off by the person you meet on interview day who tells you that they’ve already read the entire work of Chaucer. Your interviewers want you to have a broad understanding of English literature, but they also want you to have an in-depth understanding of the books that interest you the most (the ones in your Personal statement, hopefully, and beyond).
Have a few backup books (one or two) alongside the works you’ve already put down in your personal statement and the works you’ve studied at sixth form.
Don’t feel like you have to have read the entirety of Ulysses to score points - read whatever excites you and drives your passion for this subject.
It might help to think about the books that made you want to study English - it’s important to connect with the joy you have for your subject, something which can be lost in the anxiety of interview preparation.
Remember to give yourself time to respond and formulate your answer, and don’t stick rigidly to a point if your interviewer challenges you - instead, think about their criticism, take it into account, and find a way to respond to it. There is a fine line between defending your point and stubbornly refusing to admit that you might be wrong - make sure you’re open to other arguments and ideas. Your interviewer isn’t expecting a perfectly crafted answer, or even a totally correct answer, but they want to see you exercise your critical faculties and see how you respond to challenges.
Be honest, and never, ever pretend to have read something you haven’t. Whether it’s mentioning a book in your Personal statement which you never finished or didn’t quite understand, or mid-interview automatically nodding that yes, you have read the entire works of Joyce, it’s far better to be honest when you don’t know something. Part of learning is acknowledging that there’s so much you don’t know, and being direct and honest is very important - the only truly wrong thing you can do at interview is being caught out in a lie.
The English interview is, essentially, a couple of hours in which you’re allowed to discuss the entire body of English literature with leading experts in the field. That may sound daunting, but it’s also a very exciting opportunity - don’t lose sight of your enjoyment, curiosity, and passion for reading and talking about books.
Let us know if you have any questions about this article or anything related to applying for English.
This article was written by Izzy (Cambridge - English)
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Author: Izzy - Cambridge
BA English
With previous experience in coaching Oxbridge applicants in sessions at my old school, my aim is to help students through their application with sound advice, personal feedback, and helpful guidance.
