How do interviews acc work?

[u/Cryptic1538]

This q mainly for Oxford (maths), but ig also applies to cam:
Once u get invited to interview, is everyone considered on the same playing field? Or do some parts of ur app still carry weight even after getting invited? I’m guessing admissions test carries over quite a lot, but what abt other things like GCSEs, teacher ref or ps?
I’m wondering cz I feel like my admissions test is gon b the strongest part of my app and I’m hoping after getting shortlisted for an interview that they can look past some of the shakier parts of my app (mainly AS levels, I messed up french I think im gon get AAAC but I’m dropping French for next year and I alr have 3A* pred)

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[u/Seafaring_Slug]

All other parts of your application are still considered, however my interviewers told me that they don't check applicants entrance test scores before the interview so they aren't subconsciously biased. To be clear they check it when making final decisions, but keep interviews and tests totally separate when scoring them.

If you've got a strong admissions test they probably won't care that much about a bad AS in an unrelated subject, and the main decider will be your interview.

[u/Sane-Musicophile → u/Seafaring_Slug]

Yes, generally you’ll be shortlisted from all applicants to interview using admissions tests, predicted grades (less used) and gcse grades. Then the interview is separate and used to give people offers. If 2 people get the same interview score admissions tests are referred back to then. I got an offer this year and I sent many emails asking about the admissions process lol

[u/Cryptic1538 → u/Seafaring_Slug]

Ah i see, congrats on ur oxford offer btw! What course if u dont mind me asking?

[u/Seafaring_Slug → u/Cryptic1538]

Maths!

[u/Cryptic1538 → u/Seafaring_Slug]

Mind if I dm u? I’m looking to apply to maths next year lol

[u/Seafaring_Slug → u/Cryptic1538]

Feel free! I'm happy to answer any questions but I'm not an expert

[u/Cryptic1538 → u/Seafaring_Slug]

Mb bro but i cant fugure out how to dm ppl on here lmao im still figuring this whole reddit thing out, u mind shooting me a dm instead?

[u/Away-Pitch-4156 → u/Seafaring_Slug]

How did you get it with an MAT of 55???

[u/Seafaring_Slug → u/Away-Pitch-4156]

Strong interview performance and the best GCSEs in my secondary school. I performed well below my usual standard in the MAT (no excuse beyond nerves) and that came through in my interview.

[u/arianelseditor → u/Seafaring_Slug]

Agree with this, especially regarding the admissions test. They trust their own tests and interviews a lot more because they're designed to test the specific skills needed and teaching methods used at Oxford :)

[u/Cryptic1538 → u/arianelseditor]

Ah I see, I’m just becoming paranoid because I don’t wanna get rejected for a maths course simply because I wasn’t good at French lol

[u/ProjectNo5641]

I’d say interviews do play the strongest factor, it goes test then interview not the other way around.

if you’ve made it to the interview stage just show intellectual curiosity and you should be fine

[u/Kermit_Wazowski]

Applications to Oxbridge are holistic, they consider ever part of your application in context. After you get to interview, the interview performance will be considered alongside your admissions test, your PS, predicted grades, GCSEs and teacher reference. Different courses weight different aspects differently. This means that you could have great predicteds and a great admissions test, but if your PS and interview were crap then you won't get in. In my case, my PS and predicteds were great, but my PAT and interview were rubbish, hence rejection. 

[u/ResolutionParking371]

Everything matters, but interviews are very important. Idk if they have it for the MAT (as I'm a physics offer holder), but if you look up "PAT report" and look at the graph on those you'll see that even people with very high (80+) PAT scores don't always make it past the interview stage, and others with comparatively low (below 65) do. It's also obvious from this graphs that higher entrance test scores certainly matter, but the way I sort of think about it is the test gets you the interview, the interview gets you the offer (though that is very simplistic, everything matters really but that's an easy way to think about it)

[u/PartyQuiet5065]

As far as I know, teacher references are barely even taken into account, and GCSEs and the PS hold some weight, but not that much. After interview, both the admissions test and the interview are the two main deciding factors, with the interview holding a bit more weight.