9 Top Tips for Acing Oxbridge STEM Interviews

1. Think Aloud — Show How You Work Through Problems

This is the single most important rule of any Oxbridge STEM interview. Tutors aren’t judging you solely on whether you get the right answer — they want to understand how you think and whether you’re teachable. Never sit in silence while working through a question. Instead, explain your reasoning aloud, outline your approach, talk through each step, and mention assumptions. Keep your working neat and listen to tutors’ prompts — they’re there to guide you, not catch you out. If you’re stuck, ask for a hint. What matters is how you respond, not whether you needed help.

2. Know Your Personal Statement Inside Out

Your personal statement is often the interviewer’s starting point. If you’ve mentioned books, experiments, or scientific concepts, expect to discuss them in greater depth. Your interviewers are likely experts in those areas. You should be able to explain key principles, connect ideas to your studies, and discuss what you found interesting. Don’t repeat what you’ve written — expand on it with insight and curiosity. You are unlikely to get a lot of questions on your personal statement, but whatever they do ask you need to be able to produce an excellent in-depth answer.

3. Expect to Move Quickly Beyond Your Personal Statement

After a short discussion, most tutors will move on to academic problem-solving — the real focus of Oxbridge interviews. You may be asked to derive formulas, analyse data, or solve new physics and maths problems. Don’t panic. They’re not testing recall; they’re testing reasoning. Be ready to think aloud, make logical educated guesses, and adapt to new information.

4. Get Your Setup Right — Strong Wi-Fi, Clear Audio, and Good Lighting

Many interviews are online, so ensure your setup is professional. Test your Wi-Fi and microphone, use a quiet, well-lit space with light in front of you, and position your camera at eye level. A clear, stable setup helps you appear confident and focused.

5. Fuel Your Brain — Eat Well and Stay Hydrated

Mental performance depends on physical wellbeing. Eat a balanced breakfast with slow-release energy, avoid excessive sugar or caffeine, and drink plenty of water. Keep a glass nearby during your interview — staying hydrated helps you think clearly and stay calm.

6. Communicate with Confidence — Smile, Speak Clearly, and Be Yourself

The interview is an academic conversation, not an interrogation. Speak clearly, structure your thoughts, and take brief pauses to think. Smile and show enthusiasm — tutors appreciate genuine curiosity. Avoid sounding robotic or rehearsed. Practice mock interviews to sound more natural and confident.

7. Remember — They Invited You Because They’re Interested in You

If you’ve been invited to interview, you’ve already impressed the tutors. They want to meet you because they believe you have potential. Try to reframe nerves as excitement. You’ve earned your place — show curiosity, resilience, and a love for your subject.

8. Practise Graph Drawing — It’s More Important Than You Think

Graph sketching is a favourite topic for Oxbridge STEM interviews. Be ready to sketch by hand, identify intercepts, gradients, and asymptotes, and explain what the shape means physically as well as mathematically. This shows conceptual depth and problem-solving ability.

9. Get a Tutor — and Practise with Mock Interviews

The best preparation is realistic practice. An experienced Oxbridge admissions tutor can challenge you with unfamiliar questions, provide feedback, and teach you strategies for structured reasoning and calm communication. At The Admissions Academy, all our tutors have been through the Oxbridge process themselves and know exactly how to help you perform at your best.

Conclusion: Preparation, Practice, and Poise

Succeeding in an Oxbridge STEM interview isn’t about perfection — it’s about showing how you think, communicate, and learn. The strongest candidates are those who think aloud, reason logically, communicate clearly, and show curiosity and resilience. Practice under realistic conditions and approach the process with genuine enthusiasm. At The Admissions Academy, we specialise in helping students master these skills through mock interviews, expert feedback, and personalised coaching. With the right preparation, you can walk into your interview confident, composed, and ready to impress. Visit The Admissions Academy to connect with an experienced tutor and start your personalised mock interview programme today.