1. How we select our students
Dr Sam Lucy
Admissions Tutor
Newnham College

2. What we are looking for Serious interest in their chosen subject
Strong record in examinations
Independent learning ability, motivation and organisation
Very positive school/college reference
Vocational commitment (where appropriate)
The potential to succeed at the highest academic level, i.e. secure knowledge, critical and analytical ability, curiosity, determination and intellectual flexibility

3. The Courses: Arts Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS)
Land Economy
Law
Linguistics
Management Studies
Modern & Medieval Languages
Music
Philosophy
Theology & Religious Studies
Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic
Architecture
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Classics
Economics
Education
English
Geography
History
History of Art

4. The Courses: Sciences Chemical Engineering Computer Science
Manufacturing Engineering
Mathematics
Medicine
Natural Sciences
Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS)
Veterinary Medicine

5. Information used in selection
Academic record (GCSEs, AS levels and A levels)
School or college reference
Personal statement
Submitted work, where requested
Test results (e.g. BMAT, TSA), where tests form part of our assessment
Performance at interview

6. Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)
Completed online
Used to collect information not on the UCAS application, including:
Topics covered in AS/A level courses
Optional Cambridge-specific personal statement
UMS marks
Admission test registration numbers (if applicable)
Ensures consistent information about all our applicants

7. Admissions tests BMAT for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Cambridge Law Test
College tests
STEP for Mathematics – taken at the same time as A Levels
Different for Oxford (BMAT, LNAT, ELAT…)

8. How do your students measure up?
Profile of a statistically ‘middling’ Cambridge applicant:
GCSE: ~ 4-8 A*s
AS: ~ 87-93% across three most relevant, or best, subjects
Profile of a typical successful applicant, whose education has not been significantly disadvantaged or disrupted:
GCSE: A* in most subjects
AS: ~ 92-97%, including one or two rather lower scores, and perhaps a lower overall grade in a non-relevant fourth or fifth subject
These are not minimal requirements! Each candidate is assessed individually

9. 2009 Engineering applicants

10. 2009 successful Engineering applicants

11. Interviews
Cambridge interviews ca % of applicants. Oxford use aptitude tests for pre-selection before interview.
Between one and three interviews at a college, each lasting minutes, with one or two interviewers
Conducted by academic staff
Academic and subject-focused
Invitation to interview based on academic record

12. What are we looking for at interview?
Genuine passion for the subject
Appropriateness of the course
Enthusiasm for complex and challenging ideas
Clarity of thought and analytical ability
Intellectual flexibility
Vocational or professional commitment (where appropriate)

13. How to prepare your students for interview
Encourage them to read around, and then read some more
Get them used to talking about their chosen subject with enthusiasm
Get them used to talking to unfamiliar adults
Encourage them to revise what they already know
Encourage them to discuss things they don’t know
Don’t believe the myths
Warn them against paying for any training or advice

14. Typical pitfalls at interview
Candidates have done insufficient revision/homework on:
The Cambridge course
Recent school/college work
Submitted essays (where applicable)
They cannot back up what they wrote in their UCAS personal statement
They have not read anything, or they haven’t read it analytically or critically
They try to ‘perform’ or second-guess what is going on

15. Supporting the disappointed
Last year ~ 5400 unsuccessful Cambridge applicants went on to achieve three or more A grades at A level
We could happily take many more of our applicants were places available
Competition is very tough and our decisions are enormously difficult
The ‘Pool’
Feedback
Re-application