Yu Suhua, a China student in the Department of Mathematics at pembroke College of Oxford University, still remembers the three-day interview at Oxford University three years ago.
There are two or three rounds of interviews in Oxford. Generally speaking, if the applicant performs well in the first two rounds, Oxford will admit you. If the applicant does not perform well in the first two rounds, there is no need for a third round of interview.
Mathematics, computer and other science subjects will be given a written test similar to the make-up exam on the first day, and the scores will be counted in the afternoon. Only students who pass a certain score can hope to be finally admitted.
The next day's interview was basically conducted according to the scores. If the applicant scores high, the examiner will ask relatively difficult questions.
Su Hua said that when he was interviewed by pembroke College, pembroke College was the first voluntary college, and he could choose the question range. The examiner asked him what he was most interested in mathematics, and he chose geometry because he felt he had an advantage in geometry. The examiner will ask the applicant three or four questions within the geometric range.
However, the interview scope of the second choice is not your choice, but the direction of three or four questions decided by the examiner.
Su Hua said that the first question is a relatively basic warm-up problem. If you can't answer the first question, there is basically no hope. The second question is relatively difficult. He thinks it is roughly equivalent to the level of senior three courses in China. But the third question is difficult.
Su Hua's third question has four or five short questions. He can answer the first few questions himself, but he can't answer the third and fourth questions.
At this time, the examiner will come to help, and Su Hua was deeply impressed by this: the examiner asked how to put the glass ball in a cylindrical container and how to maximize it. Because the gaps between the glass balls are irregular, it is difficult to answer. At this time, the examiner gave a hint and drew a picture for Su Hua to see how to place the balls. Su Hua said that at this stage of the interview, it is mainly to examine the responsiveness of the candidates and their teachability.