Prepare Yourself

This page tells you how to prepare yourself to become a better candidate for a place at Oxford
You can find information about the admissions procedure on our “Study at Oxford” page. You can also access information on this and other topics on our links page.

Important!

Please note the that the information given here is for people who want to go to Oxford as an undergraduate, to do their first degree. Those who already have a university degree of some sort and would like to do further study at Oxford should look at the appropriate section of the University web-site.
Teachers who would like to help their pupils pepare for Oxford entrance should find this information useful. More detailed information and support is available: please contact our Committee for additional information.

What to do to become a better candidate

Study hard

Work to make sure that the actual marks you get in your school-leaving exam are above the minimum required for Oxford — see the table on the Oxford Admissions web-site to find out what marks you need.
Remember that you may need higher marks in the subject(s) you want to study than what is needed for your overall mark.
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Practise your English

Use English outside your school lessons — read, write, watch TV and films and speak it as much as you can.
You will be required to get high marks in one of the approved English tests if you are from a non-English-speaking country. Look at the sample tests on the web — see our links page for details of where to find them. You can also get information there about specific study materials for the tests.
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Pursue your passion

Actively pursue the subject(s) that you are passionate about &mdash read widely (especially in English), discuss with other enthusiasts, participate in practical activities, such as politics, conservation, science competitions, travel, drama, etc., as much as you can. Join an appropriate society or association — an international group that communicates in English would be particularly good.

Learn about the formal requirements for entrance

Study the UCAS, Oxford and other web sites, as well as our page about admissions, for information about the admissions process, forms, references and so on — note the limiting dates and extra tests that are necessary for many subjects, especially (but not only) Law or Medicine.
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Start in good time

Prepare your application dossier in good time — you will need written input from your teachers and school. The limiting date for entrance in 2013 is 15 October 2012 — see the Oxford University Admissions web-site for further information.
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Prepare for the tests

Prepare for additional subject tests in good time — you need to start as soon as your school exams are over, before the summer holidays! Don’t wait until you send in your application after the holidays, you won’t have enough time to practise.
You can find sources of information about these tests on our links page. The test web-sites have sample tests and also details of special study materials to help you prepare.
Remember that these tests aren’t like those you’re used to in your school exams — you really need to prepare yourself.
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Prepare yourself for the interview

There is information about the Oxford interview on a number of web-sites — see our links page for details.
You can ask ask OUSL for a practice interview: please mail our Secretary Andrew Hallan (secrtry “at” oxford “dot” lu; replace the “quoted” items with the appropriate symbols).
As there is usually a large number of requests we are now asking prospective candidates to contact us by 15th October, which is also the closing date for UCAS applications. Please send a copy of your UCAS application with your request; this will help us to find suitable interviewers. Please note that we will do our best to set up practice interviews for everyone who asks, but we cannot guarantee you a practice — we may be unable to find anyone who can do it during the very short period between 15th October and the start of the real interviews at the beginning of December.
You can read a report on our 2011 practice interviews.
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Prepare your application
Useful links for applicants
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