Free Interview Resources
Free practice questions, preparation advice, and expert insights for Medicine (Graduate Course) interviews at Cambridge.
Real Medicine (Graduate Course) interview questions in the style Cambridge asks. Try answering each one aloud before you reveal the hint.
How would you calculate how many moles of water are in this glass?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Start from an estimated glass volume, convert volume to mass using water's density, then divide by molar mass.
If you are in a boat in a lake and throw a stone out of the boat, what happens to the level of the water?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Compare the water displaced by the stone while it is in the boat with the water displaced after the stone sinks.
How many litres of blood does your heart pump in your lifetime?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Estimate cardiac output per minute, multiply by minutes per year, then by an assumed lifespan.
How would you determine whether leukaemia patients have contracted the disease because of a nearby nuclear power station?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Think in terms of epidemiological study design, exposure measurement, background incidence and confounders.
How would you differentiate between salt and sugar without tasting them?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Consider simple observable properties and safe chemical or physical tests before more complex methods.
Supervision-style interviews with problem-solving and academic discussion, often with two interviewers.
Cambridge interviews usually happen at your first-choice college. Most applicants have two interviews, with some subjects requiring a third at the pooled college. Cambridge interviews tend to involve two interviewers and may include a written assessment or pre-interview task sent on the day.
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
How many red blood cells are in the human body?
midHint
Combine an estimate of blood volume with a red-cell concentration per microlitre, and keep track of units.
Why do we need ATP? Why not just release energy from glucose directly?
midHint
Compare energy release, controllability and coupling to cellular processes.
What is the point of cellular compartmentalisation?
midHint
Think about incompatible reactions, local concentrations and regulatory control.
Describe what happens when a neuron is excited and the action potential that follows.
midHint
Build the sequence from resting potential to depolarisation, repolarisation and refractory period.
Why are cancer cells more susceptible to destruction by radiotherapy than regular cells?
hardHint
Focus on DNA damage, cell division rate, repair capacity and the therapeutic window.
What has to change from foetus to baby with regards to blood circulation?
hardHint
Identify the fetal shunts and explain what pressure or oxygenation changes drive their closure.
Why do you want to be a Doctor?
entryHint
Anchor the answer in specific experiences and reflection rather than a generic wish to help people.
What did you learn from your work experience?
entryHint
Choose one concrete episode and explain how it changed your view of clinical work.
What skills essential to being a doctor do you think you still need to develop and how do you think you could do this?
midHint
Name a real development area, then give a credible plan for improving it.
Describe a time when you were met with a challenging situation and explain how you dealt with it. In hindsight, is there anything that you would have done differently?
midHint
Use a concise structure: situation, action, outcome, reflection and changed behaviour.
How would you simulate altitude in your living room?
hardHint
Define what altitude changes physiologically, then consider pressure, oxygen fraction and safety constraints.
How would you describe a human to a person from Mars?
midHint
Choose a framework such as anatomy, physiology, behaviour or evolution before adding detail.
If you were a grapefruit, would you rather be seedless or non-seedless?
midHint
Clarify the biological or commercial criteria before committing to an answer.
What are the ethical implications of genetic screening from birth?
hardHint
Balance benefit, consent, privacy, future autonomy, anxiety and possible discrimination.
Should someone sell their kidney?
midHint
Consider autonomy, exploitation, inequality, regulation and consequences for donation systems.
Should doctors ever break confidentiality?
midHint
Start with confidentiality as the default, then identify exceptional risks and legal/professional duties.
12+ weeks
8-12 weeks
4-6 weeks
1-2 weeks
the week of
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Book Mock Interview →Watch & Learn
Official overview of studying Medicine at Cambridge.
Student-facing discussion of course experience and Cambridge medicine.
A useful model for academic interview style and thinking aloud.
Overview resource for planning UCAT preparation alongside Cambridge-specific work.
Short course-positioning clip highlighting Cambridge's science emphasis.
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Further Reading
by Henry Marsh
Useful for reflecting on surgical judgement, fallibility and patient-centred professionalism.
by Atul Gawande
Strong preparation for humane discussion of ageing, palliative care and medical limits.
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Supports scientific discussion of cancer biology, treatment development and clinical research.
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Useful for genetics, screening, identity and ethics questions.
by Ben Goldacre
Helps applicants critique evidence, media claims and trial design.
by University of Cambridge
Primary source for course structure, eligibility, Colleges and 2027-entry requirements.
by UCAT Consortium
Free official practice resources and question banks for the required admissions test.
by General Medical Council
Core framework for professionalism, patient safety and ethical judgement.
by Medical Schools Council
Cambridge cites national guidance on what makes a good doctor in selection.
by Cambridge Medical Library
Useful for understanding the breadth of clinical learning, while not a pre-application checklist.