Oxbridge Interview / The Oxford interview / Biology
Oxford Biology interview: the eight questions tutors publish and what they're testing
No test, no essay, and tutors who might hand you a cactus. Oxford's biology tutors have published eight questions and say they are 'not necessarily interested in whether you know the answer'.
Updated September 2026Oxford Biology interviews about 46% of applicants and admits about 15%, with an intake of 112 (three-year average, 2023-25). There is no admissions test and no written work. Oxford says tutors look for enthusiasm for biology and aptitude for independent and analytical thinking, that you are unlikely to be shortlisted if your personal statement does not make clear that biology is your preferred course, and that it is not a human-biology or medical course. Interviews are not designed to test factual knowledge but critical and independent thinking, curiosity and passion; you should be prepared to talk about aspects of biology you find interesting and to discuss biology beyond your knowledge. Applicants may be asked to examine biological diagrams or images, interpret a graph, a passage or a simple data set. The published questions from two tutors include why some habitats support more biodiversity, why animals have stripes, whether it would matter if tigers went extinct, and 'here's a cactus, tell me about it'. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed online in December, usually by two tutors, often more than once and sometimes by a second college. Oxford calls it 'a short tutorial with someone who knows the subject well'.
Merra is not affiliated with the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, any college or UCAS.
Merra: practise it out loud before it counts
Merra's Oxford Biology practice is a spoken mock in the tutorial style: five questions from Oxford's eight published ones, one 'how would you test that' style follow-up each, about fifteen minutes, then spoken feedback and a written report. It cannot show specimens, images, graphs or data.
- 1Sign up free — no card, 2 free coaching sessions available until used.
- 2Practise out loud — answer unseen discussion questions with an AI tutor.
- 3Get readiness feedback — see how you reasoned and how you handled the push, with a recording and transcript.
No card details required. Your first 2 coaching sessions are free.
Practise an Oxford-style Biology interview
An AI tutor asks an unseen discussion question out loud, pushes once with a follow-up, then moves on — the same shape as the real thing, minus the science problems on paper.
Practise an Oxford-style Biology interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscriptionHow this interview works
- 1No admissions test and no written work. Make sure your personal statement shows that biology is your preferred course; Oxford says you are unlikely to be shortlisted otherwise.
- 2Shortlisting: about 46% of applicants are interviewed. Invitations arrive from mid-November to early December.
- 3Interviews are online in December, usually two tutors. Oxford calls the process 'rigorous but sympathetic'.
- 4You may be asked to examine biological diagrams or images, or to interpret a graph, a written passage or a simple set of data provided during the interview.
- 5Tutors are interested in your thinking process rather than whether your answer is correct. Several published questions end with 'how would you test that?'
- 6Decisions on 12 January 2027 via UCAS.
Interview questions
Eight questions below are Oxford's own published sample questions, marked (published by Oxford). Merra cannot show you a cactus, image or graph; it works from the spoken questions.
“Why do some habitats support higher biodiversity than others? Follow-up from the tutor: how would you test your idea, and what data would you need?”
“Why do many animals have stripes?”
“Here's a cactus. Tell me about it. (Merra asks you to describe one from memory and account for what you describe.)”
“If you could save either the rainforests or the coral reefs, which would you choose?”
“Is it easier for organisms to live in the sea or on land?”
“Why do lions have manes? Follow-up from the tutor: how would you test that?”
“Ladybirds are red. So are strawberries. Why?”
“Would it matter if tigers became extinct? Follow-up from the tutor: would it matter if fungi did?”
Pricing
FAQs
How competitive is Oxford Biology?
About 46% of applicants are interviewed and about 15% are successful, with an intake of 112 (three-year average 2023-25).
Is there a test or written work for Oxford Biology?
No admissions test and no written work.
What do Oxford biology tutors look for?
Enthusiasm for biology and aptitude for independent, analytical thinking. Interviews test critical thinking, curiosity and passion rather than factual knowledge.
Will I be shown specimens or data?
Oxford says applicants may be asked to examine biological diagrams or images, or interpret a graph, a written passage or a simple data set during the interview; one published question uses a cactus.
Does Oxford publish biology interview questions?
Yes, eight from two tutors, several ending with 'how would you test that?'
Official information
For the official course page and admissions details.
More Oxbridge interview guides
Merra is not affiliated with the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, any college or UCAS. Merra’s feedback is advisory only — it is not a guarantee of any offer or admission outcome.
The Oxbridge interview is spoken. Practise it that way.
Your first mock takes about 15 minutes: an unseen question, a follow-up, and feedback on how you reasoned. Free, no card.
Practise an Oxford-style Biology interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription