Oxbridge Interview / The Oxford interview / Psychology (Experimental)
Oxford Experimental Psychology interview: what tutors ask and why
Tutors want to see whether you 'appreciate the scope of scientific psychology' and can evaluate evidence. Six of their questions are published, including one asking whether interviews should be used at all.
Updated September 2026Oxford's Psychology (Experimental) course interviews about 34% of applicants and admits about 12%, with an intake of 49 (three-year average, 2023-25). All applicants sit the TARA in October and no written work is required. Oxford says tutors, beyond a very good academic record, want to see whether you appreciate the scope of scientific psychology, can evaluate evidence, consider issues from different perspectives, think logically and creatively, and appreciate the importance of empirical evidence. Its psychology tutors have published six questions, more than any other subject: why older siblings score higher on IQ tests, the 'guess two-thirds of the average' game, why Welsh speakers seem worse at remembering phone numbers, what is 'normal' for humans, why humans have two eyes, and whether interviews should be used for selection at all. Each comes with the tutor's account of how the discussion unfolds and what new information they feed in. 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 Psychology practice is a spoken mock in the tutorial style: five questions built on Oxford's six published questions and its criteria, one follow-up each that adds a piece of information the way the tutors describe, about fifteen minutes, then spoken feedback and a written report. It does not present written case studies 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 Psychology (Experimental) 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 Psychology (Experimental) interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscriptionHow this interview works
- 1Sit the TARA on 12-16 October 2026, all three modules. No written work is submitted.
- 2Shortlisting: about 34% of applicants are interviewed. Invitations arrive from mid-November to early December.
- 3Interviews are online in December, usually two tutors.
- 4Expect a study or finding presented to you, then questions that add information step by step; the tutors say they are interested in the reasoning you use and the questions you ask about the study.
- 5Tutors look for appreciation of the scope of scientific psychology, evaluating evidence, considering different perspectives, logical and creative thinking, and the importance of empirical evidence.
- 6Decisions on 12 January 2027 via UCAS.
Interview questions
Six questions below are Oxford's own published sample questions, marked (published by Oxford). The rest are Merra practice questions written to the course's stated criteria; they are not Oxford's.
“A large study appears to show that older siblings consistently score higher than younger siblings on IQ tests. Why would this be?”
“100 people each put £1 in a pot. Each picks a number from 0 to 100; the prize goes to the person closest to two-thirds of the average. What number do you choose, and why?”
“An experiment appears to suggest Welsh speakers are worse at remembering phone numbers than English speakers. Why?”
“What is 'normal' for humans?”
“Why do human beings have two eyes?”
“Should interviews be used for selection?”
“A headline says screen time causes anxiety in teenagers. What would the study need to have done for you to believe 'causes'?”
“Name something psychology studies that most people wouldn't think of as psychology.”
Pricing
FAQs
How competitive is Oxford Experimental Psychology?
About 34% of applicants are interviewed and about 12% are successful, with an intake of 49 (three-year average 2023-25).
What test is required?
The TARA, all three modules, on 12-16 October 2026. No written work is required.
What are Oxford psychology tutors looking for?
Whether you appreciate the scope of scientific psychology, can evaluate evidence, consider issues from different perspectives, think logically and creatively, and value empirical evidence.
Does Oxford publish psychology interview questions?
Yes, six, each with the tutor's description of how they add information and what reasoning they hope to see.
Do I need A-level Psychology?
Oxford's course page does not require it; the interview tests reasoning about evidence rather than knowledge.
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 Psychology (Experimental) interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription