Chemistry Interview-style Questions

Note: Oxford and Cambridge do not publicly release any interview questions because they often reuse questions across application cycles. Below are interview-style questions of suitable difficulty that will help you prepare for your Oxbridge interview.

Question 1

Design an organic molecule that would be liquid at room temperature, insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol. Explain your reasoning.

Question 2

If you react equal moles of ethanol and ethanoic acid, you get about 67% conversion to ester at equilibrium. How would this change if you used methanol instead of ethanol, and why?

Question 3

Explain why diamond is hard but graphite is soft, then predict what properties a one-atom-thick sheet of diamond might have.

Question 4

Iron forms both Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions, but scandium only forms Sc³⁺. Explain this difference using electronic structure, and predict what oxidation states titanium might show.

Question 5

A compound with molecular formula C₄H₈O₂ has a boiling point of 77°C. Another isomer with the same formula boils at 141°C. Suggest structures for both and explain the difference.

Interview Tips

  • Think out loud: The interviewer will be assessing your ability to think through complex problems. They can only do this if they know your thought process.

  • Be familiar with your syllabus: The interviewer can ask you a question from any topic you have been taught already in your A level/IB syllabus.

  • Practice: There is no better way to prepare than to practice.

For comprehensive guidance, visit our Oxbridge Interview Guide.