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.