What is "normal" for humans? Interview questions released

The University of Oxford is today releasing some sample Oxford questions - direct from the tutors who conduct the's - to provoke thought and help explain the reasoning behind even the most strange-sounding questions. Students applying to study music might be asked what kind of musical instrument they would invent, potential biological science students are asked to describe a living cactus in as much detail as possible, and applicants looking to study English literature might be asked why Coronation Street's 50th anniversary would be of interest to a literary scholar. 'We want to show what it's really like having an admissions at Oxford, as they are such a unique and important part of our admissions process,' says Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions. 'The's are designed to assess academic ability and potential. While this sounds intimidating, their aim is to get candidates to use their knowledge and apply their minds to new problems while allowing them to shine. 'There are many myths surrounding Oxford s, and they can be the most anxiety-provoking part of the Oxford application process for students. These questions show that the's are not designed to see how quickly students get the 'right' answer or show off specialist knowledge, but to gauge how they respond to new ideas.