This page is for King's applicants who have been invited for interview and have pre-interview reading scheduled. This page is to be read in the context of the Cambridge interview section in the Applicant Information 2023.
Preparation
For some interviews, candidates are asked to read a specified text right before their interview. This will be mentioned specifically in your invitation email and a time for this will be scheduled. We cannot release the reading early.
Pre-Interview reading for in person Interviews in King's
For those candidates being interviewed at King's, your interview invitation will tell you to go to the Chetwynd room to collect your reading. Please arrive at exactly the time specified on your invitation to interview - we cannot give it to you early.
You may make notes on the study material we give you if you wish so make sure that you keep a pen / pencil / highlighter etc with you if you want them (it’s up to you). It would be advisable to take a moment to think about what you want to take with you before coming to the Chetwynd Room so that you can arrive with any pens etc in your hand and just hand over your bag/phone. When we have given you the material to read, you will be sent to read it in an adjacent room. Please go to your interview room 5 minutes before the start time of your interview (or 8 minutes if your interview is in 13 King’s Parade). It is your responsibility to do this – nobody will come to collect you. We strongly advise you to make sure that you know where your interview room is (go and find it!) before you come to collect the reading – that way you will know exactly where you are going when the time comes. After your interview, please leave the reading material with your interviewer – you must not take it away from the interview room. And don’t forget to come back to the Chetwynd Room if you have left your phone/bag with us. Please note that if you are scheduled for pre-interview reading but it is not in the Chetwynd Room, the above information does not apply to you. Your interview letter will tell you what time to be where and you just need to be there.
No Parents/Guardians
Please do not bring any accompanying parents / guardians with you when you come to collect your pre-interview reading. Information for parents & guardians is on the practical arrangements page.
Luggage/Coats/Bags
If you have luggage / coats / bags with you, you might like to think ahead and leave them in the luggage room so that they are not in your way. Ask at the interview helpdesk in advance for directions to the luggage room. If you have coats and bags with you when you come to collect the pre-interview reading, we will ask you to leave them with the person who gives you your pre-interview reading, to collect after your interview.
Note that we will also ask you to leave your mobile phone with us if you have one. It is therefore important that you should wear a watch. No smart watches or other smart devices are allowed for any tests or pre-interview reading.
Pre-interview reading for Online Interviews
Pre-interview reading can be collected in an online room on the internet platform Zoom. The link to the pre-interview reading collection room is included in your invitation. Please ensure you have the correct time and the correct link on your invitation.
1. At the scheduled time, please follow the link in your invitation to the reading-collection room on Zoom.
We recommend using Chrome as a browser. Please use your name as you have submitted on your UCAS application. You will need to allow the app access to your camera and microphone. The invigilator will let you into the room at the time your collection is scheduled. Please state your full name again and the subject you are collecting pre-interview reading for. If you have two interviews scheduled, which both require pre-interview reading, please indicate to the invigilator which interviewer you are preparing for. If you are early, the invigilator will ask you to leave and come back again at the scheduled time.
2. The invigilator will send you a link to download your text/pre-interview reading material through the chat function.
Please open this straight away to see if you can access it. Once you are certain you have the text, please confirm this with the invigilator and leave the collection room on Zoom.
3. You now have time to read the text/pre-interview reading material.
You may print the material if you want, but this is not a requirement. Unless specified in the instructions, you can make notes on the text. You may not use the internet or any other source of information, including other people, text books or your own notes made previously to help with the understanding of the text. The use of dictionaries, calculators, or any phone or internet apps is not permitted.
4. Keep an eye in the time!
Please ensure that you keep an eye on the time. There will be no reminders to tell you to join your online interview.
5. Join your interview a few minutes before the scheduled time and wait until you are let into the online interview room.
Please join your interview about 5 minutes before the scheduled start time, please don't be arrive early or late. You will be placed in a waiting room. Just stay there, the interviewers will let you into the online interview room when it is time for your interview. You should have the material you have just read open on your computer or printed, so you can access this during the interview.
