Cambridge economics interviews are unlike most interviews you'll have encountered. They're not testing what you know. They're testing how you think. This guide explains what that actually means in practice, and how to prepare effectively.
What interviewers are really doing
Cambridge supervisors teach in small groups of 2-3 students using a format where they push students to think through problems in real time. The interview is designed to simulate exactly this. They want to see what happens when you're pushed beyond what you've prepared.
This means the question isn't the point. The follow-up is the point. Interviewers will deliberately probe, challenge, and sometimes suggest that your answer is wrong, not because it is, but to see how you respond. Do you cave immediately? Do you defend your reasoning? Do you update your view when shown new evidence?
What they're looking for
- Intellectual flexibility: Can you change your mind based on argument, not just authority?
- Genuine curiosity: Does the problem actually interest you, or are you just performing interest?
- Mathematical confidence: Can you work with numbers and algebra under pressure, without panicking?
- Economic intuition: Do you reach for economic reasoning instinctively, or do you just recall facts?
What students say
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The format
You'll usually have two or three interviews, typically with different fellows or lecturers. Each lasts around 30 minutes. You may receive a passage or problem to read shortly beforehand, this is normal and should be taken seriously. The interviews often start from your personal statement, so know it extremely well.
Common types of question
Cambridge economics interviews tend to fall into a few categories:
Graph-based questions
They draw a diagram and ask you to interpret it, or ask you to draw one. Supply and demand, indifference curves, game theory payoff matrices. The key is to talk through your reasoning rather than just produce an answer.
Policy questions
"Should the minimum wage be raised?" There's no correct answer. They want to see you identify the economic mechanisms, consider trade-offs, and acknowledge empirical uncertainty. Candidates who state strong opinions but then struggle to defend them tend to come unstuck; those who think aloud through the trade-offs tend to do better.
Mathematical problems
Often involving calculus, algebra, or basic statistics. The level isn't usually beyond A-Level Maths, but the context is unfamiliar and the pressure is high. Practice talking through maths out loud.
How to prepare
The most important preparation is reading good economics that goes beyond your A-Level syllabus. Thaler and Sunstein's Nudge, Harford's The Undercover Economist, and The Economist magazine are all good starting points. But don't just read, think about what arguments the authors are making, what evidence they use, and where you'd push back.
Practise thinking aloud. This feels unnatural at first, but it's one of the most valuable skills you can build. Talk through problems with someone who will push back, a teacher, a parent, or ideally a tutor who knows Cambridge's interview style.
Working with a tutor for interview prep
Mock interviews with feedback are one of the most effective ways to prepare. I offer sessions that simulate Cambridge interviews closely, including deliberate follow-up pressure, with detailed written feedback afterwards. Get in touch to discuss preparation.