Oxford Mock Interview

Practice 30 Oxford interview questions covering academic rigor, tutorial-style discussions, and institutional values.

Question 4 of 30

What motivates you to pursue academic excellence?

  • What You Need to Know

  • Example Answer

  • Community Answers

Kevin Downey
Kevin Downey

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.

This question aims to reveal to what degree you are motivated by your drive to succeed and how your passion fuels your educational pursuits. They advertise that they are looking for these traits in their students. "At the end of the day, Oxford is looking for students that are overtly passionate and dedicated to their subject. It's that simple! Once you've made the decision, you can find an immense amount of resources provided by the University and individual colleges to help you through the application process step by step." By showcasing that you are self-aware, self-managed, and dedicated, you can inch yourself one step closer to setting yourself up as an ideal candidate for their University.

Unlock All 30 Oxford Questions

Prepare for Oxford's distinctive interview style with expert responses from admissions professionals.

Get Started