Cambridge Mathematics interview 2026: dates, questions, format and success rate
How Cambridge interviews for Mathematics, varies by college, 7-18 Dec 2026: the format, the questions reported for it, and the practice interview built on them.
Figures from undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk, checked 2 November 2026.
At a glance
- When: 7-18 Dec 2026 (Winter pool mid to late January 2027)
- Format: Panel interview, Varies by College (Two or three interviewers in subject interviews)
- How many: Varies by College (most applicants 1-2; some 3-4)
- Length: About 20-40 min per interview
- Who's interviewed: All realistic applicants (around 75-80% invited to interview in the past few years)
- Before it: Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA), pre-registered admission test
How the Cambridge Mathematics interview runs
- Before: Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA), pre-registered admission test
- Interviews: Varies by College (most applicants 1-2; some 3-4), 7-18 Dec 2026, varies by college
- Each one: About 20-40 min per interview, with Two or three interviewers in subject interviews
- In the room: Mathematical problems to solve
- They assess: "How you think about and tackle mathematical problems", in the university's own words
Applied: 2,032. Offered: 555 (2025 cycle (applications from Sep 2024 for entry in Oct 2025 or deferred 2026)).
Questions asked
- Official sample question: What was the most beautiful proof in A-Level Mathematics?
- Official sample question: Twenty balls are placed in an urn. Five are red, five green, five yellow and five blue. Three balls are drawn from the urn at random without replacement. Write down expressions for the probabilities of the following events (You need not calculate their numerical values). o Exactly one of the balls drawn is red. o The three balls drawn have different colours. o The number of blue balls drawn is strictly greater than the number of yellow balls drawn.
- Official sample question: I am an oil baron in the desert and I need to deliver oil to four different towns which happen to lie on a straight line. In order to deliver the correct amounts to each town, I must visit each town in turn, returning to my warehouse in between each visit. Where should I position my warehouse in order to drive the shortest distance possible? Roads are no problem since I have a friend who is a sheikh and will build me as many roads as I like for free.
Every question reported for this course is open with a free account.
Cambridge Mathematics interview FAQ
When are Cambridge Mathematics interviews in 2026?
7-18 Dec 2026 (main period).
Online or in person?
Varies by College, as a panel interview.
How long is each interview?
About 20-40 min per interview. Varies by College (most applicants 1-2; some 3-4).
Is there a test?
Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA), pre-registered admission test.
Related
- Oxford Mathematics interview
- Oxford Mathematics and Philosophy interview
- Imperial Mathematics (G100) interview
- Imperial Mathematics (G103) interview
- Imperial Mathematics (Pure Mathematics) interview