Physics Admissions SupportInterviews, the ESAT and choosing a course

Hi, I’m William, a Cambridge Physics graduate specialising in Oxbridge and university admissions preparation for Physics, Mathematics and related subjects.

I studied Physical Natural Sciences at Cambridge before specialising in Theoretical Physics for Part III. I graduated with a First, averaging over 90% in my final year and ranking second in the Cambridge Physics cohort. My Master’s research received 97% and was awarded the University's BP Nevill Mott Prize for Theoretical Physics, recognising the outstanding theoretical Physics research in the cohort. I was also awarded the Laurie Hart Prize, Girton College’s highest senior prize for exceptional academic achievement.

My academic background spans areas including quantum field theory, general relativity, cosmology, statistical physics, quantum information, gauge theories and condensed matter physics. I am now moving into machine-learning research at the Max Planck Institute, building on my background in theoretical and computational physics.

Admissions tutoring experience

My tutoring is focused primarily on university admissions, particularly: ESAT Physics, Maths 1 and Maths 2; Cambridge Physical Natural Sciences and Physics applications; Oxford Physics and Mathematics applications; Oxbridge mock interviews and interview preparation; personal statement and application support; and supercurricular and academic-development mentoring.

I have now worked with a wide range of applicants preparing for Cambridge and Oxford, including students at different stages of ESAT preparation, personal statement development and mock interviews. My interview preparation focuses on the skills that are difficult to develop through ordinary schoolwork: thinking aloud, responding to hints, identifying assumptions, adapting an approach when it fails, and communicating mathematical and physical reasoning clearly.

A major part of my tutoring is the use of genuinely unfamiliar problems. I have developed a large bank of bespoke Physics and Mathematics interview questions, many inspired by ideas from my Cambridge degree and research, and I am writing a dedicated collection of Oxbridge-style interview problems. This means students are not simply rehearsing the small set of questions that circulate online, but instead practise the kind of new and challenging reasoning they are likely to face in a real interview.

For admissions tests, I focus strongly on efficient problem solving rather than rote methods. We look at how to recognise the structure of a difficult question, decide quickly which ideas are relevant, avoid unnecessary calculation, and understand why a method works so that it can be adapted to unfamiliar problems.

I also place considerable emphasis on confidence and communication. Strong candidates often already know a great deal of Physics and Mathematics; the challenge is learning how to demonstrate that understanding under pressure, explain their reasoning clearly, and remain comfortable when they do not immediately know the answer.

Having applied successfully to Cambridge through Natural Sciences myself, taken the NSAA, completed the Cambridge Physics course, and subsequently supported many students through admissions preparation, I can offer both first-hand understanding of the process and extensive practical experience helping students prepare for it.

Hi! I'm Mali, a Physics undergraduate at Oxford. I represented the UK at the International Physics Olympiad in 2023, and I now help with the British Physics Olympiad — assisting at physics camps and writing competition questions — so I know exactly how to build the problem-solving instinct the ESAT rewards. I've tutored Maths and Physics for three years, guiding A-Level students all the way to their exams.

Admissions tutoring experience

I sat Oxford's Physics Aptitude Test, scoring 88/100 — the ESAT now assesses the same physics and maths problem-solving, so it's exactly the ground I cover. Alongside three years of A-Level tutoring (Edexcel and AQA), I've mock-interviewed applicants at outreach events and spent three years helping at physics camps, running sessions and coaching problem-solving for students from GCSE to A-Level. I love showing students how to approach unfamiliar problems with confidence.

Hi, I'm Eleanor, a Physics undergraduate at the University of Oxford with a particular interest in astronomy and astrophysics, and Distinctions in both my first and second-year exams. Having been through the Oxbridge application myself, I help students prepare for the ESAT, admissions and interviews — building not just technical skill but the confidence and problem-solving instinct these tests reward. I'm friendly and dedicated, and I tailor every session to the student in front of me.

Admissions tutoring experience

I've tutored online for two years, teaching Physics and Maths at A-Level and GCSE across AQA and Edexcel, and I currently coach a student for the ESAT. I've also mentored applicants from my old school through their personal statements and applications. I have a strong competition background: as well as Top Gold in the British Physics Olympiad and reaching the national finals of the UK Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad, I competed in the national finals of the UKMT Team Maths Challenge — exactly the kind of unfamiliar, high-pressure problem-solving the ESAT is built around. I sat Oxford's physics admissions process the year before I started my degree, so I know first-hand what it asks of you.

Hello, I'm Danny, a third-year Physics student at the University of Oxford. Before my degree I achieved four D1s — the A**-equivalent top grade in the Pre-U — in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry, alongside straight A*s at GCSE. My degree has sharpened my high-level maths and problem-solving across areas like quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism, and tackling such demanding problems from many different angles is exactly what I bring to my tutoring — because every student needs their own way of understanding a subject.

Admissions tutoring experience

I sat the PAT for my own Oxford application, and I have real experience with both PAT and ESAT preparation as well as Oxford Physics and Engineering interviews — the physics and maths problem-solving is the same ground the ESAT now covers. I'm an experienced tutor and I've enjoyed teaching A-Level Maths and Further Maths, Oxbridge Physics applications, and GCSE and 11+ students too. Every student needs a different approach and pace, and I'm determined to help you reach your goals.

Oxford graduate (MSt Philosophy of Physics) and Durham Physics First, with four A*s including Maths, Further Maths and Physics. Last cycle I guided multiple students to competitive Oxford Physics offers, and I specialise in ESAT preparation and Physics, Maths and Engineering admissions.

Admissions tutoring experience

I offer comprehensive support tailored to the selection criteria: ESAT preparation, refining personal statements and intensive mock interviews. My master's deepened my conceptual grasp of physics and sharpened how clearly I can explain demanding ideas.

I'm a recent graduate of the University of Cambridge (Selwyn College), where I studied Natural Sciences, specialising in Astrophysics, for my BA and MSci. Having achieved four A*s at A-level and ten grade 9s at GCSE, I understand both the academic demands of science and maths subjects and the challenges students face in studying them. I sat Cambridge's science admissions assessment — the test the ESAT replaced — and was told I came in the top 15% of candidates.

Admissions tutoring experience

During several years' experience mentoring and teaching, I've supported prospective Oxbridge applicants through mock interviews and delivered Cambridge-style supervisions on summer schools, helping students develop both subject knowledge and confidence. As a student ambassador for Selwyn College across four years, I sat on a panel for student Q&As and admissions workshops, helped with talks from admissions tutors on what they're looking for in a personal statement or interview candidate, and looked after candidates during the interviews and admissions tests themselves — advising hundreds of applicants along the way. My teaching is inspired by the supervision-style learning I experienced at Cambridge: discussion-based sessions, solving problems together, and marking work with real feedback. I also communicate complex scientific ideas to audiences of all ages, through volunteering with Cambridge Hands On Science and now as a Live Science Presenter at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

I hold a master's degree in Chemistry with Molecular Physics from Imperial College London, as well as a postgraduate master's in Theory and Simulation of Materials from the same university. I have 12 years' tutoring experience in Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, and Biology across all academic levels, from GCSE/IGCSE to IB. I also have significant mentoring experience and hold QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). I am currently pursuing a PhD in Pure Mathematics.

My experience includes working with students of varying abilities, helping them master challenging concepts and excel in their coursework. I have successfully prepared students for key exams, including GCSEs, A-Levels, and university entrance assessments, often helping them achieve top grades. I have tutored students from prestigious schools, including St. Paul's School, St. Paul's Girls' School, Tiffin School, Westminster, Eton, and Rugby. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the academic challenges students face and the strategies to overcome them.

I have extensive experience in tutoring A level and GCSE/IGCSE Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Biology, and A level Further Maths, across all the main exam boards; IB Maths, Physics and Chemistry (Higher and Standard); undergraduate Geophysics, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Mathematics; postgraduate Mathematics; and the TMUA, ESAT (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2) and STEP (II and III).

My approach is tailored to each student's needs, ensuring they grasp complex concepts and excel in their studies. In addition to tutoring, I have extensive mentoring experience, guiding students not only in their academic pursuits but also in developing effective study strategies, time-management skills, and confidence. My mentoring background has enabled me to support students holistically and help them realise their full potential.

Admissions tutoring experience

I have extensive experience in tutoring the TMUA, ESAT (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2) and STEP (II and III).