How can I impress Oxbridge tutors?

My top tip for impressing Oxbridge tutors is to consider yourself an academic and treat the interview and your preparation for it like writing an academic paper- after all, by becoming a student, you are entering the academic world, at least temporarily. Academics create new knowledge; they look at things from new and original angles. In order to present original and interesting ideas about your subject, you need to know it really well and think outside the box. I recommend focusing on quality, not quantity; having original and interesting ideas about two things is better than knowing twenty on a superficial level. If you’re applying to study English Literature, read a couple of books that are not on your school syllabus (you want to demonstrate your interest beyond the material studied at school) and re-read them several times. Read papers by other academics on the subject- they will help you develop your own ideas, and you will be able to identify any gaps in current research or a niche that you could explore. Read critical theory and apply it to the books you are studying. You must also have a good understanding of the context. Relate your books to developments during the period in which they were written. How do they compare to works by other authors at the time? What makes them unique and what makes them characteristic of the period or style? Think a lot and be bold with your ideas. Mention some of them in your personal statement, so that your interviewers can ask you about them during your interview. Think of the interview as an opportunity to discuss your ideas with people who will probably understand them and help you to develop them. If they ask you difficult questions, they probably think that you can answer them- it's a good thing! Try to enjoy yourself!