Here are the sample questions that Oxford University applicants are asked during the admission process. The university itself released them to debunk the entry process. Here are the questions that Oxford calls 18-year-olds to answer:

English literature candidates:

JK Rowling has just published a book for adults after the hugely successful Harry Potter series. In what ways do you think that writing for children is different to writing for adults?

Why do you think an English student might be interested in the fact Coronation Street has been running for 50 years?

History candidates:

Which person (or sort of person) in the past would you most like to interview, and why?

Computer science candidates:

Why do pirates divide their treasure?

A group of seven pirates has 100 gold coins. They have to decide among themselves how to divide the treasure, but must abide by pirate rules.

The most senior pirate proposes the division. All of the pirates (including the most senior) vote on the division. If half or more vote for the division, it stands. If less than half vote for it, they throw the most senior pirate overboard and start again.

The pirates are perfectly logical, and entirely ruthless (only caring about maximising their own share of the gold).

So, what division should the most senior pirate suggest to the other six?

Economics and Management:

Do bankers deserve the pay they receive? And should government do something to limit how much they get?

Geography candidates:

If I were to visit the area where you live, what would I be interested in?

Law candidates:

What does it mean for someone to take another’s car?

If the punishment for parking on double yellow lines was death, and therefore nobody did it, would that be a just and effective law?

Medicine candidates:

Why does your heart rate increase when you exercise?

Modern languages candidates:

Should poetry be difficult to understand?

What is language?

Biology candidates:

Why do many animals have stripes?

Here’s a cactus. Tell me about it.

Engineering

Place a 30cm ruler on top of the finger from each hand. What happens when you bring your fingers together?

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