Sample admissions interview questions released

The University of Oxford has released some sample Oxford interview questions – direct from the tutors who conduct the interviews – to provoke thought and help explain the reasoning behind even the most strange-sounding questions.

Students applying to study biological sciences might be asked why it matters if tigers become extinct, potential history students are asked to discuss whether the word ‘political’ has different meanings in different contexts, and applicants looking to study materials science may be asked to calculate the temperature in a hot air balloon necessary to lift an elephant.
Interviews for undergraduate places are just one part of a very rigorous selection process, where academic ability and potential is assessed through a range of measures: at least two interviews; aptitude tests (in most subjects); written work (in many subjects); predicted grades; attained grades; and references.
One of the interviewers was Liora Lazarus, Fellow and Tutor in Law at St Anne’s; University Lecturer in Human Rights Law and Member of the Centre for Criminological Research. Her question was:  If the punishment for parking on double yellow lines were death, and therefore nobody did it, would that be a just and effective law?
Liora: ‘Candidates are not meant to give a right or wrong answer to this question.  They need to demonstrate that they have recognised the various issues that arise.  The candidate who distinguishes between “just” and “effective” does best.  The issues are different once that distinction is made.  A just law might not be effective, or vice versa.  The issues of how proportionate the punishment is to the crime refer to the justness of the law.  The answer to its effectiveness is already in the question: “and therefore nobody did it.”’ 
For further information please visit the Oxford University website.