How Hard is it to Get Into Oxford University?

In this weeks episode I attempt the Oxford Admissions Test for mathematics. I attempt to learn to pass the exam as quickly as possible. We set the pass mark at 60% (60/100) as applicants who score 60 have a 70% chance of getting an interview.

Thank you to Dr Tom Crawford for his help here. Check out his work:
@TomRocksMaths

My name is Mike Boyd and I make videos documenting my process of learning stuff really fast! Subscribe for more upcoming videos and feel free to tell me what you'd like me to learn next in the comments.

[TomRocksMaths]

Proud teacher alert over here. Mike smashed it.

[bend]

He is probably the opposite of what I thought an Oxford math teacher would look like and I love it

[kallanjamon]

Tom is the example of don't judge a book by its cover.

[PhantomSavage]

Mind you, this is a guy who was once an engineer, not a high-school student, and he had to spend an entire day cramming with the man that partially WROTE THE EXAM.. only to get a 62 with 4 guesses, and that would have *maybe* been enough to get him the first interview with no guarantee of the second OR final admission.

That is absolutely insane.

[QubitHQ]

This video will now be watched by all future Oxford applicants, so basically half of all future UK Prime Ministers will know who Mike Boyd is

[FrenchGuyCooking]

I feel you anxiety Mike ! I studied Maths for years, but I would just be terrified to take a math exam today. I feel like I got nothing left 😂

[peeper]

Let me vent:

1. Personal statement
2. Entrance exams
3. Get lucky with the interview shortlisting (if you’ve made it this far I genuinely am saluting you right now)
4. Do well in the interview
5. Get shortlisted for 2nd interview
6. Do well in the 2nd interview
7. Be lucky enough to be drawn from a final shortlist of thousands to get a conditional offer
8. Still be sane enough to do well in your final exams

The 8th part is the easiest.

Edit 1 year later: 4 Nov 2021, failed at stage 2 after dedicating thousands of hours of preparation across 3 years, even throwing a pandemic into the mix for good measure.

Edit 2 years later: 16 April 2023, severe depression for 2 years even before academic failures at 3 universities. Now in my 1st year at an average UK university.

[MarioDuarteMD]

Just a little interesting thing I noticed about the professor, similar to how the left side of the brain is better suited for logical deductions and the right is more for creative capabilities, the tattoos on his arms follow the same premise, with the right one having art and the left having numbers. Thanks for attending my Ted Talk.

[RealEngineering]

My biggest insecurity is my memory. I have always struggled in exams because my long term memory is so poor. I was good at math/engineering because it was understanding based, but this gives me anxiety. I know for a fact I would struggle.

[MrrMe]

“But how hard is it to get in here”

*pulls out lock picking kit*

[peqghgk]

I'm even more proud of my cousin for managing to get into this place with a scholarship now.

[unknownunkown]

I really like how he explained that people learn math in different ways. I remember one teacher I had in middle school and her approach with students was way different from other teachers I've had. Due to her approach I did well in the class. Where as, other teachers I had didn't have similar approaches on the subject and I remember that the classes were a struggle and unenjoyable.

[wyraph]

You know he’s a nice teacher when he calls your mistakes “an interesting approach”

[ChrisRamsay]

What a GREAT video idea!! Miss ya bud!

[sabeenjafri]

3:22 this guy is a teacher that teaches some of the smartest students in this world
9:30 this guy failed the exam to enter a college
Looks really can be deceiving

[PurpleTurnipLife]

I finished GCSE maths lacking confidence and not knowing how to rearrange an equation. I went to sixth form college and dropped maths A-level after a week. The following year I picked it up again. With the help of some amazing teachers, I gained an A* in maths A-Level, finishing the final exam without dropping a mark. It is definitely possible to get better at maths with lots and lots of practice and being taught in a way which suits you. I'm now doing a PhD in physics.

Maths is hard. Practice, practice and practice some more. Find your own way of learning. Take a break from it, come back to it. Don't be scared of it. Anyone can do it.

[Marzyart]

I expected an oxford math teacher to be old, strict with a poker face

[the.learningproject]

The look of disappointment on that professor’s face whenever he marked an incorrect answer gave me anxiety 😂

[levince]

Imagine how confident and proud you’d be if you got more than 90% on that test.

[milododd]

A genuinely inspiring video, Mike. Thank you and congrats on the pass mark :)