Mock interview practice for master's, PhD and postdoc
Practise real interview questions out loud, with a timer and a self-score.
Mock interview questions to practise now
Pick your level and field, then answer each question out loud.
- Eight questions in interview order, for master's, PhD, postdoc or scholarship
- What the panel is really asking, and what a strong answer includes
- A two-minute timer, an optional recording that stays on your device, a self-score
8 questions
01About youWhich achievement are you most proud of?
What they're really asking
What do you value, and can you show impact?
A strong answer includes
- One achievement, described specifically
- Your own role and the obstacles you met
- The result, with a number if you have one
02MotivationWhat would you do if you didn't get a place this year?
What they're really asking
How committed are you, and do you have a plan?
A strong answer includes
- That you'd keep going, calmly
- What you would do to strengthen your application
- No criticism of the panel or the process
03Your research or projectWhat would you do if your main study didn't work?
What they're really asking
Have you thought about risk, and can you adapt?
A strong answer includes
- The most likely thing to go wrong
- A realistic plan B
- What you'd still learn or publish
04Your research or projectWhich research question would you most like to answer next, and why?
What they're really asking
Do you have research ideas of your own?
A strong answer includes
- A specific question
- Why it matters now
- How you'd start on it
05MethodsWhy is your chosen method the right one for your question?
What they're really asking
Did you choose the method for the question, or the question for the method?
A strong answer includes
- How the method answers the question
- One alternative you considered, and why you didn't pick it
- Its limits and how you'll deal with them
06MethodsWhat ethical issues could your project raise?
What they're really asking
Have you thought about ethics beyond filling in a form?
A strong answer includes
- The specific issues in your project
- How you'll address each one
- The approvals you'll need
07Fit with the group or programmeWhere else have you applied?
What they're really asking
How serious are you about us?
A strong answer includes
- A short, honest answer
- What makes this one a top choice
- No criticism of the other places
08Questions to ask themDo you have any questions for us?
Why ask it
Panels expect you to ask: it shows curiosity and that you've thought about the place.
Listen for
- Two or three questions you prepared
- Questions about the work, not facts on the website
- A short thank you at the end
Practise free here, then with your Twin.
Answer each question out loud against a two-minute timer, then score yourself.
Choose a saved application, or add the interview yourself.
It looks up how that place interviews and plans questions, easy to hard.
Hear each question, answer in your words, get feedback on every answer.
Question 2 of 8 · Motivation
Why do you want to do a PhD?
1:12
Answer out loud, as you would to the panel.
Score your answer
What questions are asked in a PhD interview?
Most PhD interviews ask four kinds of question: motivation (why a PhD, why now), your research and methods, fit with the group (why this supervisor; read their recent papers first) and your questions for them. ApplyKite lists more than 820,000 professors with their papers.
Practise out loud and keep each answer to one or two minutes, with one specific example and its result.
Sample answers: PhD interview questions and answers →
It listens, like a real panel.
Signed in, your Twin asks a follow-up when an answer is thin.
Your project used under two thousand samples. How would you know your model wasn't just memorising them?
Know what to say next time.
What worked, what to change, and a better way to put each answer.
Clear on your project, less sure on the why.
What worked
You explained your method in plain words.
What to change
Say why this lab, not just this field.
Answer 3 · Could be stronger
Try: name the test you held back, and what it showed.
Feel ready on the day.
Questions
What is PhD interview practice?
Interview practice helps you get ready for a master's, PhD or postdoc interview. Pick your field and level and practise, free, common interview questions, with what a good answer covers and a rubric to score yourself. Sign in for a spoken mock interview with ApplyKite Twin, with questions for the place you applied to and feedback on every answer.
Do PhD interviews include a presentation?
Many do: you may be asked to present your past research or your proposal for five to ten minutes, then take questions on it. The invitation usually says so. If it doesn't, it is fine to ask the group what to prepare.
How do I prepare for a PhD interview?
Read the supervisor's recent papers, know your own projects in detail, and practise your answers out loud, not just in your head. Prepare two or three questions of your own about the project, the group and funding.
Is the interview practice free?
The question list on this page is free, with no sign-up. Sign in, free to start, for a spoken mock interview with feedback; the free plan includes monthly credits.
How does the mock interview work?
After you sign in, choose an application you saved or enter its details. ApplyKite Twin plans questions for that place, asks them out loud, listens to your answers and gives feedback on each one at the end.
Does it work for master's interviews too?
Yes. Choose master's as your level and the questions change to fit, such as why this course, what you studied and what you want to do after.
Read the guide: PhD interview questions and answers →