Four interviews plus three days equal one Oxford place

THE numbers added up for a young mathematician after he secured the offer of a place at Oxford University after four interviews over three days.

Northallerton College student Matthew Webb endured hours of interviews at one of the world’s best universities including questions on pure and general maths, mechanics and statistics.
The 17-year-old, of Northallerton, impressed dons so much they offered him a place – as long as he secures two grade A*s and an A in his A Levels of maths, further maths and physics.
“I was delighted as I didn’t think I had done that well,” he said. “I have loved maths since primary school. I like the way it all slots together to solve a problem; that’s so exciting.”
Matthew has won bronze and silver medals in national maths challenges and hopes one day to work in medicine.
“I’m thinking about mathematical biology, where maths can be used to predict ailments and map the brain,” he said.