Personal Statement Writing Tips

The video provides comprehensive advice on crafting a UCAS personal statement for UK universities, especially Oxbridge. It outlines a five-paragraph structure focusing on academic content, deep thinking through literature, experiential learning, high school skills, and extracurricular achievements. The speaker emphasizes the importance of a predominantly academic focus, with specific guidelines for Oxbridge applicants, and offers practical tips for each section of the statement.

What is the character limit for a UCAS personal statement?

• 2,000 characters

• 3,000 characters

• 5,000 characters

• 4,000 characters

What is the primary focus of the UCAS personal statement?

• Extracurricular activities

• Academic achievements

• Personal hobbies

• Family background

What is the recommended academic to extracurricular ratio for Oxbridge applications?

• 60/40

• 80/20

• 90/10

• 70/30

What should the first paragraph of a personal statement focus on?

• Future career goals

• Extracurricular activities

• Reason for choosing the subject

• High school achievements

In the second paragraph, what should you reference to show deep thinking about the subject?

• Travel experiences

• Family influences

• Personal experiences

• Books and articles

What is the purpose of the third paragraph in a personal statement?

• To outline future goals

• To describe family background

• To discuss non-reading experiences

• To list all academic achievements

What should the fourth paragraph highlight?

• Personal hobbies

• Family influences

• Extracurricular activities

• Transferable skills from high school

What is the focus of the fifth paragraph?

• Extracurricular achievements

• Future career goals

• Academic achievements

• High school subjects

What is a key tip for writing a personal statement?

• Focus solely on extracurriculars

• Use long, complex sentences

• Avoid paragraph breaks

• Keep paragraphs short and snappy