OXFORD and BLADON Past Paper Out Of London

Question 1

Name the patron saint of Oxford.

Answer 1

St Frideswide is the name of a Saxon princess and healer who became the Patron Saint of Oxford. Her name combines the noun meaning ‘Peace’ (frith) with the adjective ‘strong’ (swith).

Question 2

Name TWO of the THREE oldest colleges at Oxford

Answer 2

(i) University College
(ii) Balliol
iii) Merton

Question 3

What name is given to full academic dress in Oxford University?

Answer 3

subfusc

Question 4

Who donated his library in 1444 forming the basis of the University library?

Answer 4

In 1444, the existing university library was augmented by a gift of some 300 manuscripts from Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the youngest son of Henry IV; this prompted the university to build a new library above the Divinity School which was at that time under construction.

Sir Thomas Bodley (2 March 1545 – 28 January 1613) was an English diplomat and scholar who founded the Bodleian Library in Oxford

Question 5

In which building are degree ceremonies held?

Answer 5

Sheldonian Theatre

Question 6

Which college was established in 2021?

Answer 6

Reuben College

It is located in the Science Area on the historic Radcliffe Science Library site and took in its first graduate students in the 2021–2022 academic year.

Question 7

What event does the Martyrs’ memorial commemorate?

Answer 7

It commemorates three Protestant martyrs (Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer) who were burnt at the stake in Oxford in 1555

Question 8

What is the Radcliffe Camera used for?

Answer 8

The Radcliffe Camera, serves as a reading room for the Bodleian

The Radcliffe Camera (colloquially known as the “Rad Cam” or “The Camera”; from Latin camera, meaning ‘room’) is a building of the University of Oxford, England, designed by James Gibbs in a Baroque style and built in 1737–49 to house the Radcliffe Science Library.

Question 9

What make of car do BMW
manufacture in Oxford?

Answer 9

Plant Oxford today Plant Oxford now produces the new Mini, built by BMW since May 2001. It is the largest industrial employer in Oxfordshire

Question 10

Name the daughter of the Dean of Christ Church who inspired a famous fictional character.

Answer 10

Alice Liddell inspired the character of the same name in Lewis Carroll’s book

Question 11

What is the River Thames called in Oxford?

Answer 11

Isis

The name Isis is almost exclusively used for the part of the river that flows through the City of Oxford, particularly by the University

Question 12

Name TWO of the THREE coach drop off and pick up locations in Oxford.

Answer 12

(i) Beaumont Street (westbound) - outside the Playhouse OX1 2LW
(ii) St Aldate’s South (northbound) - near the Combined Court OX1 1TL
(iii) St Giles’ (northbound) - in the lay-by by the Taylorian OX1 3NA

Question 13

Which Oxford College did Rishi Sunak attend?

Answer 13

Lincoln College

He was educated at Winchester College, studied philosophy, politics and economics at Lincoln College, Oxford, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University in California as a Fulbright Scholar. During his time at Oxford University, Sunak joined the Conservatives.

Question 14

What is the Ashmolean’s current major exhibition?

Answer 14

THIS IS WHAT YOU GET
STANLEY DONWOOD | RADIOHEAD | THOM YORKE
6 Aug 2025 – 11 Jan 2026

Question 15

Which college has a Picture Gallery with works by Tintoretto, Veronese, Van Dyck and Hals?

Answer 15

Christ Church Picture Gallery is an art museum holding an important collection of about 300 Old Master paintings

Question 16

Name the duke whose collection started the Bodleian Library.

Answer 16

Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester

Question 17

Name the main teaching hospital for Oxford University.

Answer 17

The Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Churchill Hospital, the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury

Question 18

What is a “don” in relation to Oxford University?

Answer 18

A don is a fellow or tutor of a college or university, especially traditional collegiate universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in England and Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. The usage is also found in Canada and in the United States.
Like the term don used for Roman Catholic priests, the term don derives from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord”, and is a historical remnant of Oxford and Cambridge having started as ecclesiastical institutions in the Middle Ages

Question 19

Who is the current Chancellor of Oxford University?

Answer 19

The Rt Hon Lord Hague of Richmond was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford in November 2024

Question 20

Name the patron saint of Oxford University.

Answer 20

St Frideswide

Henry Chichele, the archbishop of Canterbury, officially declared Frideswide the patron saint of Oxford and the University of Oxford in 1440

Question 21

What is “Formal Hall”?

Answer 21

A Formal Hall is a formal meal held ceremoniously in the colleges and halls of Oxford and other collegiate universities. Students dress in formal attire and gowns to attend Formal Halls. Some Oxford colleges have elaborate traditions linked to the Formal Hall. For example, some say Grace before the meal, in some cases in Latin. Sometimes, academic gowns are compulsory. Other times students can wear formal wear such as a lounge suit. Oxford Formal Halls usually include a high table that is exclusive for the college’s Senior Common Room and its guests. This table is usually raised above the floor level although some colleges like Wolfson College and Linacre College have discontinued this tradition to promote equality

Question 22

Name the architect of the Radcliffe Camera.

Answer 22

James Gibbs in a Baroque style and built in 1737–49

Question 23

Name the University Church in Oxford.

Answer 23

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin (St Mary’s or SMV for short) is an Anglican church in Oxford situated on the north side of the High Street

Question 24

Name the king whose statue is on top of the Tower of Five Orders.

Answer 24

Statue of King James VI and I ; Date: 1620 ; Artist: John Clark ; Location: Tower of the Five Orders (of Architecture), Bodleian Library Old Schools Quad

Question 25

Where in Oxford would you find the Einstein Blackboard?

Answer 25

Oxford's History of Science Museum

Question 26

In what sport associated with Oxford do you get “blades” and “spoons”?

Answer 26

Rowing Blades: If you bump up every day then your crew wins “Blades” and the crew can buy blades with the names of their crew painted on. Spoons: If a crew is bumped everyday (every college rower’s nightmare) then they get “Spoons”.

Question 27

Name the UK comedian who received an honorary degree from Oxford University in June 2022.

Answer 27

Sir Lenny Henry CBE

Question 28

What is the name of the shopping centre in Oxford?

Answer 28

Westgate Oxford

Question 29

Name the middle term at Oxford University.

Answer 29

Hilary University terms Michaelmas term from October to December Hilary term from January to March Trinity term from April to June

Question 30

Where do Oxford University students take their final exams?

Answer 30

The majority of in-person exams will occur at the Examination Schools on the High Street or Ewert House in Summertown. A small number of exams will also take place at: the Doctoral Training Centre, the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre, the St Cross Building and St Luke's Chapel.

Question 31

What is the name of the oldest quad in Merton College?

Answer 31

Mob Quadrangle, the oldest quadrangle in the University, was built in three phases: the Treasury c.1288-91; the north and east ranges and the Sacristy c.1304-11; and the Library on the south and west sides 1373-8. Mob Library is the oldest continuously-functioning library for university academics and students in the world. The Gatehouse dates from the early fifteenth century, when Henry V granted a royal 'licence to crenellate', which allowed for the construction of the battlement tower above the present-day Lodge.

Question 32

Name the architect of the Sheldonian.

Answer 32

Christopher Wren, then Professor of Astronomy at Oxford

Question 33

What is the Oxford University motto (in Latin)?

Answer 33

Dominus illuminatio mea (Latin for 'The Lord is my light') is the incipit (opening words) of Psalm 27 and is used by the University of Oxford as its motto

Question 34

Name the American politician who received an honorary degree from the University of Oxford in September 2021.

Answer 34

Hilary Clinton

Question 35

What is the Oxford Vaccine Group famous for developing?

Answer 35

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca

Question 36

The Bridge of Sighs is part of the buildings for which Oxford College?

Answer 36

Hertford College Hertford Bridge, often called the Bridge of Sighs, is a skyway joining two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane in Oxford, England

Question 37

What post did J.R.R Tolkien hold at Oxford University?

Answer 37

1925-1945 Pembroke College, Oxford: Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo Saxon 1946-1959 Merton College, Oxford: Professor of English Language and Literature

Question 38

Which Oxford college would you take a Lewis Carroll fan to visit?

Answer 38

Christ Church College This is where Lewis Carroll worked as a mathematics lecturer and where he met the real Alice. The college’s Great Hall is said to have inspired the setting for the Mad Hatter’s tea party

Question 39

What is the annual tuition fee for a UK undergraduate student at Oxford University?

Answer 39

£9,535 for 2025-26

Question 40

Name the king who made Oxford his capital.

Answer 40

During the Civil War, Oxford briefly became Charles I's capital

Question 41

The church at Bladon is dedicated to which saint?

Answer 41

Saint Martin St Martin's Parish Church It is best known for the graves of the Spencer-Churchill family, including Sir Winston Churchill, in its churchyard.

Question 42

Name the college where Boris Johnson was a student.

Answer 42

In his youth Johnson attended Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford, and he was elected president of the Oxford Union in 1986

Question 43

How many students, undergraduate and postgraduate combined, are usually studying at Oxford University (to the nearest thousand)?

Answer 43

27,000 As of December 2025: 26,595

Question 44

In 1920, what was granted to women at Oxford university for the first time?

Answer 44

October 1920 saw Oxford University finally grant women full membership and the right to take degrees

Question 45

Name ONE well-known writer associated with Hertford college.

Answer 45

Evelyn Waugh Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires Decline and Fall (1928) and A Handful of Dust (1934), the novel Brideshead Revisited (1945), and the Second World War trilogy Sword of Honour (1952–1961). He is recognised as one of the great prose stylists of the English language in the 20th century

Question 46

A statue of which controversial British politician and colonialist can be seen on Oriel college

Answer 46

Cecil Rhodes

Question 47

What subjects are studied at the new Reuben college opened in 2021

Answer 47

It will focus on interdisciplinary research addressing future global challenges including cellular research (and vaccine development), environmental change and AI

Question 48

What is the official colour of the University of Oxford?

Answer 48

Oxford Blue, a shade of navy blue, is the official colour of the University of Oxford

Question 49

Name the car manufacturer that currently owns Mini cars.

Answer 49

BMW

Question 50

Which museum in Oxford has a strong collection of Pre-Raphaelite art?

Answer 50

The Ashmolean has a strong collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, much of which come from the collection of Thomas Combe, the Superintendent of the Clarendon Press at Oxford. His bust stands in the gallery, surrounded by works which his widow bequeathed to the museum.

Question 51

Name the author of the book trilogy His Dark Materials, based partly in Oxford and featuring the fictional Jordan College, which was made into two BBC TV series.

Answer 51

Philip Pullman

Question 52

Which early 20th century literary group met at the “Eagle and Child” pub?

Answer 52

The Eagle and Child, nicknamed "the Bird and Baby" It has associations with the Inklings writers' group which included J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

Question 53

Name TWO places in Oxford where you could take Harry Potter fans.

Answer 53

(i) Bodleian Library: The Divinity School - Hogwarts Hospital Wing (ii) New College: Cloisters - Hogwarts hallways Bodleian Library: Duke Humfrey’s Library Bodleian Library: The Divinity School New College: Cloisters New College: Courtyard Christ Church: Bodley Tower Staircase Christ Church: Cloisters Christ Church: Dining Hall

Question 54

The Bodleian is a copyright library. What does that mean?

Answer 54

A copy of all British publications should be deposited in its collections by the publisher under copyright law. The Bodleian Libraries Group includes, amongst many others, the (central) Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Science Library, Art Archaeology and Ancient World Library and the Bodleian Social Science Library.

Question 55

Name the Queen who escaped from Oxford Castle.

Answer 55

Empress Matilda, AD 1142

Question 56

Name the most recent member of the Churchill family to be buried at the family plot in Bladon in 2014.

Answer 56

Mary Soames, Baroness Soames (née Spencer Churchill; 15 September 1922 – 31 May 2014) was an English author However, Winston and Clementine’s daughter Marigold, originally buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in 1921, was re-interred in Churchill plot at Bladon in 2020

Question 57

Name the third term at Oxford university which runs from April to June.

Answer 57

Trinity

Question 58

Name the college where CS Lewis was elected a fellow in 1925.

Answer 58

Magdalen College, Oxford, where he worked for nearly thirty years, from 1925 to 1954

Question 59

In which year were women first awarded degrees at Oxford?

Answer 59

1920

Question 60

What was the time difference between ‘Oxford Time’ and the time at Greenwich?

Answer 60

5 minutes and 2 seconds behind GMT

Question 61

What is Encaenia?

Answer 61

The meaning of ENCAENIA is an annual university ceremony (as at Oxford) of commemoration with recital of poems and essays and conferring of degrees

Question 62

Name TWO former all-women Oxford colleges.

Answer 62

(i) Lady Margaret Hall (ii) Somerville College

Question 63

Which Oxford college was founded by William of Wykeham?

Answer 63

New College was founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham (1324-1404), Bishop of Winchester, as The College of St Mary of Winchester in Oxford

Question 64

Name the Chancellor whose statue stands in the Old Schools Quad.

Answer 64

William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke served as chancellor of the University of Oxford, and in 1624 founded Pembroke College.

Question 65

Name the 20th century British artist associated with Cookham.

Answer 65

Stanley Spencer

Question 66

Name the woman Winston Churchill married.

Answer 66

Clementine Ogilvy Spencer-Churchill, Baroness Spencer-Churchill, GBE (née Hozier; 1 April 1885 – 12 December 1977)

Question 67

Name the Pre-Raphaelite artist who designed the window in Christ Church Cathedral which depicts the life of St Frideswide.

Answer 67

Edward Burne-Jones

Question 68

Who described Oxford as ‘that sweet city with its dreaming spires’?

Answer 68

Matthew Arnold

Question 69

What is unique about the members of All Souls College?

Answer 69

Unique to All Souls, all of its members automatically become fellows (i.e., full members of the college's governing body). It has no student members, but each year, recent graduates are eligible to apply for a small number of examination fellowships through a competitive examination (once described as "the hardest exam in the world") and, for those shortlisted after the examinations, an interview.

Question 70

What is the largest manufacturing industry in the Cowley district of Oxford?

Answer 70

Cowley is best known for its automotive industry - historically it was the home of the car manufacturer Morris (later absorbed into British Leyland, then the Rover Group), which has now evolved into Mini.

Question 71

What academic subject did Charles Dodgson (also known as Lewis Carroll) teach at Oxford?

Answer 71

Mathematics

Question 72

Name the Oxford college where 13 British Prime Ministers studied.

Answer 72

Christ Church As of July 2024, of the 58 prime ministers to date, 31 were educated at the University of Oxford (including 13 at Christ Church), and 14 at the University of Cambridge (including six at Trinity College).

Question 73

Which range of hills does the M40 cut through on the journey from London to Oxford?

Answer 73

Chiltern Hills

Question 74

What is a ‘Gaudy’?

Answer 74

At the University of Oxford, the term Gaudy ('Gaude' at New College) is a college feast/celebration bringing Old Members and their contemporaries back to their College.

Question 75

Where is the UK’s most famous annual rowing regatta held?

Answer 75

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839

Question 76

Where exactly in the grounds of Blenheim Palace did Winston Churchill propose to his future wife Clementine Hozier?

Answer 76

The Temple of Diana is famous as being the place where Winston Churchill proposed to his future wife Clementine Hozier.

Question 77

Who designed Blenheim Palace?

Answer 77

Architect Sir John Vanbrugh

Question 78

How many colleges are there in Oxford university?

Answer 78

In the context of graduate admissions, ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls. 36 colleges 3 societies 4 permanent private halls (PPHs) of religious foundation

Question 79

Name the architect of the Radcliffe Camera.

Answer 79

Architect James Gibbs in the English Palladian style and took nearly 20 years to complete

Question 80

Which Oxford building was used as the Infirmary of Hogwarts school in one of the Harry Potter films?

Answer 80

Bodleian Library – Divinity School

Question 81

Approximately how many undergraduates study at Oxford University?

Answer 81

12,375

Question 82

In what year did the Duke of Marlborough win his great victory at the Battle of Blenheim?

Answer 82

1704

Question 83

Who designed the parkland at Blenheim Palace?

Answer 83

Capability Brown also redesigned the entire 2,000 acres of Gardens and Parkland

Question 84

Where exactly in Oxford were the Martyrs (Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley) burned at the stake in 1555/1556?

Answer 84

The men were burnt at the stake just outside the city walls to the north, where Broad Street is now located. Latimer and Ridley were burnt on 16 October 1555 for denying the Roman Catholic dogma of Transubstantiation. Cranmer was burnt five months later on 21 March 1556.

Question 85

In which Oxford College is May Morning celebrated by the choir singing from the top of the Tower?

Answer 85

Magdalen The first day of May has begun at 6am with Magdalen College Choir singing from the top of the Great Tower, welcoming the rising sun

Question 86

How many printed items does the Bodleian Library contain?

Answer 86

13 million Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in Britain after the British Library.

Question 87

What is the main purpose of the Sheldonian Theatre?

Answer 87

Located in Oxford's medieval city centre, the Sheldonian Theatre is the principal assembly room of the University. The theatre is used for music concerts, lectures and University ceremonies, but not for drama until 2015 when the Christ Church Dramatic Society staged a production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

Question 88

Name the architect of the Clarendon Building.

Answer 88

The architect Nicholas Hawksmoor's first building in Oxford was a new University printing house (now known at the Clarendon Building). It was built in 1712-13

Question 89

Name TWO museums or art galleries in Oxford.

Answer 89

a) Ashmolean Museum b) Christ Church Picture Gallery c) History of Science Museum

Question 90

Which college contains a cathedral?

Answer 90

Christ Church's college chapel is also the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford

Question 91

What is the “New Bodleian” Library now called?

Answer 91

The Weston Library is part of the Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, reopened within the former New Bodleian Library building on the corner of Broad Street and Parks Road in central Oxford, England

Question 92

In which decade were women first admitted to some of the male only colleges?

Answer 92

?

Question 93

What is the name of the tower that stands at the junction of High Street, Cornmarket Street, St Aldate's and Queen Street in Oxford?

Answer 93

The Carfax Tower, also known as St Martin's Tower (the remaining part of the City Church of St Martin of Tours) is a prominent landmark

Question 94

Name ONE 20th century British Prime Minister who was educated at Oxford University.

Answer 94

Margaret Thatcher

Question 95

Who was the founder of Trinity College?

Answer 95

Trinity's Founder Sir Thomas Pope was a privy councillor of Queen Mary Tudor. His vision for his new College was of a small community of clerics, diligent in their studies and in teaching undergraduates, and faithful in saying daily prayers for the souls of himself and his wife, Lady Elizabeth

Question 96

Name Henry V’s brother, after whom the oldest part of the Bodleian Library is named.

Answer 96

Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester and younger brother of King Henry V, gave the University his priceless collection of more than 281 manuscripts, including several important classical texts. The University decided to build a new library for them over the new Divinity School; it was begun in 1478 and finally opened in 1488.

Question 97

Why was Sir Winston Churchill buried in Bladon churchyard?

Answer 97

It was Churchill’s wish to be buried near his parents and other family members, and Bladon is near Blenheim Palace, his birthplace.

Question 98

Name the church in Oxford that was used for the awarding of degrees and for meetings and lectures until the 17th century.

Answer 98

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin (St Mary's or SMV for short) is an Anglican church in Oxford situated on the north side of the High Street. It is the centre from which the University of Oxford grew and its parish consists almost exclusively of university and college buildings.

Question 99

(i) In what year was the Ashmolean Museum founded? (ii) Name the founder.

Answer 99

i) 1682 ii) The wealthy antiquary Elias Ashmole gifted his collection to the University

Question 100

Which Oxford College did the former American president Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea attend?

Answer 100

University College in the University of Oxford and colloquially referred to as "Univ"

Question 101

What is the maximum group size permitted to enter Christ Church college at each booked time slot?

Answer 101

22?

Question 102

Name ONE location in Oxford where there are free public toilets suitable for group use, that are open on Sundays.

Answer 102

Gloucester Green, George Street Market Street Magdalen Street East, Magdalen Street Westgate Shopping Centre, Westgate

Question 103

A 14th century brass sanctuary door knocker gives its name to which college?

Answer 103

Brasenose College

Question 104

In what month does the Henley Royal Regatta take place?

Answer 104

July The regatta lasts for six days (Tuesday to Sunday) ending on the first weekend in July

Question 105

Who is the new Chancellor for Oxford University?

Answer 105

William Hague.

Question 106

Which Oxford College did Keir Starmer attend?

Answer 106

St Edmund Hall He was active politically as a teenager, and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Leeds in 1985 and received a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree from the University of Oxford where he was a student at St Edmund Hall in 1986.

Question 107

Name the former NZ Prime Minister who received an honorary degree from Oxford University in June 2025

Answer 107

Former NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Other recipients of honorary degrees this year are: parliamentarian and broadcaster, Lord Bragg, journalist, Clive Myrie, Professor Serhii Plokhii of Harvard University, Professor Timothy Snyder of Yale University, Professor Colm Tóibín of Columbia University, Professor Robert S Langer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor Erwin Neher, Emeritus Director of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences

Question 108

Name the first term at Oxford University

Answer 108

Michaelmas University terms Michaelmas term from October to December Hilary term from January to March Trinity term from April to June

Question 109

Name the third term at Oxford University

Answer 109

Trinity University terms Michaelmas term from October to December Hilary term from January to March Trinity term from April to June

Question 110

How many times does the bell Great Tom at Christ Church College ring at 9:05pm every night?

Answer 110

At 9.05pm (9pm "Oxford Time") every evening Great Tom, Christ Church College's famous bell, rings out 101 times. This dates from the foundation of the college when the bell rang once for each of the college's original 101 students, in order to tell them to return to the college before the gates were locked. The bell then remains silent until 8am the next morning when it returns to striking every hour, on the hour (Greenwich Time) until 9pm in the evening.