2 . International Application

The University of Cambridge welcomes applications from suitably qualified international students. We recognize the great academic and cultural value of a diverse student body. Admitting students from outside the UK allows us to seek talent from the widest possible pool.

Attracting so many talented international applicants means competition for places is fierce. However, academic achievement and potential remain the selection criteria for senior high school candidates.

The application process

The application process is the same for all applicants. Whilst much of the information presented on this website is focused on GCE, and A Levels, many other school and national examinations at an equal level are also acceptable.

All applications to UK universities are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS）, which operates on a pre-qualification basis where offers are made in advance of applicants achieving their final grades. Offer holders are finally confirmed or rejected once the results for the relevant qualifications are received.

UCAS will require applicants’ predicted grades. A predicted grade is the grade of qualification an applicant’s school believes they are likely to achieve, all things being well. These predicted grades are used during the admissions process to help the University understand each applicant’s potential.

For a step-by-step guide, please refer to our main Applying pages.
Application fee

Most international applicants are required to pay an application fee of £60. This is a standard charge that supports the administration of the application process and maintenance of the systems used in this process. See Terms and conditions of the application fee.

1. Why does the Cambridge university welcome overseas students?

A．They are foreigners.

B．They are more qualified than local students.

C．They will provide diversity for the campus.

D．They will be recognized by the UK government.

2. Which of the following is true about the application process?

A．Gaokao results can play a part.

B．International experience is a must.

C．An offer is the guarantee of admission.

D．Applicant’s school can predict the result.

3. Who would be the most likely target reader of the text?

A．A British twelfth grader.

B．A Hong Kong eleventh grader.

C．A student in Peking University.

D．A junior high school student from Beijing.

3 . Research found that when people saw others in their herd (群体) hesitating before making a choice, they were about twice as likely to break from the group and make a different choice.

The findings have meanings for group behaviour in finance, fashion—any situation where there might be herd behaviour, Krajbich said. “Even if it appears at first that everyone is following the same trend, hesitation may show that they are not all on the same page,” he said.

The research studied 72 college students. They participated in groups of eight. When their predecessor (前任) responded slowly, participants chose against the herd about 66% of the time, compared to only 33% of the time when their predecessor chose quickly. In cases where the group was making the wrong decision, this often led people to break from the herd and make the correct choice, he said.

“A couple of bad decisions at the beginning can lead everyone to the wrong road. That’s the herd behaviour,” Krajbich said. “But what we found is that if people can see the hesitation in others’ choices, that can help them break the chain and change the course of the herd.”

Fast decisions by others can consolidate one’s own belief. For example, if a person sees their friends quickly choose to get a vaccine for COVID-19, that may make them more comfortable making the same choice, Krajbich said. If friends hesitate before getting a vaccine—even if they eventually get one—that may make a person less sure about whether to get the shot, he said.

Krajbich said the findings in the research aren’t necessary a universal rule. There may be some decisions for which taking longer to choose could indicate a more thoughtful choice. “It will be important to figure out when fast decisions signal confidence or when instead they signal thoughtlessness,” he said.

1. What will people probably do when seeing others in their herd hesitate?

A．Stop and see.

B．Criticise the trend.

C．Adopt other options.

D．Follow the majority.

2. What can be concluded from the research?

A．A wrong beginning leads to a wrong road.

B．Predecessors help speed up decision making.

C．People tend to choose against the herd without hesitation.

D．Hesitation in others’ choices helps when the majority is wrong.

3. What does the underlined word mean in the fifth paragraph?

A．Strengthen.

B．Challenge.

C．Weaken.

D．Change.

4. Why do some people make fast decisions according to Krajbich?

A．They may lack confidence.	B．They are persuaded by friends.
C．They are affected by COVID-19.	D．They may act without due consideration.

4 . In astronomy, star classification is governed by the Morgan-Keenen system, which categorizes stars based on their composition and surface temperature. The origins of this system can be traced back to the work of Annie Jump Cannon, a late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century astronomer who spent over forty years classifying stars based on their unique spectra (光谱) of transmitted light.

Beginning early in her life, Cannon demonstrated an exceptional talent for the physical sciences. As a child, she developed an interest in astronomy and transformed her study into a temporary observatory. Later, as a student at Wellesley College, Cannon earned a degree in physics and became an expert in spectroscopy, the process by which light is separated into its component wavelengths. During this period, she also took up photography and traveled extensively in order to experiment with the newly invented black-box camera.

Cannon’s background in physics, astronomy, and photography provided her with a unique skillset that would serve her well for the rest of her career. After working as a research assistant for a number of astronomers at Wellesley and Radcliffe Colleges, Cannon was hired by Professor Edward Charles Pickering, the director of the Harvard College Observatory. Under Pickering, she classified over 300,000 stars — more than any other human in history — using only a telescope, a spectrometer, and a camera. Using this knowledge, she developed her own classification system that relied on the surface temperature of the stars, which could be accurately estimated using the spectra of light transmitted from stars. It was said that Cannon could classify three stars a minute and, using a magnifying glass, could classify stars down to the 9th magnitude — sixteen times fainter than what can be seen by human eyes.

Today, Cannon’s unique classification system is used by countless astronomy enthusiasts around the world. Harlow Shapley, the astronomer who succeeded Pickering, once referred to Cannon’s contribution to astronomy as “a structure that probably will never be duplicated (复制) in kind or extent by a single individual.”

1. What do we know about Cannon according to the passage?

A．She invented black-box camera.	B．She built a star-watching spot at home.
C．She majored in photography in college.	D．She spent forty years in studying light transmission.

2. What is the principle behind Cannon’s classification system?

A．The camera could receive the spectra of light.

B．A star’s light could tell its external temperature.

C．The light of stars could be classified into nine types.

D．Approximately 300,000 stars possessed the same spectra.

3. Which of the following best describes Cannon?

A．Ambitious and generous.	B．Persistent and brave.
C．Work-addicted and honest.	D．All-around and creative.

4. What can be a suitable title for the passage?

A．A Woman Classifying the Stars	B．A Pupil Outdoing Her Master
C．Science Knows No Gender	D．Astronomy Taps Potential

6 . In a small, rough shipyard on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, a small team is building what they say will be the world’s largest ocean-going clean cargo ship.

Ceiba is the first ship built by Sailcargo, a company trying to prove that zero-carbon shipping is possible, and commercially available. Made largely of wood, Ceiba combines both very old and very new technology: sailing masts stand alongside solar panels, a uniquely designed electric engine and batteries. Once on the water, she will be capable of crossing oceans entirely without the use of fossil fuels, which sets her apart.

“The thing that is striking is the fact that she’ll have one of the largest marine electric engines of her kind in the world,” Danielle Doggett said. The system also has the means to capture energy from underwater propellers (螺旋桨) as well as solar power, so electricity will be available for the engine when needed. “Really, the only limit on how long she can stay at sea is water and food on board for the crew.”

Despite some hold-ups due to the global disaster, the team hopes to get her on the water by the end of 2024 and operating by 2025, when she will begin transporting cargo between Costa Rica and Canada.

“There are actually loads of innovations happening that could transform shipping emissions, but few companies are willing to apply them to building ships like Ceiba.” says Lucy Gilliam. “So it’s not that we don’t have great ideas. The problem that we have is that fossil fuels are still too cheap. And we don’t have the rules to force people to take up the new technology.”

When it comes to promoting this kind of boat, it has to be said that Ceiba is small for a cargo ship — tiny in fact. She will carry around nine standard shipping containers. She is also relatively slow. Being a world-first, there are some aspects of Ceiba’s design that have yet to be proven at sea.

1. What is unique about Ceiba as a cargo ship?

A．It is the world’s largest.	B．It is environment-friendly.
C．It is wooden with old technology.	D．It is modern with unique equipment.

2. What determines Ceiba’s length of staying at sea according to Danielle Doggett?

A．The size of the sail.	B．The weather of the ocean.
C．The power of the electric engine.	D．The quantity of the living supplies.

3. Why are companies unwilling to build ships like Ceiba?

A．The rules are disobeyed.	B．The fuels are affordable.
C．The bigger ships are preferable.	D．The innovations are distrusted.

4. What is the author’s attitude to the innovation of Ceiba?

A．Objective.

B．Doubtful.

C．Critical.

D．Favorable.

7 . 听下面一段短文，回答以下小题。
1. Where are drinks served all day?

A．In the cafe.

B．In the dining room.

C．By the swimming pool.

2. What will the listeners probably do around 1 p.m.?

A．Have lunch.

B．Go swimming.

C．Attend a conference.

3. What does the speaker apologize for?

A．The updated program.

B．The high temperature.

C．The late lunch.

4. Why does the conference program have to be changed?

A．Some rooms are being repaired.

B．The General Manager can’t come.

C．A speaker isn’t able to give her talk.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman’s opinion about her idea of the online business?

A．It’s unique.

B．It’s practical.

C．It’s challenging.

2. Why will the woman contact artists?

A．To see their works.

B．To look for inspiration.

C．To do business with them.

3. What will the woman do for large orders?

A．Offer free delivery.

B．Charge a small fee.

C．Give a discount.

4. What is special about the packaging?

A．It’s luxury.

B．It’s of good quality.

C．It’s environmentally friendly.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman doing?

A．Borrowing a tent.

B．Packing a tent.

C．Returning a tent.

2. What is the woman’s motivation for climbing?

A．To have fun.

B．To improve her fitness.

C．To get close to nature.

3. Where will the speakers do rock climbing together?

A．At a gym.

B．In the wild

C．At a climbing center.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why is the man at the supermarket today?

A．To do some shopping.

B．To carry out a survey.

C．To meet the owner.

2. What change did the owner make to the supermarket last year?

A．The location.

B．The name.

C．The manager.