【Career Development Centre of Student Affairs Office】Further Study Insider (8) — Postgraduate Admissions Interviews: A Three-Step Approach to Challenging Questions
【學生事務部 生涯發展中心】 升學情報 (八) -- 研究生入學面試：三步拆解難題的應對策略
During postgraduate admissions interviews, it is common to be asked questions that are beyond your immediate area of expertise. Handling such situations professionally demonstrates your ability to think critically under pressure.
| Step 1 | Stay calm and ask for clarification |
- Politely ask for repetition: “Would you mind rephrasing the question, please?”
- Verify your understanding: “If I understand correctly, you’re asking about…?”
| Step 2 | Provide a structured response |
Use this framework:
“From what I understand about this topic… [brief summary]. However, I would need to further explore […] I plan to do so by […] [concrete action].”
| Step 3 | Ensure a smooth transition |
- Connect to familiar ground: “This relates to my previous work on…”
- Link to your academic goals: “Actually, this is one reason why I’m particularly excited about your programme…”
| Key principles: |
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Honesty is crucial – never make up answers.
| Preparation Strategy | ||
| 1. Identify five potential knowledge gaps in advance |
2. Prepare three natural transition phrases |
3. Practice with mock interviews |
The interview is an opportunity to demonstrate your analytical abilities, not an examination. A thoughtful response to an unfamiliar question can reveal more about your research potential than a rehearsed answer.
在研究生面試中，遇到超出知識範圍的問題是常見情況。掌握專業應對技巧，展現你的臨場應變能力。
| 第一步 | 沉着釐清問題 |
- 禮貌請求重複：“能否請您再說明一下這個問題？”
- 確認理解方向：“您是想了解關於…方面的問題嗎？”
| 第二步 | 組織結構化回應 |
建議應對框架：
“我目前對這個問題的理解是…（簡述相關知識），在…方面我仍需深入鑽研，後續我計劃通過…（具體方法）來完善這方面的知識”。
| 第三步 | 巧妙轉移話題 |
- 關聯已知領域：“這個問題讓我想起曾經研究的… ”
- 突顯學習動機：“這正是我選擇貴校的原因之一… ”
| 重要原則： |
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| 實用準備建議 | ||
| 1. 提前整理五個潛在知識盲區 |
2. 準備三個轉移話題的過渡語句 |
3. 模擬練習突發問題應對 |
面試並非測驗，而是展示你思維模式的良機。沉着應對陌生問題，往往比完美答案更能體現你的研究潛力。
