What Kira is actually grading (it isn't your English)

Sep 29, 2026

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If a Kira interview is sitting in your inbox this cycle, take a breath. I recorded a new video recently that walks through the whole thing, and I want to give you the most important piece right here.

Most applicants assume Kira is a test of polish. It isn't.

You get a question, typically 5 to 20 seconds to think, then 60 to 90 seconds to answer. One attempt. The questions come from a bank, so you will not know them in advance.

Here's what the rubric actually rewards: clear communication, a specific and believable reason for this program, the ability to think on the spot, and whether you seem like someone your classmates would want in a study group.

Notice what's missing from that list. Perfect grammar. A flawless accent. Studio lighting.

Every year I watch international applicants lose points not because their English is imperfect, but because their answer could have been sent to any school.

The reviewer has watched forty of these today. What they remember is structure and specific detail.

In the video I cover the three mistakes that get strong applicants rejected, and exactly how to prepare in focused reps rather than months.

Watch it → HERE.

That’s it for this week.

Keep showing up, keep cheering each other on — and as always, happy applying! 💛

Caitlin Andersen

Admissions Coach & Oxford MBA

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What Kira is actually grading (it isn't your English)

That’s it for this week.

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