They are designed to stump Britain's brightest teenagers to see if they are worthy of a place at Oxford University.

The institution has released its annual sample of questions as part of a continuing bid to demystify its admissions process.

Published just days before the deadline for applications for the next academic year, put your brain power to the test with FEMAIL's pick of past admissions questions.

1. English literature candidates: JK Rowling has just published a book for adults after the hugely successful Harry Potter series. In what ways do you think that writing for children is different to writing for adults?

2. History candidates: Which person (or sort of person) in the past would you most like to interview, and why?

3. English literature candidates: Why do you think an English student might be interested in the fact that Coronation Street has been running for 50 years?

4. Computer science candidates: How do pirates divide their treasure?

5. Geography candidates: If I were to visit the area where you live, what would I be interested in?

6. Law candidates: If the punishment for parking on double yellow lines were death, and therefore nobody did it, would that be a just and effective law?

7. Medicine candidates: Why does your heart rate increase when you exercise?

8. Modern languages candidates: Should poetry be difficult to understand?

9. Modern languages candidates: What is language?

10. Biology candidates: Why do many animals have stripes?