Tell me about yourself

This one sets the first impression. Ninety seconds, three sentences - not five minutes.

The answer most people give

A chronological walk through your CV, starting at university.

It is not wrong. It is simply not scoreable - and a panel can only award marks for something it can point at.

The answer that scores

Three sentences: where you are now, the one thing you are known for, and why you are here.

The two-minute test

Say your answer out loud and time it. Under 90 seconds and there is usually too little action in it to mark. Over four minutes and a panel starts editing you down in their head. Aim for two to two and a half minutes: the situation, what you were asked to do, what you did step by step, what changed, and one line of reflection.

Practise it out loud

Reading an answer back tells you it is correct. Saying it tells you whether you can get it out of your mouth in the time you have. https://dontbombit.com asks you the question and scores what you actually said.