How you are scored

What is on the mark sheet

Each station has its own sheet. In the Medical Schools Council's samples (2019), the examiner ticks task-specific points, writes brief comments and gives a global judgement out of 5. Imperial marks each answer out of 6 for content and out of 4 for communication. At Birmingham's online stations, the interviewer or role-player and a second interviewer each score you independently.

• 5, excellent: done with minimal prompting; a well-reasoned, logical answer that comes across as genuine.
• 4, good: done with minimal prompting; the skills shown to a good level.
• 3, satisfactory: done, but the examiner had to prompt you to develop it.
• 2, borderline: done only with considerable prompting; some skills shown.
• 1, unsatisfactory: only partly done; the answer seems artificial or the behaviour inappropriate.

The values behind the boxes

Mark sheets are built from values. The Medical Schools Council's statement on the core values and attributes needed to study medicine (2018 update) lists 17. Birmingham's stations, for example, assess commitment to medicine, communication, empathy, self-insight, ethical reasoning and data interpretation. In short, the 17 cover:

• Motivation and insight: genuine interest in medicine, and knowing your own strengths and weaknesses.
• Reflection and responsibility: reflecting on your own work and owning your actions.
• Thinking: academic ability, problem solving, dealing with uncertainty and managing risk.
• People: communication, teamwork, respect, and empathy with the ability to care for others.
• Character: honesty, conscientiousness, resilience, personal organisation and insight into your own health.

Evidence beats adjectives

Examiners can only tick what you show. In the Medical Schools Council's sample station on a mistake, the guidance says the scenario is not scrutinised; the reflection that follows it is. A small, ordinary story from a job, school or volunteering, told with real reflection, beats an impressive one told as a list.

• Middling: "I'm a really empathetic person." Top: "She went quiet when I mentioned her son, so I stopped and asked about him."
• Middling: "It taught me communication is important." Top: "Now I tell the senior carer anything a resident says about how they feel."
• Middling: "I work well in a team." Top: "Our newest volunteer kept eating alone, so I paired up with her on lunches."
• Middling answers list qualities. Top answers show one moment, what you did, and what changed afterwards.

Red flags that can sink a station

Some things outweigh good content. Newcastle says professionalism is monitored throughout its 2027 interviews, and Birmingham says it will likely set a minimum standard for each station except calculation. One dishonest or unsafe moment can cost more than a strong answer earns.

• Dishonesty: inventing experience or bluffing a fact. Say "I'm not sure" and reason it through instead.
• Arrogance: in the sample station, the only wrong answer to "What if you don't get a place?" is being sure you will.
• Unsafe judgement: acting beyond your role, keeping a risk to yourself, or not involving someone senior when you should.
• Judging patients: the core values statement says a doctor's beliefs or view of a patient's lifestyle must not affect their decisions.
• Running down other professions: doctors must respect the skills of the whole team, from nurses to pharmacists.

How this comes up on the day

• "What qualities do you think we are looking for?" — name two or three core values and prove each with a short example.
• "Tell me about a time you made a mistake." — a small, real mistake; spend most of your time on what you learned and changed.
• "What will you do if you don't get a place?" — calm and realistic: feedback, improve, reapply. Never "That won't happen."
• "How would your friends describe you?" — two traits, each with a quick example, not a string of adjectives.
• "Is there anything you'd like to add?" — one piece of evidence you have not used yet, in two sentences.

The words to use

Mark sheet

The examiner's form for one station: task-specific points to tick, a global judgement and space for comments.

Global judgement

The examiner's overall mark for a station, given alongside the checklist. In the Medical Schools Council's sample sheets it is out of 5.

Anchored scale

A marking scale where each score has a written description of what earns it, such as "completed with minimal prompting".

Core values statement

The Medical Schools Council's list of 17 qualities needed to study medicine (2018 update), such as honesty, empathy, teamwork and resilience.

Red flag

Something that can sink a station whatever else you say, such as dishonesty, arrogance, an unsafe decision or disrespect for patients or colleagues.

Model answer