ST3 Trauma and Orthopaedic Interview 2027 Overview

The interview format

In 2027 there is expected to be a single online interview consisting of 4 sections or stations each lasting 10-minutes. The total interview time will be 60-minutes with an additional 30-minutes for ID and document checking. You will also be scored on your Self-Assessment completed at the time of application. The online interview is designed to assess the selection criteria on the Person Specification.

The interview format is very similar to the single interview system used prior to national selection and features multiple sections or stations. The interview will be staffed by two interviewers (consultants), each of whom will award you a mark on each of the aspects on which you are being assessed. The key areas assessed will include clinical knowledge and motivational questions together with ability to work under pressure.

The four stations

• Portfolio — In this section you will be interviewed about elements of your career and experience to date. The total time allocated for the Portfolio station is ten minutes. You will be assessed independently by two interviewers.
• Clinical — This section will be based on a clinical scenario. The time allocated for the Clinical station is ten minutes. You will be assessed independently by two interviewers.
• Prioritisation — This section will be a prioritisation exercise. The time allocated for this station is ten minutes. You will be assessed independently by two interviewers.
• Communication — Based on a scenario involving communication with a patient. The time allocated for this station is ten minutes. You will be assessed independently by two interviewers.

The Trauma and Orthopaedic ST3 interviews are held online. In the 2026 cycle they ran from Tuesday 24th to Friday 27th March; the 2027 dates are TBC but expected in late March 2027.

Scoring

Your performance in each domain will be scored using a structured scoring system. Scores from each interview station and your validated Self-Assessment will be combined to produce your overall interview score. The maximum available interview score in 2027 is 234. Your ranking will be based on your overall interview score and your individual station scores. To be considered appointable you will need to achieve a minimum overall score — in the 2026 cycle this was 146 (against that year’s slightly different total of 232); the 2027 threshold will be confirmed in the applicant handbook.

Each station is scored by two consultant interviewers out of a set score. The portfolio (Commitment to Specialty) station is made up of two scores: a score out of 34 for your validated self-assessment from the application and a score out of 50 for your performance at the station itself, producing a score of 84 overall. Each station is marked across five domains of 10 marks each.

• Portfolio /50 + Self-Assessment /34
• Prioritisation /50
• Clinical Station /50
• Communication Station /50

In the event of tied overall interview scores, the individual station scores in the order below will be used to differentiate between candidates: 1. Total interview score 2. Total Clinical score 3. Total Prioritisation score 4. Total Communication score 5. Total Commitment to Specialty score 6. Validated Self-Assessment score