Blog
Application-cycle news, interview strategy and preparation guides for ST3 Trauma & Orthopaedics.
16 August 2026
BOAST Guidelines: The 2027 Interview Summary
Six BOA standards dominate the ST3 T&O clinical station: open fractures (antibiotics within 1 hour, debridement 12/24 hours), frailty (surgery within 36 hours), compartment syndrome (revised July 2025), first-time patellar dislocation (Dec 2024), soft-tissue infections (Jul 2025) and arterial injuries (Jun 2026).
16 August 2026
Reading List for the ST3 Orthopaedic Interview (2027)
Read the current named BOASTs (the numbering is gone), NICE CG124 and NG37–NG41, the GIRFT orthopaedic reports and the updated cauda equina pathway, plus one landmark trial per core topic. That covers the 50-mark Clinical station and the technical-knowledge marks in Communication.
16 August 2026
ST3 T&O Self-Assessment 2027: Every Question and Score Explained
The 2027 ST3 T&O self-assessment has 13 questions worth 34 of the 234 interview points. The biggest single scorer is T&O experience: 10–36 months earns 8 points, while 60+ months drops back to 1. Every claim is verified against your uploaded evidence before interview.
16 August 2026
The ST3 Orthopaedic Communication Station: How To Score Highly
The ST3 T&O communication station is a 10-minute role-play with an actor over Qpercom, marked across five domains worth 10 marks each — 50 of the 234 interview marks. Score highly by gathering before giving, using SPIKES for bad news, and knowing the duty of candour steps cold.
16 August 2026
How To Structure Your Orthopaedic CV for ST3 in 2027
Structure your orthopaedic CV around the 13 domains of the 2027 ST3 T&O self-assessment, strongest sections first, with a one-page summary opening each domain. The self-assessment feeds 34 of the 234 interview marks — and 2 of those are awarded purely for how well your evidence is organised.
16 August 2026
How To Prepare For The ST3 Orthopaedic Interview
Start six months out: bank self-assessment points first (they lock at application), then revise BOASTs and hot topics, and keep the final six weeks for timed spoken practice and mocks. The 2027 interview is four 10-minute online stations worth 200 of 234 marks; the self-assessment contributes 34.
16 August 2026
ST3 Trauma & Orthopaedic Interview 2027: Ultimate Guide
The 2027 ST3 T&O selection is a 13-question self-assessment plus four 10-minute online stations, scored out of 234. Applications are expected to open in November 2026, with interviews TBC — March 2027 expected. In 2026 the appointability threshold was 146; the 2027 threshold is not yet published.
Frequently asked questions
What does the blog cover?
Application-cycle news (dates, handbook and self-assessment changes), preparation strategy, and station-by-station guides for the ST3 Trauma & Orthopaedics interview.
How current is the advice?
Posts are written for the 2027 cycle using the published 2027 self-assessment scoring system and the current BOAST/NICE standards, and are updated when the official documents change.