Core Surgical Training (CST) Interview Course
With almost 5,000 applications for Core Surgical Training in 2026, every mark matters. Master the frameworks that secure top-ranked offers.
Key Features
70+ Expert Topics
Over 200 Questions
New 2027 Updates
Member Only Discussions
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About
In 2026, 4,975 applications were made for 720 Core Surgical Training posts, and it is the interview that decides who secures a post and who gets their first-choice region.
Some candidates may know content and clinical topics, but most struggle to deliver concise, structured, high-scoring answers under pressure.
That’s where we come in. The Medset CST Interview Course gives you everything you need to excel on interview day: clear frameworks for each station, step-by-step guidance from recent high-scoring trainees, and practical tools to refine your delivery. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to approach every scenario, communicate with confidence, and stand out as a polished, well-prepared future core trainee.
Each module mirrors the real CST interview, so your preparation feels focused, relevant, and realistic. You’ll develop the mindset and techniques that set top-ranking candidates apart at National Selection, focusing on the domains that carry the most marks and make the greatest impact on your overall score.
What You'll Learn
- Understand the CST interview format and scoring domains
- Structure clear, high-scoring answers using proven frameworks
- Strategies to manage time pressure and follow-up questions
- Insider tips from recent top-ranking CST candidates
- Refine your delivery, timing and confidence with realistic CST scenarios
- Focus your preparation efficiently on the areas that score the highest
Course Content
Overview & General Strategy
Introduction
How The Interview Is Structured
How To Prepare For The Interview
Key Knowledge & Reading
Communication
Interview Practice
Common Issues & Pitfalls
CST Interview Score Sheet
Clinical Stations
Introduction
Overview, Strategy & Tips
How The Station Is Structured
How To Approach Clinical Scenarios
Question Domains
Dealing With Follow Up Questions
ATLS Approach – ‘CABCDE’
CCrISP Approach – ‘ABCDE’
Frameworks
Sepsis – Definitions & Assessment
Wound Classification & SSIs
WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
Haemorrhage & Transfusion
Emergency Thoracotomy
Massive Haemothorax
Crush Syndrome
Trauma
Head Injury
Crush Injury
Abdominal Pain I
Burns Injury
Post-Op Chest Pain
Abdominal Pain II
Testicular Pain
Post-Op Shortness Of Breath
Loin Pain
Melaena
Post-Op Shortness Of Breath II
Acute Leg Pain
Upper Limb Trauma
Abdominal Pain III
Groin Pain
Abdominal Pain IV
Management Stations
Introduction
Answer Framework
NCEPOD Categories
P-Possum
ASA Classification
Clinical Audit
Audit vs Research
VTE Risk Assessment
WHO Checklist
DATIX
PALS
Capacity (Previous Station)
Unsupported In Theatre
Wrong Patient
Emergency Theatre Delay
Bed Pressures
Incomplete VTE Risk Assessment
Dismissive Registrar
Absent Colleague
Wrong Site Surgery
Bullying
Wrong Consent Form
Unequal Distribution Of Work
Leadership Presentation
Introduction
Delivering A Good Speech
Leadership Questions
Good Leadership Example
Poor Leadership Example
Leadership vs Management
Good Followership
Flexible Learning
Mock Interview Dates
Choose your preferred date then select Mock Only or Pro Bundle
Authors
Leo is a widely published and internationally prize-winning Plastic Surgery Registrar at Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospital, London. He has a passion for teaching, mentoring, and career development.
Why Medset?
Speciality interviews are competitive – and we know what it takes to succeed. Since 2013, we’ve helped thousands of doctors secure training posts by mastering the frameworks, question styles, and high-yield topics that lead to top-ranked offers.
Next-Gen Learning
Our next-generation learning platform Examable® combines expert content with progress tracking, personalised stats, smart notes, podcasts, and discussion boards – giving you everything you need to get that competitive edge.
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FAQ
What is the structure of the 2027 Core Surgical Training Interview?
The CST Interview 2027 will be held online via Qpercom and includes two 15-minute stations:
- A combined Management and Clinical station, featuring three questions (one management and two clinical scenarios).
- A Portfolio station, which replaces the self-assessment element previously submitted on Oriel.
Each question lasts around five minutes, and interviews will take place between 1 and 10 March 2027.
What happens in the Management and Clinical Station?
This 15-minute station assesses your ability to think critically, prioritise, and communicate under pressure.
- Management scenario: marked on probity, professional integrity, safety and ethics; judgement under pressure and prioritisation; and communication.
- Clinical scenarios: usually an acutely unwell or post-operative surgical patient, each marked on clinical skills and knowledge, judgement under pressure and prioritisation, and communication.
What does the Portfolio Station involve?
You’ll no longer complete a self-assessment form on Oriel. Instead, shortlisted applicants must upload an index page showing the evidence category (A–E) they believe applies to each domain.
During the 15-minute virtual station:
You’ll give a 3-minute presentation on an achievement or project.
This is followed by 2 minutes of questioning about your presentation.
Finally, you answer two 5-minute questions chosen by the assessors on two of your portfolio domains: Patients, Partnership and Communication, and Colleagues, Culture and Safety.
The assessors will assign your final score based on evidence and interview performance.
When will the 2027 CST interviews take place?
The Core Surgical Training interview window runs from Monday 1 March to Wednesday 10 March 2027. You book your interview slot on Oriel, first come, first served, by the deadline in your invitation, and all interviews are held online on Qpercom. Initial offers are released by 6 April 2027.
How is the CST interview scored for 2027?
Your selection score is out of 100: portfolio station 45, management and clinical station 45, MSRA 10. Every item at interview is scored 0 to 6. The MSRA decides who is invited (about the top 1,200); the interview then carries 90 of the 100 points.
What are the key dates for the 2027 Core Surgical Training application?
Applications open: 22 October 2026
Applications close: 19 November 2026
MSRA window: 5–18 January 2027
MSRA scores released: from 11 February 2027
Interview invites sent: 16 February 2027 (subject to change)
Portfolio evidence upload: 19–24 February 2027 (no upload, no interview)
Interview window: 1–10 March 2027
Initial offers released: by 6 April 2027
What’s the best way to prepare for the 2027 CST interview?
Success depends on structured, realistic practice. Focus on:
Applying frameworks to management scenarios
Revising emergency and post-op clinical topics using ABCDE and escalation principles
Refining your portfolio presentation and ensuring all evidence categories are clearly uploaded
Practising under timed conditions to simulate the 15-minute format
Our CST Interview Course covers the management and clinical scenarios and the presentation, with answer frameworks for each; the mock interview option adds a full mock with personal feedback.
£89
Key Features
- 70+ expert written topics
- Over 200 clinical questions
- Common & curveball stations
- New 2027 interview updates
- Mock Interview with Pro Bundle
£329
Key Features
- Full online mock interview
- Led by top-scoring trainees
- Personalised feedback
- Common & curveball stations
- Online course with Pro Bundle