different stations

Question 1

give instructions

Answer 1

Explain the aim to the interviewer
Very specific with your instructions
Interviewer will do what you ask but they will try to not do what is wanted in order to test you: aim is to stay calm, patient and smile
Important aspects to convey: changing communication style to adapt e.g. rewording instructions, patience and perseverance
Main point is not to get to the end of the task but your approach to the situation

Question 2

role play

Answer 2

• read the scenario carefully: look at your assigned role and the context of the scenario to adapt and tailor responses
• pay attention to how you communicate: good eye cintact, active listening (nod your head), speak slowly and clearly, briefly repeat some of the things that have been said, do not interrupt, change tone and vocab depending on context e.g. age
• show empathy: start with a brief reintroduction, give the actor a warning shot, deliver the bad news and pause after, give space for the actor to react

Question 3

prioritisation

Answer 3

• think rationally: Ground your selections in rational thinking and make sure you consider each object carefully so you can explain your reasoning to your interviewer. another way to approach this, after considering each object you chose and explaining your reasoning, is to briefly explain why you didn’t select certain objects.
• voice your reasoning aloud: The best thing to do in these situations is to communicate your thought process aloud to show that you can think clearly in these circumstances
• do no panic: Don’t feel so overwhelmed by the time frame that you rush straight into selecting objects or individuals immediately without considering why. Taking a few moments to calm yourself at the beginning of the station will make your decisions much better.

Question 4

ethics knowledge

Answer 4

When dealing with medical ethics interview questions, always try to apply the four pillars of ethics:

Patient autonomy — Does it show respect for the patient and their right to make decisions?
Non-maleficence — Does it harm the patient?
Justice — Are there consequences in the wider community?
Beneficence — Does it benefit the patient

Question 5

empathy

Answer 5

Empathy is understanding another person’s feelings or situation, and imagining what it might be like to experience these things yourself.

Phrases such as “putting yourself in another person’s shoes”, “seeing things through someone else’s eyes”, “imagining their frame of reference” or similar all suggest empathy.

It’s important that you can distinguish empathy from sympathy. The former is deeper and more involved than the latter, which merely acknowledges another person’s problems or feelings.

It involves effective person-to-person communication skills, as well as the ability to understand what another person is feeling. Use examples from your daily life or medical work experience to illustrate when you have shown this or seen it in action.

Question 6

communication

Answer 6

• break the task down: One of the best tips for giving instructions is to break the task down into smaller steps – and try to verbalise a clear, logical thought process.
• be as specific as possible: Communication questions will test your ability to explain actions and processes, so it’s important to be as specific as possible with your word choice. For example, you may be asked to give instructions to build a certain shape with coloured blocks, or you might be asked to explain to somebody how to tie shoelaces – so it’s crucial that you pay attention to your verbal communication skills
• keep calm: In addition to testing your communication skills, don’t forget that this type of MMI station is also testing your resilience, patience and ability to stay calm under pressure. It will be quite frustrating if, as described above, the other person continually misinterprets your instructions – but remember to stay calm

Question 7

confidentiality

Answer 7

To answer an MMI confidentiality question, define it as patient trust, explain its importance (ethics, autonomy), discuss the GMC guidelines on when to breach (serious harm/crime), emphasize trying to persuade the patient first, and mention the Gillick competence for minors, always showing empathy and balanced judgment, not a single right answer

Question 8

data interpretation