Self-Assessment Questions
Candidates applying for the 2020 Core Surgical Training interviews have to complete a set of self-assessment questions during their application. The answers you give to these questions are validated during the portfolio station on the interview day and make up a significant proportion of your overall interview score. You have to provide evidence to support your answers for each question and can get referred to a probity panel if you are suspected of trying to mislead the interviewers with the evidence you have provided.
The questions, the different responses you can select, and examples of the evidence accepted for each question are shown below. These are taken from the These are taken from the 2020 Self-Assessment and Portfolio Guidance for Candidates document. These change slightly every year so don’t rely on them being the same in future years.
Key Skill: Postgraduate degrees and qualifications and additional degrees | |
Response | Scoring Range |
|
0 |
|
2 |
|
4 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
Original degree certificate |
Key Skill: Additional Achievements | |
Response | Scoring Range |
None/other: Please specify | 0 |
Scholarship/bursary/equivalent awarded during medical undergraduate training or Foundation Training | 2 |
One prize/distinction/merit related to parts of the medical undergraduate training or Foundation Training awarded to no more than the top 20% | 3 |
More than one prize/distinction/merit related to parts of the medical undergraduate training or Foundation Training awarded to no more than the top 20% High-achievement award for primary medical qualification (e.g. honours or distinction) awarded to no more than the top 10% |
4 |
Awarded national prize related to medicine (open to all trainees) | 5 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Quality Improvement (clinical audit) | |
Response | Scoring Range |
None/other: Please specify | 0 |
I have participated only in certain stages of a quality improvement project or clinical audit | 3 |
I have actively participated in using QI methodology through a QI project or clinical audit; but I have not presented the complete results at a meeting within a local Trust | 5 |
I have actively participated in using QI methodology through a QI project or clinical audit; and I have presented the results at a meeting within local Trust | 7 |
I have designed, led and implemented change using QI methodology through a QI project or clinical audit; and have presented re-audited results at a local meeting | 9 |
I have designed, led and implemented change using QI methodology through a QI project or clinical audit; and I have presented the re-audited results at a Regional or National meeting | 11 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Teaching Experience | |
Response | Scoring Range |
No evidence of teaching | 0 |
I have taught medical students or other healthcare professionals occasionally. I have evidence of formal feedback | 2 |
I have provided regular teaching for healthcare professionals or medical students over a period of approximately three months or longer. I have evidence of formal feedback | 4 |
I have organised a local teaching programme for healthcare professionals or medical students consisting of more than one session and contributed regularly to teaching over a period of approximately three months or longer. I have evidence of formal feedback | 6 |
I have worked with local tutors to design and organise a teaching programme (a series of sessions) to enhance locally organised teaching for healthcare professionals or medical students. I have contributed regularly to teaching over a period of approximately three months or longer. I have evidence of formal feedback | 8 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Training in Teaching | |
Response | Scoring Range |
I have had no training in teaching methods | 0 |
I have had brief training in teaching methods lasting no more than two days or online modules. I can provide evidence to demonstrate this | 2 |
I have had substantial training in teaching methods lasting more than two days. I can provide evidence to demonstrate this I am currently undertaking a course for a higher qualification in Teaching and can provide evidence to demonstrate this |
3 |
I have higher qualification in teaching e.g. PG Cert, PG Dip, MA/MSc | 4 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Presentations | |
Response | Scoring Range |
None/other please specify | 0 |
I have given an oral presentation, or shown one or more posters at a local medical meeting(s) I have shown one or more posters at a regional medical meeting(s) |
2 |
I have shown one poster at a national or international medical meeting I have given an oral presentation at a regional medical meeting |
4 |
I have given an oral presentation at a national or international medical meeting I have shown more than one poster at national or international medical meetings |
6 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Publications | |
Response | Scoring Range |
None | 0 |
I have published one or more abstracts or non-peer-reviewed articles I am first author, joint-first author, or co-author of one PubMed-cited other publication (or in press) |
2 |
I am co-author, of one Pub-Med-cited original research publication (or in press) I am first author, joint-first author, or co-author of more than one PubMed-cited other publication (or in press) |
4 |
I am co-author of two or more PubMed-cited original research publication (or in press) I am first author, or joint-first author, of one PubMedcited original research publication (or in press) |
6 |
I am first author, or joint-first author, of two or more PubMed-cited original research publications (or in press) | 8 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
Publication in Portfolio and Reference (Pub-Med) |
Key Skill: Leadership and Management | |
Response | Scoring Range |
None/other: please specify | 0 |
I hold/have held a local leadership or managerial role related to my role as a doctor or medical student for 6 or more months and can demonstrate a positive impact | 4 |
I hold/have held a regional leadership or managerial role related to my role as a doctor or medical student for 6 or more months and can demonstrate a positive impact | 6 |
I hold/have held a national leadership or managerial role related to my role as a doctor or medical student for 6 or more months and can demonstrate a positive impact | 8 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Commitment to Speciality (all surgical specialties) | |
Only assessed at interview |
|
Response | Scoring Range |
Gives clear examples of commitment to surgery in portfolio evidenced by examples shown below (not scored in another section of the Portfolio)
Courses:
|
0 to 12 points 2 points each for six commitments to surgery Maximum two courses to score |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Clinical / procedural experience in both surgical and nonsurgical posts | |
Response | Scoring Range |
No evidence of clinical / procedural experience in either surgical or non-surgical posts | 0 |
Evidence of clinical / procedural experience in either surgical or non-surgical posts commensurate with time in training | 1 |
Evidence of clinical / procedural experience in either surgical or non-surgical posts ahead of expected competencies at current stage in training | 2 |
Evidence of clinical / procedural experience in either surgical or non-surgical posts well ahead of expected competencies at current stage in training | 3 |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
|
Key Skill: Organisation of Portfolio | |
Only assessed at interview |
|
Response | Scoring Range |
|
0 to 3 points |
Examples of Acceptable Evidence | |
Organisation of Portfolio Folder |
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