Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1)
Walk into your Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview already knowing how you will answer
Rehearse for your Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview against an AI interviewer who challenges your answers. Get feedback on any session you finish, in seconds.
What is the Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview, and how do you practise for it?
National recruitment to run-through Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1, coordinated by NHS England – Wessex. The online interview on Qpercom Recruit has two stations of about 25 minutes: five structured questions, and three communication-skills questions. The question areas are given only to invited applicants, and no marking domains or pass mark are published; your verified self-assessment score carries into the final score. MedMock lets you practise it out loud against an AI interview panel, with examiner-style feedback on any station you finish.
Last updated 29 October 2026
About Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1) recruitment
Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1, 2025 recruitment round (Round 1). NHS England competition ratios
- For 2027 Cardiothoracic Surgery recruitment, applications open at 10:00am on 22 October 2026 and close at 4:00pm on 19 November 2026. Interviews are on 22 and 23 February 2027.
- Cardiothoracic Surgery recruitment for 2027 follows the Round 1 timetable. The Wessex page states that the August 2026 intake was the last year of recruitment to ST4 Thoracic Surgery posts.
- Applicants to Cardiothoracic Surgery must have 18 months or less combined experience in cardiac and/or thoracic surgery, congenital cardiac surgery and cardiothoracic transplantation by the closing date.
- All post-Foundation experience in these specialties counts towards the combined limit, whatever the post level, whether paid or unpaid, and in any country.
- Applicants must not hold, or be eligible to hold, a Certificate of Completion of Training, or already be eligible for the specialist register for this specialty.
- The 2027 Cardiothoracic Surgery person specification adds one essential criterion: recognising and initially managing an acutely ill patient.
Checked on 13 October 2026 against Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 National Recruitment (NHS England Wessex) and Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 person specification 2027. Recruitment changes each year: confirm on the official pages before you apply.
Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview practice, on demand
MedMock gives you an AI interviewer who challenges your answers, available 24/7. Pick a station, have a spoken conversation, and ask for examiner-style feedback when you finish, scored against what genuinely matters in the Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1.
How it works
Choose a station
Choose the kind of question or scenario you want to rehearse — ethics, motivation, a role-play, and more.
Have the conversation
Speak naturally, out loud. The AI interviewer listens and asks the demanding follow-ups, just as a real interviewer would.
Get instant feedback
The moment you finish, you get specific, examiner-style feedback and a score — what you did well, what cost you marks, and precisely what to fix before the next attempt.
Practise every scenario
MedMock covers the stations you will face in the Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview. Rehearse each one until it feels routine.
5 Structured Questions
About 25 minutes of five structured questions from the panel. The areas are not published; here they cover clinical judgement and decision-making, team working, reflection, working under pressure, and your audit, research and teaching.
3 communications skills questions
About 25 minutes of three communication-skills questions from the panel, with no role-player. Here they cover consent, breaking bad news, and difficult conversations or disagreement.
Sample Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1) interview questions
Two questions from the topics that come up most in MedMock's Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1) bank.
“Present your motivation for ST1 training in cardiothoracic surgery.”
“Discuss your approach to consent for emergency cardiac surgery.”
Example scenarios
A sample of the Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 scenarios you can practise, each as a spoken conversation.
“Tell us about a time you worked under significant pressure during your training so far — what did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn that you would apply as a cardiothoracic trainee?”
“How would you obtain consent for a high-risk redo CABG in an 80-year-old with reduced cognitive reserve? Walk us through your approach and how you would handle a family member who disagreed with the patient's wishes.”
Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1) recruitment dates 2026–27
The next Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1) recruitment date we hold is: Applications 22 October 2026 to 19 November 2026 (national Round 1). Checked against NHS England Medical Specialty Recruitment on 24 September 2026.
Open now: Applications 22 October 2026 to 19 November 2026 (national Round 1)
Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1) is recruited through NHS England’s national recruitment round 1, which the national timeline says is for CT1/ST1 posts. Applications are made on Oriel.
Recruitment dates change. MedMock is not affiliated with NHS England Medical Specialty Recruitment; confirm every date, application window and venue on the official site before you apply. NHS England Medical Specialty Recruitment
Cardiothoracic Surgery (ST1) practice — your questions answered
How does the feedback work?
When you finish a station you can have it marked, and the scorecard comes back in seconds — what you did well, what cost you marks, and exactly what to work on next. Scorecards, mark schemes and model answers are included at no extra credit cost.
Can I practise specific Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 stations?
Yes. You can pick either station to drill a weak area, or run a mixed set to simulate the real interview.
How much does it cost?
You can start with a one-off £5 taster: 30 credits, which is 30 minutes of speaking practice, with no subscription. After that, or at any time, you can choose a monthly plan, which includes a monthly credit allowance. Current prices are on the pricing page.
Formats change from year to year: check the official candidate guidance or applicant handbook from the body that runs your exam or interview (the Royal Colleges, NHS England, the GMC and others) for your sitting.
Ready for your Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview?
Rehearse real Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 scenarios out loud and get instant, examiner-style feedback.
- Instant, personalised feedback
- Real voice-to-voice conversation
- Repeatable attempts, a different run every time
Related exams to practise
Be ready for your Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview before you walk in
Start with the £5 taster, a one-off payment for 30 credits: practise Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview scenarios out loud and get any of them marked when you are ready.
Practise your Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 interview