Core Surgical Training (CT1)
Walk into your Core Surgical Training CT1 interview already knowing how you will answer
Rehearse for your Core Surgical Training CT1 interview against an AI interviewer who challenges your answers. Get feedback on any session you finish, in seconds.
What is the Core Surgical Training CT1 interview, and how do you practise for it?
Core Surgical Training national recruitment interview, run online on Qpercom by NHS England: two 15-minute stations, taken in either order. The Management and Clinical station asks one management scenario question and two clinical scenario questions, 5 minutes each, given during the interview with nothing to read first. The Portfolio station opens with your pre-prepared 3-minute presentation and 2 minutes of questions on it, then two 5-minute questions on portfolio domains the panel chooses. Each question is scored from 0 (no evidence) to 6 (outstanding), and the selection score is your MSRA 10%, the Portfolio station 45% and the Management and Clinical station 45%. The presentation topic is not published. Here one examiner voice speaks for each panel, and there is no uploaded portfolio for the panel to review. 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 Core Surgical Training (CT1) recruitment
Core Surgical Training CT1, 2025 recruitment round (Round 1). NHS England competition ratios
- Core Surgical Training CT1 interviews for 2027 entry are held online on the Qpercom video platform between 1 and 10 March 2027.
- The interview has two stations of 15 minutes each: a Management and Clinical station, and a Portfolio station.
- The Management and Clinical station has one management scenario question and two clinical scenario questions, with 5 minutes allowed to answer each question.
- The Portfolio station has a pre-prepared 3 minute presentation, 2 minutes of questioning on it, and two portfolio questions of 5 minutes each. The assessor selects the two domains.
- Each part of the Core Surgical Training interview is scored from 0 (no evidence) to 6 (outstanding). The remote panel has 2 members on the Management and Clinical station and 3 or 4 on the Portfolio station.
- For 2027 entry, all applicants sit the MSRA, and approximately the top 1200 candidates are invited to interview and to upload evidence for the portfolio station. A combination of MSRA and interview scores gives the final ranking.
- For 2027 entry, the evidence upload portal for the Core Surgical Training portfolio station opens on Friday 19 February 2027 and closes on Wednesday 24 February 2027.
Checked on 13 October 2026 against Interviews | Core Surgery Training, Overview of Core Surgery Training CT1/ST1 and Recruitment timelines | Core Surgery Training. Recruitment changes each year: confirm on the official pages before you apply.
Core Surgical Training CT1 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 Core Surgical Training CT1.
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 Core Surgical Training CT1 interview. Rehearse each one until it feels routine.
Portfolio Station
Your pre-prepared 3-minute presentation and 2 minutes of questions on it, then two 5-minute questions on domains of your portfolio chosen by the panel. The presentation is scored on content, presentation skills and questioning, and each portfolio answer on skills and knowledge.
Management and Clinical station
One management scenario question and two clinical scenario questions, 5 minutes each, put to you during the interview so you think on your feet. Scored on probity, professional integrity and awareness of safety and ethics; judgement under pressure and prioritisation; communication; and clinical skills and knowledge.
Sample Core Surgical Training (CT1) interview questions
Two questions from the topics that come up most in MedMock's Core Surgical Training (CT1) bank.
“What was your personal contribution to your use of data to change clinical practice?”
“A patient has acute urinary retention. How would you approach them?”
Example scenarios
A sample of the Core Surgical Training CT1 scenarios you can practise, each as a spoken conversation.
“You catch your surgical SpR falsifying a consent form prior to an emergency laparotomy. Describe your exact immediate actions.”
“A post-operative thyroidectomy patient calls for help because they are struggling to breathe and you notice a tense neck swelling. Talk me through your immediate actions.”
“Tell us about the strongest evidence in your portfolio for your formal teaching experience.”
Core Surgical Training (CT1) recruitment dates 2026–27
The next Core Surgical Training (CT1) 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)
Core Surgical Training (CT1) 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
Core Surgical Training (CT1) 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 Core Surgical Training CT1 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 Core Surgical Training CT1 interview?
Rehearse real Core Surgical Training CT1 scenarios out loud and get instant, examiner-style feedback.
- Instant, personalised feedback
- Real voice-to-voice conversation
- Repeatable attempts, a different run every time
Guides to help you prepare
Related exams to practise
Be ready for your Core Surgical Training CT1 interview before you walk in
Start with the £5 taster, a one-off payment for 30 credits: practise Core Surgical Training CT1 interview scenarios out loud and get any of them marked when you are ready.
Practise your Core Surgical Training CT1 interview