Paediatrics (ST1)
Walk into your Paediatrics ST1 interview already knowing how you will answer
Rehearse for your Paediatrics ST1 interview against an AI interviewer who challenges your answers. Get feedback on any session you finish, in seconds.
What is the Paediatrics ST1 interview, and how do you practise for it?
RCPCH national selection for ST1 Paediatrics. Two 20-minute Qpercom video stations, each split into two 10-minute parts: Communication, Career Motivation, Reflective Practice, and Paediatric Clinical Reasoning. 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 Paediatrics (ST1) recruitment
Paediatrics ST1, 2025 recruitment round (Round 1). NHS England competition ratios
- ST1 applicants to paediatrics must have no more than two years of experience in paediatric posts, excluding Foundation posts, when they apply. Those with more experience should aim to apply to ST3.
- For ST1 posts starting in August/September 2026, shortlisting scored five sections: transferable clinical capabilities, personal achievements and reflection, QIP/audit, academic achievements and teaching, with written answers limited to 50 words per section.
- For ST1 posts starting in August/September 2026, applicants were invited to interview based on their shortlisting score; eligible applicants have exceeded virtual interview capacity in recent years.
- For ST1 posts starting in August/September 2026, the interview was a virtual two-station format on the Qpercom platform, with 20-minute stations and 45 minutes overall, covering communications, career motivation, clinical reasoning and reflective practice.
- For ST1 posts starting in August/September 2026, the final appointability threshold was 55% or more of the interview score, and offers were made on a combination of score ranking and preferencing.
- For ST1 posts starting in August or September 2027, applications open on 22 October 2026 and close on 19 November 2026, and the interview window runs from 2 February to 25 March 2027.
Checked on 13 October 2026 against Applying for paediatric specialty training at ST1 - guidance | RCPCH. Recruitment changes each year: confirm on the official pages before you apply.
Paediatrics 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 Paediatrics 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 Paediatrics ST1 interview. Rehearse each one until it feels routine.
Communication
10-minute communication role-play with a paediatric patient, parent, or carer. Explain a clinical condition or counsel the parent on an intervention or transfer.
Career Motivation
10-minute discussion of your commitment to paediatrics, your understanding of the specialty, your personal attributes and your career to date. The guidance says your examples do not have to be strictly clinical.
Reflective Practice
10-minute reflective practice viva. Candidate describes a significant clinical event, what they learned, and how reflective practice informs day-to-day work.
Paediatric Clinical Reasoning
10-minute case-based clinical reasoning question asked by one of the assessors, with no written scenario to read first. The guidance is explicit that it is not looking for complex paediatric knowledge — it tests safe, structured reasoning at a level commensurate with an applicant to ST1.
Sample Paediatrics (ST1) interview questions
Two questions from the topics that come up most in MedMock's Paediatrics (ST1) bank.
“How do you incorporate reflective practice into your routine working day, even when not prompted by a significant event?”
“A 1-month-old neonate presents with poor feeding, lethargy, and a temperature of 38.2°C. Describe your immediate assessment and management plan for suspected sepsis in this age group.”
Example scenarios
A sample of the Paediatrics ST1 scenarios you can practise, each as a spoken conversation.
“Counsel the mother of a 14-month-old admitted yesterday after his first febrile seizure during viral tonsillitis. Take her concerns and explain what to do if it happens again.”
“Tell us about a piece of work you have done that has confirmed your decision to apply for ST1 Paediatrics — what did you contribute, and what did you take from it?”
“Please could you briefly describe a significant clinical event you were involved in or observed, and discuss your learning from it.”
“A 3-year-old presents to the paediatric ED with a 4-hour history of stridor at rest, drooling, and respiratory distress. Talk me through your initial assessment and immediate management.”
Paediatrics (ST1) recruitment dates 2026–27
The next Paediatrics (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)
Paediatrics (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
Paediatrics (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 Paediatrics ST1 stations?
Yes. You can pick any of the 4 stations 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 Paediatrics ST1 interview?
Rehearse real Paediatrics 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
Be ready for your Paediatrics ST1 interview before you walk in
Start with the £5 taster, a one-off payment for 30 credits: practise Paediatrics ST1 interview scenarios out loud and get any of them marked when you are ready.
Practise your Paediatrics ST1 interview