Guides & articles

Understand every stage of the surgical application

Format guides, portfolio strategy and station technique for every surgical specialty, written in plain English and refreshed each cycle.

Featured guides

How to Maximise Points in the CST Portfolio

The current portfolio scoring tables for every domain, what changed for 2026, the evidence rules, and how to earn the top grades in time.

By the TheatrePass editorial team · updated 3 September 2026 · 12 min read

How to Prepare for the Core Surgical Training (CST) Interview

The current CST interview format, the cycle's key dates, scoring, and a preparation timeline from FY1 to the day itself.

By the TheatrePass editorial team · updated 3 September 2026 · 10 min read

Latest articles

How to Prepare for the CST Interview Portfolio Station

The current portfolio station format, the four domains, the index page and evidence rules, and how to structure your presentation and answers.

Core Surgical Training

How to Prepare for the CST Interview Portfolio Station

Core Surgical Training Interview Tips

Interview technique for the online CST interview: body language, speech, the camera set-up, and the day before.

Core Surgical Training

How to Prepare for the CST Management Question

The management scenario in the CST interview: what is scored, the SPIIES DR structure with a worked example, the scenario families and the follow-up probes.

Core Surgical Training

How to Prepare for the CST Management Question

How to Prepare for the CST Clinical Questions

The two clinical scenarios in the CST interview: the five-part answer structure, the CCrISP and ATLS scripts, the follow-ups and the five-minute pacing.

Core Surgical Training

How to Prepare for the CST Clinical Questions

What Core Surgical Training Involves

Rotations, the curriculum, the MRCS expectation, realistic theatre exposure and how CT1 and CT2 set up ST3: core training without the gloss.

Core Surgical Training

Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Guide 2026

The 2026 interview format across both stations, self-assessment and evidence verification, key dates and how to prepare for each question type.

ST3 Specialties

Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Guide 2026

9 guides

Core Surgical Training

Applications, portfolio and interview stations for CT1.

How to Prepare for the CST Interview Portfolio Station

The current portfolio station format, the four domains, the index page and evidence rules, and how to structure your presentation and answers.

8 min read

How to Maximise Points in the CST Portfolio

The current portfolio scoring tables for every domain, what changed for 2026, the evidence rules, and how to earn the top grades in time.

12 min read

Core Surgical Training Interview Tips

Interview technique for the online CST interview: body language, speech, the camera set-up, and the day before.

7 min read

How to Prepare for the Core Surgical Training (CST) Interview

The current CST interview format, the cycle's key dates, scoring, and a preparation timeline from FY1 to the day itself.

10 min read

How to Prepare for the CST Management Question

The management scenario in the CST interview: what is scored, the SPIIES DR structure with a worked example, the scenario families and the follow-up probes.

9 min read

How to Prepare for the CST Clinical Questions

The two clinical scenarios in the CST interview: the five-part answer structure, the CCrISP and ATLS scripts, the follow-ups and the five-minute pacing.

10 min read

What Core Surgical Training Involves

Rotations, the curriculum, the MRCS expectation, realistic theatre exposure and how CT1 and CT2 set up ST3: core training without the gloss.

4 min read

Common CST Interview Mistakes

The seven preparation and performance errors that lose CST interview marks most often, and the specific fix for each one.

4 min read

The Core Surgical Training Application Process 2026

The CST application from advert to offer: eligibility, the Oriel timeline, the portfolio index page and evidence window, the MSRA's role, and the admin errors to avoid.

4 min read

11 guides

ST3 Specialties

National selection guides for every surgical ST3 pathway.

Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Guide 2026

The 2026 interview format across both stations, self-assessment and evidence verification, key dates and how to prepare for each question type.

7 min read

Urology ST3 Interview Guide 2026

The four-station interview format, the published 78-point self-assessment and its evidence rules, key dates for 2026 and a preparation plan.

7 min read

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery ST3 Interview Guide 2026

How T&O ST3 selection works: trauma call scenarios, honest operative numbers talk, audit that survives probing and composure under follow-up questions.

4 min read

The Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery ST3 Self-Assessment for 2027

The published 2027 scoring system question by question: the 37 available points, the experience taper that penalises waiting, the neck of femur thresholds, and the two marks most people leave on the table.

6 min read

The ST3 Presentation Station: How to Prepare

Where presentation stations appear in ST3 interviews, how to choose material, deliver without slides, keep to time and survive the follow-up questioning.

4 min read

ST3 Portfolio Evidence: Logbook, Audit and Academia

What ST3 panels expect beyond a CT-level portfolio: logbook depth, closed audit loops, publications and presentations that count, and honest scoring.

4 min read

Plastic Surgery ST3 Interview Guide 2026

Preparing for Plastic Surgery ST3: depth-first questioning, acute plastics scenarios at pattern level, commitment evidence and layered follow-ups.

4 min read

Paediatric Surgery ST3 Interview Guide 2026

The four-station interview format, the published interview and self-assessment scoring, the changes for 2027, key dates and how to prepare.

7 min read

General Surgery ST3: Application and Interview Guide 2026

The 2026 interview format, the published self-assessment scoring and eligibility thresholds, key dates, recommended reading and how to prepare.

8 min read

ENT ST3 Interview Guide 2026

The three-station interview format, the published self-assessment scoring, the tie-break order, key dates for 2026 and how to prepare.

7 min read

What candidates who top ST3 interviews do differently

Six observable habits that separate top-ranked ST3 candidates: one structure, spoken rehearsal, portfolio one-liners, follow-ups, timing and recovery.

4 min read

4 guides

ST1 Run-through

Neurosurgery, cardiothoracic and OMFS run-through entry.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ST1 Interview Guide 2026

The four-station interview format, eligibility and the dual qualification, the published progression thresholds and how to prepare.

8 min read

Neurosurgery ST1 Interview Guide 2026

The four-station interview format, the published selection weightings and shortlisting scoring, key dates for 2026 and how to prepare.

8 min read

Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1: Application and Interview Guide 2026

Eligibility, the 2026 recruitment timeline, the published self-assessment criteria, the two-station interview format and how to prepare.

8 min read

Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) Interview Guide 2026

The NIHR interview format, the published scoresheet, the pre-released dataset, key dates for 2026 and how to prepare.

8 min read

11 guides

Portfolio & Strategy

Scoring points, choosing pathways and planning cycles.

Teaching Evidence for Surgical Portfolios

The hierarchy of teaching evidence, formal qualification tiers, feedback discipline, and the overclaims that get portfolios downgraded.

4 min read

Surgical Competition Ratios Explained

What competition ratios measure, what they hide, recent-cycle patterns across surgical specialties, and how to use the numbers without panic.

4 min read

Structured Feedback and Peer Interview Practice

Feedback improves performance only when it is specific and task focused. The evidence, and how to make practice with a partner actually move your score.

4 min read

Retrieval Practice and Multimedia Learning in Interview Preparation

Why answering questions out loud beats re-reading model answers, and why images change what you remember: the evidence, applied to surgical interviews.

4 min read

Leadership and management evidence for surgical applications

The roles that count, evidencing impact rather than titles, where courses fit, and how to talk about leadership without clichés.

4 min read

High Fidelity Simulation and the Mock Interview

What simulation research says about realistic practice, and what it means for preparing for a timed, spoken surgical interview.

4 min read

Choosing Your Surgical Specialty

An honest framework for choosing a surgical specialty: real exposure, lifestyle and training-length realism, competition, tasters and a timeline.

4 min read

Audit and Quality Improvement Projects for Surgical Applications

Audit versus QI, choosing a closable loop, an eight-week plan, presenting and evidencing the work, and the re-audit reality.

4 min read

The 12-week surgical interview preparation timeline

A week-by-week plan from question bank work to daily voice rehearsal, with portfolio paperwork milestones, MSRA collisions and a taper week.

4 min read

An IMG's guide to UK surgical training

Registration prerequisites, translating overseas evidence, how UK panels read your experience, common pitfalls and a realistic pathway plan.

4 min read

Applying to more than one specialty in the same cycle

When dual surgical applications make sense, the portfolio and diary costs, how the MSRA helps, and how to answer motivation questions honestly.

4 min read

3 guides

MSRA

Format, scoring and preparation for the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment.

How Much Does the MSRA Matter for Surgery?

Where the MSRA gates and where it weights in surgical recruitment, what that means for your strategy, and the myths to ignore.

4 min read

Revising for the MSRA around full-time clinical work

A six to eight week MSRA revision plan that fits around full-time clinical work, with question bank technique and exam day execution.

4 min read

The MSRA: a complete guide for surgical applicants

What the MSRA involves, how its two papers work, how surgical recruitment uses the score, and how to book and prepare without panic.

4 min read

3 guides

MRCS

Part A and Part B preparation for surgical trainees.

MRCS Part B OSCE: stations, skills and spoken examination

The OSCE shape, the station families and what they reward, spoken technique that transfers to interviews, and a preparation plan.

4 min read

MRCS Part A: structure, standard and a working revision plan

What MRCS Part A involves, why breadth is the main challenge, a 10 to 12 week plan, question bank technique and resit strategy.

4 min read

Common MRCS mistakes, including the ones overseas candidates make

The strategy errors that fail MRCS candidates: breadth, bank-only preparation, silent revision, timing, and overseas administrative traps.

4 min read

4 guides

Early Career

Foundation decisions that set up a surgical application.

The SJT: A Guide for Foundation Applicants

What situational judgement tests measure, preparation that helps versus wastes time, calibration technique and exam-day execution.

4 min read

Getting Ahead for CST During Foundation

Realistic early portfolio wins, theatre exposure tactics, audit timing, taster weeks, and when interview-specific work should begin.

4 min read

The Foundation Programme for future surgeons

UKFPO basics, how to think about surgical rotations, what actually matters from FY1 for core training, and SLE discipline that works.

4 min read

Ranking foundation jobs with a surgical career in mind

How foundation allocation works in outline, the trade-offs in ranking, which rotations help a CST application, and a practical method.

4 min read

Next step

When you have read enough, practise

The guides give you the strategy. The mock interviews give you the practice. Join the waiting list to be first in.