Guide to the O&G ST1 Interview

Interview Format

The O&G ST1 interview has been conducted entirely online for the past several years.

Organised by Health Education England (HEE), the interview lasts approximately 25–30 minutes and consists of two main parts.

Structure of the Interview

1. Initial Waiting Room (5 minutes)

   • You'll be greeted and asked to present a valid form of ID (e.g., passport).

   • You’ll be required to show your room and surroundings — so make sure you’re in an appropriate, quiet space with no interruptions (and no “hidden consultants”!).

2. Main Interview parts (2 Stations)

   • Clinical Prioritisation Station

   • Structured Interview Station

   Both stations are equally weighted in scoring.

Interview Time Breakdown (Approximate)

Stage	Time
Waiting room before interview	5 minutes
Identification check	1 minute
Clinical prioritisation reading time	5 minutes
Clinical prioritisation question	6 minutes
Structured interview questions	9 minutes
Total Interview Time	25–30 minutes

Station A: Clinical Prioritisation

This station assesses skills expected at Foundation Year 2 (F2) level. No specialist knowledge is required.

You will be tested on your ability to:

• Recognise and prioritise unwell patients

• Allocate appropriate resources (e.g., junior doctors or nurses)

• Escalate concerns when necessary

• Navigate potential ethical dilemmas

Format:

• You are the on-call SHO

• You receive 4 calls about patients with varying urgency and clinical observations

• You have support from an F1 and possibly registrars from other specialties

• 5 minutes to read and prepare

• 6 minutes to answer

You’ll be expected to:

• State your prioritisation order (e.g., “My priority order is B, D, C, A”)

• Justify each choice and outline your brief management plan for each patient

Scoring Breakdown:

• 1st priority: 12 marks

• 2nd & 3rd priorities: 8 marks each

• 4th priority: 4 marks

Advice & Tips:

Tip #1: Have a pen and paper ready — this is allowed during the clinical prioritisation reading time. After those 5 minutes, the scenarios may not remain visible.

Tip #2: Use your prep time wisely. Write down:

• Prioritisation order

• Likely diagnosis or differential

• Brief investigations and management steps

• Any escalation or team involvement needed

During the 6-minute discussion, interviewers will generally remain silent except for minimal prompts — so make sure your answer is structured and complete.

Tip #3: In the clinical prioritisation scenario, be sure to allocate your speaking time wisely, placing the greatest emphasis on the highest-priority case.

Tip #4: Although there is no separate communication station, your communication skills are assessed throughout and will contribute to your Global Performance Score.

Station B: Structured Interview

This is often seen as the "get-to-know-you" part of the O&G ST1 interview. Here, your assessors will ask questions about you, your experience, and your understanding of O&G training. For many candidates, this can feel like the most daunting part — as though a panel of silent judges is waiting to scrutinise every answer.

Format

This station typically includes one question from each of the following areas:

1. Commitment to Specialty

2. Quality Improvement (QI), Research, and Teaching

3. Leadership and Teamwork

4. Experience Outside of O&G

   
   

Advice & Tips

Tip #1: Structure your answers

Organised responses show clarity and confidence. Use frameworks like PDSA for QI/audit answers, STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for leadership examples, and group teaching experiences by method. A clear structure helps interviewers follow your thought process and strengthens your delivery.

Tip #2: Understand the O&G training pathway

Familiarise yourself with the RCOG curriculum — especially the structure, competencies, assessments, and expectations in the first two years. Knowing the training pathway demonstrates commitment and insight.

Tip #3: Reflect on your motivation for O&G

Be sincere and specific about what draws you to the specialty. Remember, you’re speaking to consultants who are passionate about their field — they want to hear why you are, too.

Tip #4: Mention any presentations or publications

If you’ve presented audits, QI projects, or research — even locally — include that in your answers. It shows initiative and adds credibility to your experience.

Tip #5: Brush up on basic leadership concepts

For questions about teamwork and leadership, reviewing basic principles (e.g., what makes a good leader) can add depth to your real-life examples.

Tip #6: Create a basic portfolio summary

Although a physical portfolio isn’t required, having a simple document listing your experiences, projects, teaching roles, and achievements is extremely helpful during preparation. You’ve done more than you think — and it’s easy to forget under pressure.

Why Choose The OBGYN Hub?

Our London-based OBGYN specialty trainees have firsthand experience with the ST1 interview process. We know what assessors look for and can provide expert guidance to help you refine your answers, master your technique, and feel fully prepared.

Your dream training position is within reach—don’t leave your success to chance.

Book your interview prep package today and take the next step towards securing your career in obstetrics and gynaecology!