Skills Covered

Trained by subject/university specialists

Mock interviews

Feedback and improvement

Constant practice

The student will learn how to approach MMI/Panel interviews, including interview format, expected knowledge, group discussions, time management and practice.

Course Outline

Lesson 1

Interview Training: MMI Style Questions

The student will learn how to approach MMI interviews, including:

  • Interview format
  • Expected knowledge
  • Group discussions
  • Time management
  • Practice
Lesson 2

Interview Training: Panel Style Interview

The student will learn how to approach panel interviews, including:

  • Presenting themselves
  • Answering questions in a clear & concise manner expanding on key points
Lesson 3

Interview Training: Personal Statement Questions

  • Be able to answer questions about every concept they have written about on their Personal Statement
  • Extend their knowledge further to impress admissions tutors
  • Come up with high-level examples to illustrate the concepts they have talked about on their Personal Statement

Applying these concepts to new and unfamiliar examples so students get used to venturing into the unknown.

Lesson 4

Interview - NHS

This session will cover the basics of the NHS history, structure, politics, funding, and its strengths/weaknesses and NICE
guidelines. Particular focus will be put on the issues facing the NHS such as the ageing population and chronic disease, as well
as potential ways of solving these.

Lesson 5

Interview - Medical Ethics

Run through the four principles of medical ethics:

  • Autonomy
  • Nonmaleficence
  • Beneficence
  • Justice

This will be explained through common ethical scenarios and what the student would do in these situations. Basic medical law
will also be covered, including the important Fraser guidelines (Gillick competence). Demonstrating knowledge of this is very
impressive to interviewers and an ethical scenario is almost always discussed.

Lesson 6

Interview - Unseen Questions

This is a common feature of Oxbridge and MMI based interviews, whereby testing unrehearsed ability to tackle a scientific or
nonscientific problem is assessed.
Students will be encouraged to think out loud clearly and to show the interviewers that they are actively engaging with the
problem set. Past interview questions will be practised and students will become more confident in dealing with unexpected
graphs, figures and medical ethics role play.

Other Related Courses

Health Science Admissions Programme

Minimum Hours: 11
Ascent Prep extends our support beyond medical shadowing experiences. We offer Industry Exposure (Shadowing) for students interested in allied health professions, such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry etc. We understand that gaining acceptance into university programs for these fields goes beyond just shadowing; it involves crafting compelling personal statements and performing well in interviews.

Work Shadowing

Shadowing (i.e observing) a medic and/or another healthcare professional holds paramount importance when applying to medical school in the UK. It provides direct insight into healthcare, helping students understand routines and patient care intricacies. This experience showcases commitment, genuine interest, and a practical understanding of the medical environment. Moreover, it aids applicants in formulating informed motivations for pursuing medicine and articulating their dedication in their personal statement and interview.

Knowledge Building

Minimum Hours: 10
Subject Exploration emphasises the importance of going beyond the standard school curriculum to acquire specialised knowledge that distinguishes students. This is achieved by delving deeply into subjects related to their chosen field, guided by our tutors. Students engage with essential readings, articles, and academic theories to gain a comprehensive understanding. They participate in advanced discussions, enhance critical thinking, and prepare for challenging interview questions. This knowledge empowers them to create exceptional personal statements, showcasing passion and curiosity, and demonstrating qualities like self-motivation and dedication.

Personal Statement Enhancement

Minimum Hours: 6
The process begins with mapping out all aspects of the student's profile. This includes: From this point, the guidance provided will assist the student in crafting refined reflections on their academic accomplishments, aligning with the expectations of esteemed UK universities. Lastly, a specific period of 2-3 hours will be set aside for creating and revising the document. This will continue until the content is well-balanced and written in excellent academic English until it is ready to submit. When should I take the course? May – August How many hours? Typical Student Booking: 10-20 hours in conjunction with Subject Exploration

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) Preparation Course

Minimum Hours: 15
Our curriculum covers all the essential areas students need to excel in the UCAT exam. Start with an introduction to the test format and take a mock diagnostic test to gauge their current level. Dive deep into UCAT Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning, building the skills and strategies necessary to tackle each section with confidence. Practice makes perfect, so we provide ample opportunities for past paper practice, allowing them to familiarise themselves with the exam structure and refine their timing.

Individual lessons or Forming a group

Contact us to book a lesson! Students of similar ability are welcome to join us as a group and enjoy a moderate price!

Ready to Hear Success Stories? See Why Ascent Prep is a Student Favourite!

Find out what our customers say ...
Michelle C.
Desire Subject Medicine
Programme University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) Preparation Course
Hours Attended 15

Michelle has excelled in academics since she was young and has been determined to apply to medical school since her third year of junior high school. She attends a local traditional girls' school that offers British A-Level courses. To lay a solid foundation for her dream of studying medicine, Michelle chose challenging subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. In the summer vacation after completing the IGCSE exam, Michelle interned in a cardiologist's clinic for five days through our arrangement. During her internship, she deeply realized the busy schedule of doctors and their sense of mission for the recovery of patients, which made her more determined to become a doctor.

Academically, Michelle took a UCAT preparation course during her first Christmas in the A-Level course, and learned various exam techniques under the guidance of the tutor, mastering how to quickly understand questions. She eventually scored an excellent 2830 in the UCAT exam and obtained a level 1 in the situational judgement test, which led to an interview invitation from the University of Nottingham Medical School. During the Easter period, she attended a personal statement guidance course. With the advice of her tutor, Michelle chose appropriate extracurricular activities and revised the content of her personal statement to make it more clearly express her passion and motivation for medicine. In addition, Michelle also took the BMAT exam (note that the BMAT has now been cancelled) and obtained a good score of 12.7, which exceeded the qualifying score and increased her chances of entering medical school.

To ensure that Michelle can fully express herself in the interview, we recommend arranging three targeted mock interviews to ensure that the areas that need improvement can be accurately improved. Finally, Michelle received an interview invitation from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong through the Non-JUPAS application. Her efforts finally paid off and she successfully received admission notices from the University of Nottingham and the University of Hong Kong.

After sharing Michelle's case, for students who aspire to enter the medical school, starting preparation one to two years in advance can indeed significantly increase the chances of success. Michelle's story not only inspires other students, but also proves that with planning and hard work, pursuing your dreams is achievable.

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David L.
Desire Subject Medicine
Programme University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) Preparation Course
Hours Attended 20

David attends a top secondary school in the UK and has excellent academic performance, with all 9s in GCSE and all A* predicted A-level grades. His dream has always been to become a doctor, and he has worked hard to achieve this goal. However, David unfortunately encountered a setback in the interview for a British medical school in January. The failure of the interview for his first application to a medical school made him depressed and anxious, and he began to doubt his abilities and future. At this time, his father contacted us at Ascent Prep for advice and suggestions.

We first comforted David and encouraged him not to give up his dream. Although he missed the chance to apply for medical school at a British university, the start date of medical school in Australia is half a year later than that in the UK, so he still has a chance to enroll. We suggested that he consider switching to medical school in Australia. In order to help David overcome the difficulties in the interview, we analyzed the reasons for his failure and found that although he was knowledgeable, he was flustered in the interview, especially lacking logic in judgment and problem-solving questions. We developed a personalized coaching program for him, including mock interview training and various coping skills, such as the STAR rule, responding to open-ended questions, and demonstrating passion for medicine and personal traits.

Through these intensive trainings, David's interview skills and confidence have been significantly improved. He also used the summer vacation when he returned to Hong Kong to retake the ISAT and UCAT exams and continued to practice under our guidance. At the same time, he continued to work as a research assistant at HKU, enhancing his medical experience and understanding of medical biology. Eventually, David successfully obtained admission notices from three Australian medical schools, including the University of New South Wales (UNSW). This proves that as long as you persevere, you can overcome challenges. His experience inspires other students pursuing their medical dreams, demonstrating to them the importance of persistence and hard work.

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Brian C.
Desire Subject Medicine
Programme Interview Training
Hours Attended 20

Brian is a student with a passion for medicine and his goal is to attend one of the top medical schools in the world. In order to realize this dream, he not only worked hard in his studies and achieved excellent results, but also actively participated in various extracurricular activities to comprehensively improve his abilities. Brian observed in the hospital’s cardiology department for a week and participated in the BSMS Virtual Work Experience, which allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding of the medical field through technological simulation. He not only learned the skills and qualities required to be a competent doctor, but also experienced the close relationship between doctors and patients.

After learning about Brian's goals, we encouraged him to set his sights on the University of Cambridge Medical School, whose outstanding reputation in medical research and teaching quality are impeccable. We also advised him to apply to other G5 medical schools such as Imperial, UCL and KCL. In order to improve his BMAT score and interview skills, we arranged a 15-hour BMAT preparation course ((Note that BMAT has been cancelled), which provided systematic training by experienced tutors, including problem-solving skills, test-taking strategies and time management. We also conducted several mock interviews for him, specifically targeting the interview style of Cambridge University, and designed relevant questions to help him prepare and better deal with academic and ethical issues.

Brian submitted his UCAS application in mid-October, took the BMAT in November, and received an interview invitation from Cambridge University in December. He was successfully accepted by Cambridge in January and also successfully obtained interview invitations from ICL and UCL. In order to reduce his financial burden, we encouraged him to apply for the Hong Kong Excellence Scholarship Scheme, which offers a scholarship of up to HK$300,000 and can support outstanding students to study in well-known overseas universities. In the end, Brian not only achieved high scores in the BMAT exam, but also was admitted to Cambridge University Medical School and KCL. He finally chose to go to Dowling College, Cambridge, England to pursue higher academic goals and realize his dream.

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