Core Surgery no longer uses self assessment questions
Historical (2016 and earlier)
You will be assessed on your participation in presentations, publications and clinical audit. In the first instance, you will be asked to select an answer for each topic from a drop down menu. This determines the overall score that you will receive for that section. Be careful to select the most applicable option and note that the choices are not necessarily ordered from the highest scoring, to the lowest scoring option from top to bottom as listed. You will then be asked to give more details of these achievements in a free text box. Be concise. You have a limit of three presentations at a local, national or international level. If you do not have up to this number, do not worry. You will not be alone. If you have more than three submissions in any of these categories, mention those that you consider to be to the most prestigious organisations, those where you had a more substantial role, or those with a surgical topic as this will be further evidence of commitment to specialty. As ever, your portfolio should contain information to substantiate any publications, presentations or audits that you enter here. Remember that this free text area will form the basis of much of the discussion at your portfolio station so you should be happy to discuss anything that you mention at this stage at the time of your interview.
You will be assessed on your participation in presentations, publications and clinical audit. In the first instance, you will be asked to select an answer for each topic from a drop down menu. This determines the overall score that you will receive for that section. Be careful to select the most applicable option and note that the choices are not necessarily ordered from the highest scoring, to the lowest scoring option from top to bottom as listed. You will then be asked to give more details of these achievements in a free text box. Be concise. You have a limit of three presentations at a local, national or international level. If you do not have up to this number, do not worry. You will not be alone. If you have more than three submissions in any of these categories, mention those that you consider to be to the most prestigious organisations, those where you had a more substantial role, or those with a surgical topic as this will be further evidence of commitment to specialty. As ever, your portfolio should contain information to substantiate any publications, presentations or audits that you enter here. Remember that this free text area will form the basis of much of the discussion at your portfolio station so you should be happy to discuss anything that you mention at this stage at the time of your interview.
Have you ever given presentations at local, regional or national level or publications in index medical journals
Work I have collaborated in has been presented at an annual meeting of a national or international medical body OR I am first author in one peer reviewed publications as listed in the PUBMED database
I have presented at an annual meeting of a national or international medical body
I have presented at a regional meeting or I have shown a poster at a regional meeting
I have presented at a local meeting on one or more occasion
I have presented at an annual meeting of a national or international medical body
I have presented at a regional meeting or I have shown a poster at a regional meeting
I have presented at a local meeting on one or more occasion
Publications and Presentations
In the section below, please provide details of your most relevant presentations at local, regional or national level OR publications in index medicus journals
Presentations at national level (Maximum of 3, words allowed 65)
Presentations at regional level (Maximum of 3, words allowed 65)
Presentations at local level (Maximum of 3, words allowed 65)
Publications in peer review journals (Words allowed 65)
Presentations at national level (Maximum of 3, words allowed 65)
Presentations at regional level (Maximum of 3, words allowed 65)
Presentations at local level (Maximum of 3, words allowed 65)
Publications in peer review journals (Words allowed 65)
What experience do you have of delivering teaching?
Extensive teaching experience, including formal training in teaching methodology, with portfolio evidence
Designed or led local teaching with evidence of feedback in my portfolio
Contributed to regional teaching, with evidence in my portfolio
Contributed to local teaching, but did not lead, with evidence in my portfolio
No experience of delivering teaching
Designed or led local teaching with evidence of feedback in my portfolio
Contributed to regional teaching, with evidence in my portfolio
Contributed to local teaching, but did not lead, with evidence in my portfolio
No experience of delivering teaching
Teaching
In the section below, please provide details of teaching and clinical audit experience. Please give full details including a statement about your personal contribution to the audit work
What experience do you have of delivering teaching? (Words allowed 65)
What experience do you have of delivering teaching? (Words allowed 65)
What experience of clinical audit do you have?
I have completed an audit and closed the audit cycle (including re-audit) as evidenced in my portfolio
I have led and completed an audit project (excluding re-audit), as evidenced in my portfolio
I have completed an audit project started either by myself or others, as evidenced in my portfolio
I am participating in an ongoing audit project, as evidenced in my portfolio
I have not taken part in an audit project
I have led and completed an audit project (excluding re-audit), as evidenced in my portfolio
I have completed an audit project started either by myself or others, as evidenced in my portfolio
I am participating in an ongoing audit project, as evidenced in my portfolio
I have not taken part in an audit project
Clinical Audit
What experience of clinical audit do you have? Please state clearly where & when this was undertaken and indicate specifically your role. (Words allowed 65)
Commitment to specialty
Please demonstrate and provide evidence on why you want to be a surgeon. Describe your commitment to a surgical career and how you have evidenced this in your portfolio (Words allowed 150)
It can be difficult to understand what is meant by this question. It is acceptable to include work mentioned previously in the other three answers as part of this answer, but also beneficial to add other information to make your application stand out. This can include the completion of MRCS A +/- B, completion of surgical courses (e.g BSS), membership of bodies such as ASIT (The association of surgeons in training) or BOTA (British Orthopaedic Trainees association) or the attendance or surgical seminars or conferences organised by bodies such as the RSM (Royal Society of Medicine). Do not be hesitant about being positive about your own achievements. The panel receive and review hundreds of similar applications and this is one of your only chances to make yourself stand out.