The 2027 IMT Interview Revision Platform: Question Bank, Live Practice and Mocks with Other Candidates

When you are given your scenario you often have a few minutes to think about it. If it helps you, write some small things down. Look at the question and work out what information you have. Then listen to the question and answer what you have been asked. In this case, be specific about the presenting complaint. Start with more general questions and then focus on the three specific complaints.

Example answer

I would start by asking general questions. For example:

• How long has she had these symptoms?
• Have they changed over time? For example, are they getting worse?
• Have they been associated with infection or any episodes where these symptoms have deteriorated significantly?

I would then specifically ask questions about each presenting complaint.

Cough

• Is the cough productive or dry? What colour is the sputum?
• Is the cough persistent or intermittent? Any time of day?
• Any history of haemoptysis?
• Any chest pain when coughing?

Wheeze

• Does the wheeze occur spontaneously or with triggers (exercise, dust, smoke)?
• What does the wheeze sound like?
• How long does the wheeze last?
• Has it ever been managed with medications?

Dyspnoea

• Does the shortness of breath occur at rest or with exertion?
• Is there any positional dyspnoea?
• How long do the episodes last and how does the patient manage it?

Example answer

I would want to know specifically about her history of weight loss as it is mentioned in her referral. Has this been intentional or not? Has this been associated with any other symptoms?

I would want a detailed past medical history and list of medications.

Her social history will also be extremely important in this consultation. I would want a detailed smoking history. Does she smoke cigarettes and what type? Does she smoke anything else? I would want to know about her living situation and where she lives, for example inner city vs out of the city, thinking specifically about pollution. Does she have any pets at home? I would want to know her occupation and any exposure history to specific agents such as asbestos. Finally, I would want to know about her history when growing up. Has she always lived in the UK? Is there any history of TB exposure?

I would also want to know a detailed family history. Specifically, is there any history of respiratory or cardiac disorders? For example, is there any history of alpha-1 antitrypsin disorder?

Finally, as part of my consultation, I would ask for a detailed systems review which may pick up anything that I may have missed. I would also finish by asking the patient about their ideas, concerns and expectations.

Example answer

In clinic I would arrange some straightforward investigations that could be done on the day. I would ask for pulse oximetry and a sputum sample (if the patient can provide this). I would also ask for an ECG (given the presentation could still be cardiac). I would also ask for blood tests including a full blood count (raised Hb in response to chronic hypoxia), renal function and a CRP.

A chest x-ray would be important (although seldom diagnostic) in the diagnosis of COPD as well as assessing for the presence of significant comorbidities. Signs suggestive of COPD on x-ray would include hyperinflated lungs and flattened diaphragm.

Other investigations that may be useful would include pulmonary function tests and serial peak flow measurement. An echocardiogram would also be useful. Given this is likely a respiratory issue a CT chest would also give more information on any underlying pathology. However, given these are more specialised tests I would be keen to discuss these requests with my clinical supervisor in the clinic.

Example answer

I suspect that this is a respiratory issue. My top differential would be COPD given her age and smoking history. However, my investigations would be useful to help determine the remaining differentials that would include:

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Lung cancer
• Tuberculosis

Other non-respiratory causes of persistent cough and dyspnoea would be:

• Congestive heart failure
• Medication induced
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

(One of your interviewers will play the part of the patient)

You can start your answer by explaining that you would set the scene in your clinic. Ask if she needs anyone else with her. Remember to use straightforward language and avoid medical jargon. Keep the answer simple, remember you are not being asked to list the treatment steps of COPD.

Example answer

Hi Mrs Bruth. I wanted to talk to you about the results of the investigations that we have ordered. These have come back and shown the reason for your cough, wheeze and shortness of breath.

The scans have confirmed a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder. Have you ever heard of this before? Some people will also refer to this as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. (It is worth giving the patient time. They may want to respond or will indicate time for you to keep going. Pausing and giving the patient time to take in your words is an important part of communication.)

Would you like me to explain a little bit about what this diagnosis means?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (or COPD for short) is a disease of the lungs which results in damage and inflammation to the airways that makes it harder for you to get air in and out which results in feeling short of breath. It is a progressive disorder and the inflammation of the airways is not reversible (such as in asthma).

COPD is common in the UK. The majority of cases are caused by long term smoking, although air pollution is also a common causative factor.

Symptoms can be managed with a combination of inhalers which we will start today and I will ask the respiratory CNS to talk to you in more detail about inhaler technique. The main thing that you can do which will help with slowing the progression of disease is to stop smoking. Exercise and losing weight will also help the condition.

COPD is a chronic condition, but you can experience exacerbations of your symptoms which may be prompted by viral infections for example. Exacerbations may require management with antibiotics and in extreme cases oxygen.

Does what I have told you make sense? Do you have any questions?

Depending on what you have said, you may be asked various follow up questions. These could range from treatment advice to asking about cancer to long term prognosis. Remember, you are not expected to know everything. All you are being judged on is your ability to communicate, so stay calm and answer in a polite way. Anything you don't know you can say, and demonstrate how you would go about finding the answer.

Finally:

I will provide you with written information on COPD. I will be referring you to the community respiratory team who will be responsible for your ongoing management of COPD and they along with your GP will be good points of contact moving forward.

Example answer

S: I have just assessed Mrs Bruth, a 65-year-old woman who presents with a chronic cough, wheeze and shortness of breath.

B: She has a 30 pack-year history and her past medical history is significant for hypertension. Of note, she has also lost about 2-3 kg over the last year.

A: Based on my assessment, I think this is a presentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. I have arranged several straightforward tests to support this diagnosis, including blood tests and an X-ray.

R: Because of the wide differential here, however, I would want to arrange suitable follow up for her again in this clinic to review these tests. If there is any diagnostic uncertainty following my initial investigations, I would arrange a CT chest given the symptoms and history of weight loss. She would benefit from being seen by the Respiratory CNS to discuss treatment options and review inhalers and I will refer her to this service today. I have provided her with written information about COPD and explained to her about the importance of managing exacerbations by seeing her GP.

The majority of scenarios will ask you to give a medical handover. However, if you are in a clinic scenario you may be asked to discuss a result with a patient as in this scenario. We have included both options here to ensure you are prepared.

You will be assessed on your communication skills.

• Speak clearly and without using medical jargon.
• Look at the patient when talking to them.
• Ask them questions to check that they are listening and understand what you are saying.
• Give them time to speak and only talk when they have finished.
• Make sure you answer any questions at the end.

Two stations of around 11 minutes, marked by two interviewers. Station 1 covers your application and suitability (starting with a two-minute presentation) plus an ethics, professionalism and governance question. Station 2 opens with a short clinical scenario read aloud to you, followed by up to ten minutes of questions and a one-minute patient handover. Communication is scored in both.

Very. Applications rose from 6,273 for 1,698 posts in 2024 to 8,841 for 1,677 posts in 2025, more than five candidates for every place. At that level the difference between your preferred post and missing out often comes down to how well you prepare for the interview.

High-scoring candidates who sat the IMT interview in 2026. That's the whole idea of Medibuddy, the buddy in the year above: the answers reflect what actually came up and what actually scored, this year.

Yes. Every purchase (on its own or in the Bundle) includes all three live-practice features: Study Groups with candidates across the country preparing for the same interview, Live Mocks that match you with another candidate on demand, and Peer Feedback on your recorded mocks.

Join the waiting room and we match you with another IMT candidate. You take turns as interviewer and candidate, working through real Question Bank scenarios, so you get used to answering out loud to a real person before you face the panel.

Study Groups are community forums for doctors across the country preparing for the same IMT interview. Ask questions and get answers from other candidates, share what's coming up, and compare how you'd each tackle a scenario, so you're learning from the whole cohort rather than preparing alone.

Yes, through Peer Feedback. Record a mock answer and other members of the community review it and tell you what landed and what to sharpen, whether that's the structure of your ethics answer or the clarity of your handover. It's the honest review most candidates never get before the day.

We review and update it twice a year. In April, once that year's interviews are done, we go back through the scenarios and model answers in light of what candidates met on the day. In October and November, once the new recruitment guidance is published, we run a full update against the new format and scoring. For 2027 that process has added 18 new scenarios: 8 clinical and handover, 8 ethics and governance, and 2 communication.

The Question Bank is over 80 practice scenarios with worked answers and all the live-practice features. The IMT Knowledge Course provides the clinical depth behind your answers, with over 8 hours of content across 14 video lectures on the acute presentations tested in the clinical station. Most candidates use both, and the Bundle saves £30.

We've been preparing doctors for specialty interviews for 10 years, and the Question Bank is updated every year by editors who've recently sat this interview and scored well. That means the scenarios and model answers reflect this year's interview, not the one from when the resource was first written.

It doesn't stop at model answers either. Every purchase includes the live practice: Study Groups and community forums, Live Mocks against other candidates, and Peer Feedback on your recorded mocks. Most resources hand you a list of questions and leave you to it. We give you the questions, this year's answers, and a community to practise with, in one platform. And we don't stop at the interview: when you start IMT, our MRCP Part 1 resources are there for the next stage too.