Radiology Interview Portfolio Marking Scheme

In previous years, candidates were asked to score their own portfolio as part of the in person interviews, as a separate station. 

In the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle, this component of the application process has been moved online, and candidates will be asked to score their self-assessment online via the ORIEL platform. Evidence will be uploaded onto a portal and reviewed by radiology consultants to ensure that scoring is accurate. Scores can be moderated and altered if the reviewers feel that the provided evidence does not support the candidate’s self-assessment.

The self-assessment criteria is expected to be similar to previous years in terms of content. Sample criteria are provided below, based on forms from previous years.

1. Clinical radiology experience
   • Maximum points for 1 or 2 full taster weeks
   • Intermediate points for <1 week taster
2. Audits
   • Maximum points for a completed audit that changed guidelines
   • Intermediate points for a completed audit that did not change guidelines
3. Teaching
   • Maximum points for organising a teaching programme/ completed teaching diploma
   • Intermediate points for organising local teaching
4. Exams
   • Maximum points for full MRCS (or equivalent) within 4 years of graduation
   • Intermediate points for full MRCS (or equivalent) after 4 years of graduation
5. Research
   • Maximum points for >1 publications or First in intercalated BSC
   • Intermediate points for 1 publication

The exact criteria and points allocated may vary, however, the broad themes and categories should remain constant.

Portfolio hints and tips

• The exact mark scheme may vary from year to year, but the overall categories and themes will remain the same
• In general, more credit and higher marks are awarded for radiology-themed achievements
• There is a limit to how highly you can score within a given category – it is better to ensure you have good achievements within all the categories, rather than focussing entirely on one category. For example, there is no advantage having 5 radiology papers vs having 1 radiology paper, and your time is better spent ensuring you have completed an audit loop and presented it to a high level meeting
• Some things are not realistic to achievement within time for the interview – e.g. if you do not have a PhD currently, you are unlikely to obtain one prior to interviewing. Do not let this dishearten you too much – very few applicants will have this, and you can still obtain maximum marks within that category in other ways