Radiology ST1 Interview Preparation Guide for 2025

Maximising your preparation for the Radiology ST1 interview is crucial if you want to be amongst the top-scoring candidates and secure your dream training post. The interview is the most significant aspect of the Radiology ST1 application process, holding 60% of your overall ranking, with the other 40% coming from the self-assessment stage.

Radiology ST1 Interview Format

The Radiology ST1 interview consists of two 10-minute stations, each assessing essential qualities for a successful radiology trainee. Here’s what you can expect:

Commitment to Radiology Station

This station evaluates your motivation, understanding, and readiness for a career in radiology. Expect questions covering:

Radiology Training Pathway and FRCR Exams: Show familiarity with the structure of radiology training, including progression through the stages and the role of the FRCR exams.
Curriculum Requirements: Demonstrate your knowledge of the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) curriculum.
Why Radiology?: Explain your reasons for choosing radiology, highlighting personal experiences and insights.
Current Issues in Radiology: Discuss topics such as skills mix in radiology, workforce shortages, and technological advancements like AI.

Key Preparation Tips:

Draw on experiences from taster weeks, audits, clinical placements, and conferences to provide genuine insights.
Reference elements from your portfolio, such as audits or quality improvement projects, to support your responses.
Be ready to discuss how your experiences reflect your understanding of radiology’s evolving role in healthcare, such as its integration into multidisciplinary teams or its advancements in AI diagnostics.

Communication Skills Station

This station focuses on assessing your ability to communicate effectively in a radiology setting. Questions may cover:

Your Communication Skills: Use examples from your medical training to illustrate your ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and patients.
Radiology-Specific Communication: Discuss skills necessary for communicating complex imaging findings in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings or teaching sessions.
Communication in Clinical Practice: Demonstrate how you’ve observed or developed skills to clearly explain imaging procedures to patients or guide them during interventional radiology.

Key Preparation Tips:

Provide examples of effective communication during team discussions or teaching.
Manual dexterity and spatial awareness: Be prepared to explain why these attributes are valuable for radiologists performing procedures like ultrasound-guided biopsies.
Develop the ability to articulate complex information clearly and concisely, an essential skill in radiology practice.
Use the Medibuddy Radiology ST1 Interview Question Bank for targeted practice. Below is a selection of the scenarios featured.

In 2024, the interview included a Clinical Prioritisation station, which was announced just before the interview. While this station has been removed for the 2025 Radiology interview, we’ve kept it in our Question Bank as a precaution, in case any late changes arise.

Staying updated on the latest radiology news and developments is crucial in the lead-up to your interview. By following this guide and keeping informed of any changes, you’ll position yourself for success in the Radiology ST1 interview. Remember, thorough preparation and a genuine passion for the specialty are essential to achieving a high score in the interview.

Good luck!