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Rheumatology ST4 • 2027 Interview

The 2027 Rheumatology ST4 Interview Revision Platform: Question Bank, Live Practice and Mocks with Other Candidates

The Medibuddy Rheumatology ST4 Question Bank includes over 70 scenarios that closely mirror the real interview, each with a model answer written/edited by high-scoring candidates who sat the Rheumatology ST4 interview in 2026.

However, knowing a strong answer isn't the same as delivering it well under pressure, which is why we provide:

  • Study Groups with candidates across the country
  • Unlimited Live Mocks with real people
  • Peer Feedback on your mocks from a wide range of candidates

10 years’ experience preparing doctors for interviews

Users of the Medibuddy Rheumatology ST4 Revision Platform have secured some of the most competitive training jobs in recent rounds. Ask around, there's a good chance the trainees in the year above you used us too.

Always up to date

Did you know the interviews change every year? That's why we review and update every Question Bank on the platform twice a year, so you know you're always practising with scenarios based on the latest interview structure.

Network and practise real interview scenarios with other candidates

Question Bank

See every scenario, and how to answer it well

Over 70 scenarios across all three stations, which tell you exactly how to respond to each question.
Study Groups

Connect with candidates across the country

Most people only ever practise with one or two friends. Study Groups connect you with candidates right across the country sitting the same Rheumatology ST4 interview.
Live MocksBeta

Practise interview technique with different candidates

Arrange or get matched on demand with other candidates and run real scenarios out loud under interview conditions. Those who practise with the widest range of people tend to score the highest.
Peer FeedbackBeta

Reviewed by candidates across the platform

Submit your recorded mocks to candidates across the platform and get honest, varied feedback. Reviewing other people's mocks teaches you just as much.

The question bank, and other candidates to practise with, all in one platform.

Rheumatology ST4 Revision Platform • £144.99

Gain access to over 70 scenarios across all three stations, and collaborate with other candidates through Study Groups, Live Mocks and Peer Feedback.
Get instant access
What candidates say

Scored well, secured their post

A few of the candidates who prepared with us for the Rheumatology ST4 interview.

Verified candidateInterviewed 2026
"The clinical scenarios were pitched exactly right. Having a structure ready meant I could work through a hot joint calmly under pressure."
Secured first-choice deanery
Verified candidateInterviewed 2026
"Practising the ethical and registrar questions out loud with other candidates was the single most useful thing I did before the day."
Ranked highly
Part 1 • See the questions

The Medibuddy 2027 Rheumatology ST4 Question Bank

The interview has three stations and four questions, each lasting 5 to 10 minutes, so you have a limited window to deliver the high-scoring answers you need to do well. That means every point has to land, and knowing how to structure each answer is essential. That's why each of our 70-plus scenarios comes with a model answer, written by candidates who scored highly in the 2026 Rheumatology ST4 interview, so you know exactly how to approach every question the interviewers throw your way.
What's inside

What's included in the Rheumatology ST4 Question Bank

There's nothing worse than getting to the interview and being handed a scenario you've never seen before. The panel can draw on clinical, registrar, ethical and suitability themes across the three stations, so the safest approach is to revise across all of them. We provide scenarios for every part of the interview, including the common ones and the more unusual cases that have come up before, so you don't get caught out.

Clinical Scenarios

Rheumatology cases where you play the registrar, each with a worked answer showing how to structure your response.

Medical Registrar Suitability

Questions on managing acute medical admissions and leading a team, with model answers that show you're ready to work as a medical registrar.

Ethical Scenarios

The moral, ethical and legal dimensions of realistic situations, with structured model answers so you can reason through them clearly on the day.

Suitability & Commitment

Your chance to show your motivation for rheumatology and why you're suited to ST4, with example questions and model answers.
Reflecting how rheumatology is really assessed
Communication is assessed across all three stations, so every word you say needs to have weight to it. Our model answers are written with that in mind, alongside the clinical, registrar, ethical and suitability themes.
Try it

Try an example Rheumatology ST4 question

You are the rheumatology registrar taking referrals. You are asked to review an 86-year-old woman on the ward with chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension. She was admitted four days ago with pulmonary oedema on a background of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and has now developed a swollen, painful right knee.

How would you approach this?

Question
How would you approach this scenario?
Example answer
I would set out my differentials first: infection, crystal arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, trauma, and non-joint causes such as cellulitis or tendonitis.
  • History: other joints affected, trauma, previous episodes and the timeline; early morning stiffness and whether it improves with exercise or NSAIDs (suggesting an inflammatory cause); features of seronegative or connective tissue disease.
  • Background: past medical history including any joint replacement (which would preclude aspiration on the ward), drugs and allergies, family and social history, alcohol and diet, travel, systemic symptoms and illicit drug use.
  • Examination: a look, feel, move assessment of the joint, checking for tophi, a systemic examination for an infective source, and a full set of observations.
Question
What investigations would you perform?
Example answer
I would explain the reason for each.
  • Bloods: FBC and coagulation (given possible aspiration), U and E for renal function, and CRP for infection. Send a urate, though it can be falsely low in an acute flare, and consider RhF, anti-CCP and ANA if the picture fits. Take blood cultures.
  • Imaging: an X-ray of the joint to exclude fracture and assess for erosions or osteoarthritis.
  • Joint aspiration: aspirate to dryness and send the fluid for microscopy, culture and sensitivities, plus polarised light microscopy for crystals.
Aspiration is the only definitive way to differentiate the types of arthritis, and crystal and septic arthritis can co-exist.
Question
The aspirate shows negatively birefringent needle-shaped crystals. How would you manage her acutely?
Example answer
This is gout, and acute management focuses on pain relief.
  • NSAIDs or colchicine are options, but her reduced eGFR makes NSAIDs less suitable.
  • Steroids are a good alternative, and given her diabetes I would prefer the intra-articular or intramuscular route over oral to limit the effect on her blood sugars.
  • Ice packs can also help.
Question
How would you counsel her on the long-term management of gout?
Example answer
The focus is on lowering urate.
  • Allopurinol, started after the acute flare settles and uptitrated over months to a target urate below 360.
  • Colchicine as prophylaxis, with a rescue pack so she can treat a flare early, and allopurinol continued through any flares.
  • Urate-lowering therapy is usually started after a second attack, or after the first if there are risk factors such as CKD stage 3 or above, tophi, erosions or urate stones. As the risk of another flare in the first year is high, NICE suggests discussing it after the first attack, as a shared decision.
  • Also address diet, review any contributing medications such as diuretics, and manage her cardiometabolic risk factors.

That's one scenario. There are over 70 more.

Rheumatology ST4 Revision Platform • £144.99

Includes every scenario in the Question Bank, and access to Study Groups, Live Mocks with other candidates and Peer Feedback.
Get instant access
Actively maintained

How we keep our Question Banks up to date

The Rheumatology ST4 interview changes from year to year, and the biggest fear for any candidate is getting to interview day and realising you've revised with a question bank that's totally outdated.

That's why we review and update every Question Bank twice a year, so you know you're revising with scenarios that are likely to come up. We do this in April after the previous year's interviews, and again in the autumn when the new recruitment guidance is published.

Updated for 2027 interviews

5 scenarios updated: 4 clinical and 1 Medical Registrar Suitability.

Updated for 2027 Interviews
Part 2 • Practise them live

The only interview resource where you can practise live with other candidates from across the country

Our Rheumatology ST4 Question Bank tells you exactly how to answer real interview scenarios. But how you practise with them will determine how many marks you score. Simply reading answers off a screen won't prepare you for the intense scrutiny you'll face in the interview. And only practising with the same few colleagues or friends limits the amount of feedback you'll get. Medibuddy gives you unique access to Rheumatology ST4 candidates across the country, so you can learn from a variety of perspectives and hear a far wider range of feedback than your own circle could ever give you.

Study Groups
When you prepare in isolation, you're relying on your own interpretation of the interview process, which is one of the quickest ways to get found out on the day. Study Groups connect you with other doctors across the country who are also applying to Rheumatology ST4, so you can engage and network with people preparing for the same interview as you. Everyone brings different experience from different hospitals and deaneries, meaning you won't ever miss out on the key bits of information that could swing the interview in your favour.
Live MocksBeta
Candidates who don't take part in mocks often struggle to adapt to the pressure of the interview. Your knowledge might be correct, but without convincing delivery the interviewers will score you poorly. The best way to improve your delivery is to take part in as many live mocks as possible, which is why we haven't put a cap on how many you can do. We also know how difficult it can be to organise mocks with other people, so all you have to do is join the waiting room and we'll match you with a different Rheumatology ST4 candidate each time. Take turns as both the interviewer and candidate on real Question Bank scenarios, so you can see exactly how other candidates perform in real time, while refining your own interview technique.
Peer FeedbackBeta
Preparing alone means you won't know how you're coming across during the interview. And preparing with the same few candidates means you'll miss opportunities to improve, which is why it's so important to get as many opinions as possible on your performance. With Medibuddy, you can record a mock and submit it for feedback from other candidates on the platform, so you receive a wider range of feedback and refine your answers with each person you practise with. Reviewing other people's mocks is just as valuable, as it shows you how strong candidates handle the same scenarios, which is one of the fastest ways to improve.
The interview

What to expect from the Rheumatology ST4 interview

Rheumatology is a competitive specialty. In 2025, 240 doctors applied for 51 posts, nearly five applicants for every place.

The interview has three stations with four questions, and takes 40 to 45 minutes in total, with communication assessed across all stations.

Station 1

Clinical Scenario

You review a short clinical scenario and are questioned on your assessment and management. Start with a safe, systematic approach before moving to more specialist management, and be ready to explain when you would escalate.
Station 2

Medical Registrar Suitability

Non-clinical questions on managing acute medical admissions and leading a team, showing your readiness to work as a medical registrar.
Station 3

Ethical Scenario

You work through the moral, ethical and legal dimensions of a situation. Explain your reasoning, refer to relevant guidance, and show how you would handle it safely and professionally.
Station 3

Suitability & Commitment

You’ll be asked about your motivation for rheumatology and why you’re suited to ST4. Go beyond listing achievements and show how your experience demonstrates your commitment.

How the interview is scored

The questions are marked against the Rheumatology ST4 person specification. Our model answers are structured against those criteria, so you know exactly what a strong, well-organised answer looks like at each station.
Get ready

How to prepare for the Rheumatology ST4 interview

Start with the Question Bank

Work through over 70 scenarios across all three stations, each with a worked answer from a candidate who scored well in the 2026 interview. Start by reading how a strong answer is formed, then think about how you'd deliver it.

Talk the hard ones through in Study Groups

Study Groups are your biggest opportunity to network and connect with other candidates sitting the same interview as you. Everyone on the platform is in the same boat, so don't be scared to get involved and ask questions. Someone in your study group might just help you work through a scenario you've been struggling with.

Rehearse out loud in Live Mocks

Live mocks are where you begin to put everything you've learned into practice, and we know from experience that those who practise with a wide range of candidates usually do the best. Organise mocks with people from one of your study groups, or get matched with a random Rheumatology ST4 candidate, then take turns as interviewer and candidate using real scenarios until answering out loud under pressure feels normal.

Get reviewed with Peer Feedback before the day

Once you've recorded a mock, you can have other community members review it. This lets you see how you come across to other people, and gives you time to refine your delivery as you revise, rather than being caught out on the day. Reviewing other people's mocks is just as crucial, as you see how other candidates navigate the same scenarios.
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What does the Rheumatology ST4 interview involve?
Three stations with four questions in total, each 5 to 10 minutes, for a total of 40 to 45 minutes. The interview covers a Clinical Scenario, Medical Registrar Suitability, and a third station pairing an Ethical Scenario with Suitability and Commitment. Communication is assessed across all stations.
How competitive is the Rheumatology ST4 interview?
Competitive. In 2025, 240 doctors applied for 51 posts, nearly five applicants for every place, which is why a structured, well-rehearsed approach matters.
Who writes the model answers?
High-scoring candidates who sat the Rheumatology ST4 interview in 2026, and secured some of the most competitive posts.
Can I practise with other candidates?
Yes. Every Revision Platform purchase gives you the opportunity to connect with other candidates through Study Groups, Live Mocks and Peer Feedback.
How do the Live Mocks work?
All you have to do is join the waiting room, and we match you with another Rheumatology ST4 candidate. You then take turns as interviewer and candidate on real Question Bank scenarios, so you gain experience answering out loud to a real person before you ever sit in front of the panel.
What are Study Groups and how do they help?
Study Groups are community forums for doctors across the country preparing for the same Rheumatology ST4 interview. You can ask questions, share what you're struggling with, and compare how you'd approach a scenario.
Can I get feedback on my interview performance?
Yes. After you've recorded a mock, you can ask other members to review it, so you can see which part of your answer needs fine-tuning.
How do you keep the Rheumatology ST4 Question Bank up to date?
We review and update it twice a year: in April after that year's interviews, and again in the autumn when the new recruitment guidance is published, so you always practise with the current three-station format.
How long do I get access for?
Access runs for 12 months from the purchase date.

Start preparing for the Rheumatology ST4 interview

The Revision Platform gives you over 70 scenarios to practise and refine with other candidates through Study Groups, Live Mocks and Peer Feedback.

Rheumatology ST4 Revision Platform • £144.99

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