King's Medicine Interview Questions (2027 Entry)

How does King's interview for medicine?

Source: King's College London, Medicine frequently asked questions, July 2023 (PDF) (2024 entry); King's College London, Healthcare Entry Medicine frequently asked questions, July 2025 (PDF) (2026/27); King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements (2027 entry)

When are King's medicine interviews for 2027 entry?

Source: King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements (2027 entry)

How does King's decide who to interview?

Source: King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements (2027 entry); King's College London, Medicine frequently asked questions, July 2023 (PDF) (2024 entry)

What does King's assess at interview?

Source: King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements (2027 entry); King's College London, Medicine MBBS course page (2027 entry)

Motivation for studying medicine, and for King's

What King's says: King's names motivation for studying Medicine among the attributes its interviews assess. King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements

King's also asks, in its personal statement guidance, for a realistic appreciation of the academic, physical and emotional demands of medicine. A motivation answer that scores well at King's therefore shows you have looked at the hard parts of the job as well as the parts that drew you in. With one question per station, give your reason and your evidence for it in the same answer.

1. 1

   Why do you want to be a doctor, and how have you tested that reason?

   What to cover: Start with the reason in one sentence, then show how you checked it against the real job: what you saw, who you talked to, what surprised you. The interviewer wants to hear a decision you have examined, not one you inherited.

2. 2

   Why King's?

   What to cover: Choose two things King's actually describes, such as following patients over long periods in Stage 2 or placements across more than 350 general practices, and explain why they suit you. Saying it is a famous London school tells the interviewer nothing about you.

3. 3

   King's trains students at Guy's, St Thomas' and King's College Hospital, among the busiest teaching hospitals in London. What could a hospital that busy teach you that a quieter one could not?

   What to cover: Talk about the range of patients and conditions, how large teams hand care between them, and what it means to see medicine under pressure. A thoughtful answer also admits that a busy ward leaves less time for teaching, and says how you would make the most of every chance.

4. 4

   In Stage 2 King's has students follow patients for long periods to learn whole-person care. Why might that matter for a future doctor?

   What to cover: Explain that a single admission shows you one moment of an illness, while following someone shows you what it does to their work, family and mood over months. Link it to something you have seen, such as a relative with a long-term condition or a care home resident you got to know.

5. 5

   Clinical placements at King's include district general hospitals across the south east of England, not only central London. How do you feel about training away from the big teaching hospitals?

   What to cover: Be positive and give a reason: most patients in the country are treated in district general hospitals and general practices, and that is where much of your future work will be. Mention anything practical you have thought about, such as travel, without making it sound like a burden.

6. 6

   What do you think the physical and emotional demands of medicine are, and how do you know?

   What to cover: These are King's own words, so take them seriously. Name a demand of each kind, such as long shifts on your feet and the weight of bad outcomes, and say where you saw or heard about it, ideally from a doctor or nurse you spoke to.

7. 7

   Which doctor's job you have seen or read about could you picture yourself doing, and what would put you off it?

   What to cover: Pick a real specialty, say what appeals, then name the hardest part of it plainly. Showing you can weigh both sides is more convincing than enthusiasm with no edges.

8. 8

   If you could not study medicine, what would you do instead, and why is it not your first choice?

   What to cover: Name a real alternative you would be content with and give the specific reason medicine still comes first, usually the mix of science and direct responsibility for a patient. Avoid sounding as if the alternative is a punishment.

9. 9

   King's is a multi-faculty university and offers intercalated degrees from clinical sciences to the humanities. If you intercalated, what might you study and why?

   What to cover: Pick a subject and connect it to a question you would want answered, for example global health, medical ethics or a science you enjoyed at school. It shows curiosity beyond the core course, which is what an intercalated year is for.

10. 10

    What worries you most about becoming a doctor, and what have you done about it?

    What to cover: Choose something real, such as making a mistake or dealing with death, and describe one step you have already taken towards it. A worry with an action attached shows maturity; a worry on its own sounds like a warning.

11. 11

    Tell me about something you have read or watched that made you more certain about medicine, or less.

    What to cover: Name one thing, say what it argued and what you now think. If it made you less certain about some part of the job, say how you resolved that; it is a strong answer when handled well. Our medicine reading list is a starting point.

Go deeper: How to answer "Why medicine?"

Communication skills

What King's says: Communication skills are the first attribute King's lists when it describes what its interviews assess. King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements

King's does not publish its station types, so prepare for both kinds of communication station: questions about how you communicate, and tasks where you have to communicate there and then. Online, the interviewer sees only your face and hears only your voice, so pace, short pauses and checking that you have been understood carry more weight than they would in a room. King's also says in its personal statement guidance that communication and teamwork are of great importance.

12. 12

    Tell me about a time you explained something complicated to someone who found it hard to follow.

    What to cover: Describe what you tried first, how you noticed it was not working, and what you changed. The adjustment is what the interviewer is listening for, not the topic you were explaining.

13. 13

    On a placement in a south London general practice, a patient tells you they have stopped taking their blood pressure tablets because they feel fine. Talk to them.

    What to cover: Find out why before you explain anything, because the real reason may be side effects, cost or a worry they have not mentioned. Then explain in plain words why high blood pressure is usually silent, and agree that they will discuss it with the GP.

14. 14

    Explain to someone who has never used the NHS what a GP does that a hospital doctor does not.

    What to cover: Keep it concrete: a GP sees all kinds of problems, knows the patient over years and decides who needs a specialist. Check they have followed you before adding detail.

15. 15

    A patient's relative speaks little English and the interpreter has not arrived yet. How do you make sure they understand what is happening?

    What to cover: Use short sentences, simple words and gestures, and check understanding by asking them to show or repeat back. Be clear that anything important waits for a professional interpreter, and that a child of the family should not be asked to interpret.

16. 16

    How would you tell a friend that something they said upset another person in your group?

    What to cover: Choose a private moment, describe what happened without accusing them, and give them the chance to explain. Then help them think about how to put it right.

17. 17

    Describe a time you changed your mind after listening to someone else.

    What to cover: Give a specific moment, say what they knew that you had missed, and what you did differently afterwards. It shows the listening half of communication, which applicants often forget.

18. 18

    What gets lost when a doctor sees a patient by video call, and how would you make up for it?

    What to cover: Mention body language, the chance to examine, and patients who struggle with the technology. Then give practical fixes, such as asking more open questions, checking understanding and offering a face-to-face appointment when it matters.

19. 19

    Explain to a 12-year-old how to use an inhaler, without any props.

    What to cover: Use short steps in the order they happen, one simple comparison at most, and ask them to tell you the steps back. Adapting to the listener is the whole task.

20. 20

    Tell me about a time you were in a team that was not working well. What did you do?

    What to cover: Say what was going wrong, what you did about it and what happened next, including anything that did not work. Our guide to the multidisciplinary team shows why teamwork comes up so often.

21. 21

    A patient is angry that their clinic appointment is running 90 minutes late. Respond to them.

    What to cover: Let them say their piece, acknowledge the frustration, explain briefly why clinics run late without blaming colleagues, and offer something practical, such as finding out exactly how long they still have to wait.

22. 22

    What makes someone a good listener, and are you one?

    What to cover: Describe the habits, such as not interrupting, asking follow-up questions and summarising back, then give one example where you did that and one where you did not. Admitting where you fall short is more believable than a perfect score.

Go deeper: MMI role-play stations guide

Ethical reasoning

What King's says: King's names ethical reasoning among the attributes its interviews are designed to assess. King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements

King's asks for ethical reasoning, so the marks go to how you reach an answer. In a one-question station there may be no follow-up to rescue a thin reply, so set out the people involved and what each wants, say what more you would need to know, reach a position and say what would change it. The four pillars of medical ethics give you the vocabulary.

23. 23

    An adult patient with capacity refuses a blood transfusion that would very probably save their life. What should the doctors do?

    What to cover: Confirm they have capacity and understand the consequences, explore their reasons, offer any alternatives, record it all, and respect the decision. Our guide to Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusion works through a common version.

24. 24

    A 15-year-old asks her GP for contraception and does not want her parents told. What are the issues?

    What to cover: Consider whether she is competent to decide, her right to confidentiality, and anything that suggests she is at risk of harm. The Gillick and Fraser guidance is what doctors actually apply.

25. 25

    You are a King's medical student in theatre. A doctor invites you to perform an intimate examination on an anaesthetised patient for teaching. What do you do?

    What to cover: Ask whether the patient gave specific consent for a student to do this while asleep, and decline if they did not. Consent for the operation does not cover teaching, and saying so politely is part of being a professional.

26. 26

    On placement you see a doctor photograph a patient's wound on their personal phone. What should you do as a student?

    What to cover: Think about consent, confidentiality and where that image might end up. Raise it with the doctor if you feel able, or with your supervisor if not, and know that our confidentiality guide sets out the rules.

27. 27

    Is it ever right for a doctor to lie to a patient?

    What to cover: Distinguish lying from choosing how and when to share bad news, and say that the duty of candour makes deliberate deception very hard to defend. Then consider the rare hard cases and where you land.

28. 28

    A patient tells you, a student, something important about their health and asks you not to tell the doctor. What do you do?

    What to cover: Explain kindly that you cannot keep secrets that affect their care, because you are part of the team looking after them, and encourage them to tell the doctor themselves, offering to be there when they do.

29. 29

    Should patients whose illness is linked to their lifestyle, such as smoking, be given lower priority for treatment?

    What to cover: Weigh fairness against the difficulty of judging blame, the role of addiction and deprivation, and the clinical reasons a habit can affect whether a treatment will work. Separate punishment from clinical judgement in your answer.

30. 30

    England moved to an opt-out system of organ donation in 2020. What are the arguments for and against it?

    What to cover: Cover autonomy, the shortage of organs, the role families still play in the decision, and the groups who may feel the system does not reflect their beliefs. Our organ donation guide has the detail.

31. 31

    Parliament has debated legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults. What are the main arguments on each side?

    What to cover: Set out autonomy and relief of suffering on one side, and protection of vulnerable people and the role of doctors on the other. Present both fairly before you give a view, and keep it measured.

32. 32

    A parent refuses a routine vaccination for their child. How should a doctor respond?

    What to cover: Listen to the concern first, give clear information about benefits and risks, and respect that parents usually decide for young children. Explain when the law might step in, which is rare and reserved for serious risk.

33. 33

    Should the NHS charge patients who miss appointments?

    What to cover: Weigh the cost of missed appointments against the people most likely to miss them, who are often the most unwell or the least able to pay. Suggest alternatives, such as reminders, before you settle on a view.

34. 34

    You notice that a colleague smells of alcohol at the start of a morning shift. What do you do?

    What to cover: Patient safety comes first, so act today: speak to them privately if it is safe to, and tell a senior if patients could be at risk. Recognise that the colleague may need help too; our guide to whistleblowing in the NHS covers when and how to raise concerns.

Go deeper: How to answer medical ethics questions

Current and relevant healthcare issues

What King's says: King's says its interviews assess understanding of current and relevant healthcare issues. King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements

King's wording is "current and relevant", so you are expected to know what is happening in healthcare now and to say what it means for patients and doctors. Pick a handful of issues and know each well enough to explain the cause, the effect on patients and one thing that might help. London gives you plenty to talk about: neighbouring areas with very different health, a population that moves often, and hospitals that serve their own streets alongside patients referred from much further away.

35. 35

    What do you think is the biggest pressure on the NHS at the moment, and what would you do about it?

    What to cover: Pick one, such as waiting lists or staffing, give a fact or two you are sure of, and suggest a realistic step. One issue understood well is better than a tour of five.

36. 36

    Why might two people living a few miles apart in south London expect to live very different lengths of time?

    What to cover: Talk about income, housing, education, work and access to care, and use the idea of the social determinants of health. Our Marmot and health inequalities guide has the evidence to quote.

37. 37

    The government's 10 Year Health Plan for England describes three shifts: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. Pick one and explain what it would mean for a patient.

    What to cover: Choose one shift and describe a patient whose care would change, for example someone with heart failure monitored at home. Mention one thing that would have to go right for it to work. Our 10 Year Health Plan guide explains the plan.

38. 38

    What role should artificial intelligence play in diagnosing patients?

    What to cover: Give a real example, such as reading scans, then weigh accuracy and speed against bias in the data, accountability for errors and what patients want. Our AI in medicine guide covers the main arguments.

39. 39

    Why does antibiotic resistance matter, and what could you do about it as a junior doctor?

    What to cover: Explain how resistance develops and why it threatens routine surgery and cancer care, then give practical steps: prescribe only when needed, choose the right drug and duration, and review prescriptions. Our antibiotic resistance guide has more.

40. 40

    Resident doctors in England have gone on strike over pay in recent years. What are the arguments on each side?

    What to cover: Set out pay, working conditions and retention on one side, and the effect on patients and waiting lists on the other. Stay balanced; our strikes guide explains the background.

41. 41

    Why is it hard to get a GP appointment in many parts of the country?

    What to cover: Talk about demand from an older population with more long-term conditions, the number of GPs and the way appointments are booked, then say what is being tried. Our GP shortage guide covers it.

42. 42

    What is social prescribing, and for which patients might it help?

    What to cover: Explain that it links patients to non-medical support such as community groups, exercise or debt advice, and give an example, such as an isolated older person who visits the GP often. Our social prescribing guide has more.

43. 43

    How does an ageing population change the work of a hospital doctor?

    What to cover: Mention patients with several conditions and many medicines, delayed discharges when social care is short, and the need to plan care with families. Our ageing population guide has the context.

44. 44

    Why do some doctors leave the NHS or move abroad, and what would keep you?

    What to cover: Give the main reasons, such as workload, rota pressures and training bottlenecks, then answer the personal part plainly. Our guide to why resident doctors leave sets out the evidence.

45. 45

    The growing role of physician associates in the NHS has been controversial. Why?

    What to cover: Explain what the role is, then the concerns raised about scope of practice, supervision and patients knowing who is treating them. Stay fair to the people in the role; our physician associate guide explains the job.

46. 46

    Are online and telephone GP consultations good for patients?

    What to cover: Weigh convenience and speed against missed signs, difficulty for some older or disabled patients, and the loss of examination. Conclude that it depends on the patient and the problem; our telemedicine guide has more.

Go deeper: Medicine interview hot topics

Suitability for the programme and the medical profession

What King's says: King's says its interviews assess overall suitability for the programme and the medical profession. King's College London, Medicine MBBS entry requirements

This is King's broadest heading, and it is where reflection, work experience, teamwork and professionalism sit. King's advises applicants to read the GMC's Outcomes for Graduates, which sets out what a newly qualified doctor must be able to do. Its personal statement guidance asks for work experience in a caring setting or, where that was not possible, a job dealing with the public, such as in a pharmacy, a shop checkout or a restaurant. Expect to be asked what that experience taught you.

47. 47

    King's suggests applicants read the GMC's Outcomes for Graduates. What did you take from it?

    What to cover: Show you have actually read it: name one part that surprised you or that you are already working towards, and say why. Our GMC guide for interviews summarises the documents students are expected to know.

48. 48

    Tell me about your work experience, or a job dealing with the public, and one thing it taught you about caring for people.

    What to cover: King's says a public-facing job counts when clinical experience was not possible, so do not apologise for a checkout or restaurant job. Pick one moment and say what it taught you about patience, communication or responsibility.

49. 49

    Tell me about a mistake you made. What did you do next?

    What to cover: Choose a real mistake with real consequences, then show that you owned it, put it right where you could and changed what you do. The response matters far more than the mistake.

50. 50

    King's warns that medicine has a heavy academic workload. How do you manage when you have more to do than time to do it?

    What to cover: Describe a system you actually use and a time it was tested, including what you let go. A believable method with limits is more convincing than a claim that you never struggle.

51. 51

    What do you do to look after yourself when things are hard?

    What to cover: Give real habits and name the people you would turn to, then link it to patient safety: a doctor who is unwell or exhausted makes more mistakes. Our NHS mental health guide gives the wider context.

52. 52

    A friend on your course asks you to sign them in to a compulsory teaching session they are going to miss. What do you do?

    What to cover: Say no kindly, and explain that signing for someone else is dishonest and that attendance records matter in a professional course. Then ask whether something is wrong, because a friend missing teaching may need help.

53. 53

    Tell me about a time you took on a responsibility nobody asked you to.

    What to cover: Choose something specific, explain what you noticed that others had not, and what difference it made. The initiative is the point; the size of the task is not.

54. 54

    What will you contribute to King's beyond your studies?

    What to cover: King's says it looks for applicants who have taken part as fully as possible in school or college life and seen something of society beyond their own surroundings. Give one or two things you would continue, with evidence that you stick at them.

55. 55

    Inter-professional training is part of Stage 3 at King's. What do nurses, pharmacists or physiotherapists know that doctors often do not?

    What to cover: Give a concrete example from each profession you choose, such as a nurse noticing a patient's change overnight or a pharmacist catching a drug interaction. It shows you see doctors as one part of a team.

56. 56

    King's assesses students through progress tests, clinical exams called OSCEs, project work and an e-portfolio. Which would you find hardest, and why?

    What to cover: Choose one and give a reason grounded in how you learn, then say what you would do about it. It shows you have looked at the course you are applying to.

57. 57

    What would a patient want from a medical student who is learning on them?

    What to cover: Talk about introducing yourself and your role, asking permission, being gentle and respectful, and accepting a refusal without fuss. A patient's right to say no to a student is worth naming.

58. 58

    Which part of your personality will help you as a doctor, and which part might get in the way?

    What to cover: Name a real strength with evidence, then a real trait that could cause problems and how you manage it. Self-awareness is what the interviewer is assessing.

Go deeper: Medicine work experience guide