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Application Guide 2023:
Interview
Ultimate Medicine MMI Interview Preparation Guide 2023
Medicine Admissions Experts
Introduction
What is an MMI Interview?
The MMI medicine interview is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to the more traditional medical school panel interview. The meaning of MMI is multiple mini interviews - referring to the variety of shorter stations that comprise it. They are also sometimes colloquially referred to as “mini-medical interviews” - perhaps misleadingly, as they are often longer than panel interviews!
Embarking on a medical school or dental school journey in the UK often begins with the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), a dynamic and multifaceted interview process.
Unlike traditional interviews, the MMI consists of several short stations, each lasting about 4 to 10 minutes, designed to holistically assess a candidate's aptitude and alignment with the ethos of the medical institution.
Each station, evaluated by different assessors, offers a fresh opportunity to make a strong impression, emphasising the candidate's multifaceted skill set. The MMI is particularly effective in assessing key competencies such as communication skills, ethical reasoning, empathy, problem-solving, and teamwork - essential qualities for future healthcare professionals.
In the MMI, candidates encounter a variety of stations, encompassing areas like:
Personal statement questions
Giving instructions
Data interpretation stations
Describing an image questions
Remember that each station is marked separately, with your scores combined to give an overall average, so don’t stress if one doesn’t go your way! You can always make up for it later.
This guide aims to unpack the MMI's diverse segments, offering insights into typical MMI scenarios and effective preparation strategies.
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Which universities use MMIs and why do they use this format?
Which universities utilise MMI Interviews?
The following medical schools utilise the MMI interview format for their Medicine Interviews for 2024 entry:
Aberdeen, Anglia Ruskin, Aston, Birmingham, Brighton And Sussex, Bristol, Buckingham, Cardiff, Dundee, Edge Hill, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull York, Imperial, College London, Keele, Kent And Medway, Kings College London, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Queen's University Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews, St George's, Sunderland, Swansea, UCL (University College London), UCLAN, Warwick
Why do universities use MMI interviews?
There are a number of reasons why medical and dental schools utilise MMIs as part of their interviews:
Assess Your Skills: MMIs evaluate a range of soft skills like communication, ethical reasoning, empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Independent Evaluation By Lots Of Assessors: Each station is assessed separately, allowing candidates to recover from any setbacks and perform afresh at each stage.
Fairness and Balance: The format provides a balanced appraisal of skills, minimising the impact of performance in a single station.
Reduced Bias: Multiple evaluators decrease the likelihood of personal bias, ensuring a more objective assessment.
Efficiency in Selection: MMIs allow for the effective evaluation of a large number of applicants, streamlining the admissions process so they can interview more candidates in a shorter time.
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How To Prepare For MMI Interviews in 2023
How To Prepare For MMI Interviews
The single best way to prepare for MMIs is to practice MMI questions. You can find MMI sample questions all over the internet, such as in our MMI practice questions article.
Interactive interview practice teaches you the necessary skills, and lets you get used to the format in a lower-pressure environment than the interviews themselves.
You have a few options for practising questions:
Alone: You can try answering questions on your own and giving yourself feedback afterwards. In particular, try recording yourself so that you can critically listen back to your response. Also, make sure that you are speaking to something so that you can practice body language and eye contact - whether that’s a teddy bear, mirror, or camera.
With a friend or family member: If you know any medics or other prospective medics, get together and practice with them. You can give each other feedback, and hearing answers as well as giving them is a vital practice.
With our expert tutors: Our tutors at TheUKCATPeople have years of experience to give you personalised feedback and assist you in preparing to smash your interview. Here you can practice with 1-1 Interview Coaching or 1-1 Mock Medicine Interviews tailored to your particular medical school.
Key topics to prepare for MMI Medicine Interviews
Due to the wide variety of possible MMI questions, it can be difficult to hone in on exactly what knowledge you should have. Generally, multiple mini interviews don’t expect you to have any pre-existing knowledge on medical conditions - after all, that’s what medical school is for!
However, knowing a few things about the NHS for multiple mini interviews can be a big boon, in addition to a couple of other key topics.
The following reading can be a great part of how to prepare for your medicine interview:
Medicine Personal statement: Re-read your personal statement before every interview, and make sure that you have researched every aspect of it in-depth. You could be asked about anything that you discussed, from work experience to medical conditions.
NHS Constitution: Found here, the NHS constitution details its key principles and can be an invaluable resource for understanding how it functions in interviews.
GMC Outcomes for Graduates: The first of two GMC documents on our essential reading list, OfG outlines the key values that the General Medical Council expects from tomorrow’s doctors.
GMC Good Medical Practice: These guidelines detail the GMC’s expectations for practising medicine, and can be great to discuss in ethics questions in particular. Find them here.
The Medical Schools Council: Interviews conducted by members of the MSC may