The most comprehensive surgical interview resource.

Surgical Steps is a UK-based prep programme built by top scoring trainees at the national General Surgery ST3 and Core Surgical Training (CST) selections. Structured mock interviews, comprehensive MRCS & FRCS question banks, and the lessons past candidates wish they'd had — tailored to your stage of training.

94% of 2026 candidates offered a post
360+ curated questions & model answers
1:1 mocks with recent top-ranking trainees
3+1 portfolio, clinical, management & professional communication stations for both ST3 and CST

The ST3 & CST interviews, decoded

  • Portfolio — CAMP framework, evidencing every domain
  • Clinical — prioritisation, ATLS, CCrISP, post-op deterioration
  • Clinical management — multi-patient scenarios, escalation, team safety
  • Professional communication — adjunct to clinical or management station; SBAR, patient triage, escalation decisions
What we do

A complete preparation pathway

We focus on the two UK surgical selection interviews — General Surgery ST3 and Core Surgical Training (CST) — so every resource is calibrated to what actually gets asked, how it's marked, and what separates a top scoring candidate from the rest.

01

Structured Mock Interviews

Full-length 40-minute, three-station mocks conducted over video by recent ST3 appointees, using the same timing, format, and scoring rubric as the real interview — including the professional communication adjunct.

02

Station-Specific Coaching

Targeted 75-minute sessions on portfolio, clinical, management, or professional communication — ideal for polishing a weak spot after a diagnostic mock.

03

Question Bank & Model Answers

Over 360+ questions indexed by station, each with a worked model answer, common pitfalls, and the structure that earned high marks.

04

Diagnostic Mocks

A focused 60-minute mock across two stations designed to identify your weakest station before you commit to full preparation — scored, reviewed, and returned with a written action plan within 48 hours.

05

Portfolio Review

Line-by-line review of your self-assessment scoring: presentations, publications, teaching, QI, and leadership. Written feedback within 72 hours.

06

Crash Course Weekends

Two-day intensive courses held one month before the national interview window — lectures, small-group drills, and two mocks each.

Written & applied exams

The most comprehensive MRCS & FRCS question banks

Beyond interview preparation, Surgical Steps offers the most comprehensive MRCS and FRCS General Surgery question banks available — each written and reviewed by surgeons and mapped to the respective syllabus, so every question reflects exactly what the exam can ask.

The stations

We prepare you for every station and every marker

The General Surgery ST3 interview comprises three core stations — clinical, clinical management, and portfolio — with a professional communication scenario as an adjunct. The Core Surgical Training (CST) interview uses a similar station-based format, including portfolio, clinical and management scenarios. Our resources cover both selection processes.

1

Portfolio

Commitment to specialty, achievements, logbook, QI, teaching, research. CAMP framework (Clinical, Academic, Management, Personal).

2

Clinical

Multi-patient prioritisation, ATLS, post-op deterioration, escalation. Structured with SPIDER-C.

3

Clinical Management

Team conflict, underperforming colleagues, rota issues, patient safety concerns. Structured with I-PIES.

+

Professional Communication (adjunct)

A professional communication scenario is attached to either the clinical or clinical management station — SBAR call to consultant, patient list triage, escalation decisions.

Start now.

Book a diagnostic 60-minute mock and we'll tell you exactly what to work on.

Book a Diagnostic Mock