A Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is a type of interview used by an increasing number of medical schools. Since it is a fairly new format, it can catch a lot of students off guard, as well as posing a challenge for teachers who are unsure how to prepare their pupils.
Instead of sitting opposite a panel of interviewers, you’ll be taking part in a series of exchanges that test your ability to make ethical judgements and solve problems.
This page answers the following questions about MMI Interviews:
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MMI interviews consist of several short practical assessments, usually less than 10 minutes each. You’ll be presented with a scenario before each mini interview, so you will have a bit of time to prepare an answer.
Then you’ll either be asked a question by an interviewer, or have to engage in a role-play scenario with an actor whilst an interviewer watches.
Here are the key things you need to know about MMIs:
There are a range of medical schools that use the MMI – you can see these below, as well as information on which stations each school has used in previous years.
| Medical School |
|---|
| Aberdeen |
| Anglia Ruskin |
| Birmingham |
| Brighton and Sussex |
| Bristol |
| Cardiff |
| Dundee |
| Exeter |
| Hull York |
| Keele |
| King's College London |
| Lancaster |
| Leeds |
| Leicester |
| Liverpool |
| Manchester |
| Newcastle |
| Norwich (UEA) |
| Nottingham |
| Plymouth |
| Queen's Belfast |
| Sheffield |
| St Andrews |
| St George's |
| Warwick |
MMI interviews could take a variety of forms. It varies from school to school – and you can see some guidance on this in the table above. You might face some of the following:
MMI interviews are about showing your interviewer what you’re capable of doing, rather than just telling them.
Interviewers want to know that you’ve got what it takes to be a medical practitioner — not just the grades and know-how, but the right attitude and skills as well.
They will be testing your ability to make ethical and informed decisions, as well as your critical thinking and communication skills. They will also be interested in your knowledge of current healthcare and social issues – our new NHS Hot Topics 2018-19 page details a handful of key medical news stories from this year, including Brexit’s impact on healthcare and artificial intelligence in Medicine.
If you’ve got this far, it’s likely that you already possess these qualities and will make a great doctor one day. The trick is to try and develop your ability to formulate logical, well thought-out responses within a short time frame.
MMI interviews can be daunting, especially for students who are used to working hard for exams and traditional interviews.
The right kind of preparation will make all the difference. We’ve put together a list of things you can do to make sure that you shine at your interview:
As well as being well prepared, bear in mind these tips on how to approach your MMI on the day:
Do:
Don’t:
Of course! Here are some to get you started:
Station 1: An actor plays the role of your elderly neighbour. You have just accidentally run over your neighbour’s cat whilst reversing your car. You have 5 minutes to break the bad news to her.
This role-play tests insight, integrity, communication skills and empathy.
Station 2: You are given details of 15 individuals, including their age, sex and occupation. A nuclear attack is imminent and you are only allowed to save 5 of them from destruction. Which ones and why?
A prioritisation exercise. The emphasis is on problem solving and rational thinking under pressure.
Station 3: Without using your hands, explain how to tie shoe laces.
Tests verbal communication skills, the ability to break down the task into a series of small steps and your ability to check that the interlocutor is understanding what you are saying.
Want more examples? Check out our MMI questions and answer guides on our Interview Question Bank!
Access free MMI questionsFind out more about The Medic Portal and how we support students with their med school interview on our About Us page>>
Want realistic MMI practice? Try our MMI Circuits - created by doctors and education experts, our circuits have 20 practice stations to prepare you for your interview.
Our free Interview Question Bank has a range of example MMI stations and answer guides to help you in your preparation!
Want to brush up on your medical news? Read our NHS Hot Topics page, fully updated for 2018, covering key medical news topics of this year.
Medical Ethics are a key part of any med school interview. So - how much do you know? Take the quiz!
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