Applicant’s academic skills will be tested by the A-Level grades they achieve. Some of the applicants numerical and reasoning skills will be tested by the BMAT/UKCAT. There are a lot of “softer” skills that are required which will be tested through the UCAS form and interview:

• Integrity – veracity and honesty – applicants will be responsible for personal and sensitive information. Applicants must adhere carefully to codes of conduct and base their actions on a strict set of values. Applicants must also be loyal to their patients and colleagues.

• Communication – both with patients and other doctors, written and oral. Listening is often as important as talking.

• Interactive – applicants will need to be able to work effectively in a team, get along with people, and liaise with individuals and groups.

• Flexible/proactive – applicants will often operate in a highly pressurised environment, so they need to have the initiative to think on their feet and come up with swift solutions to new problems.

• Tenacity/determination – the career path for a doctor is long and scattered with obstacles. There are exams, tests and interviews all the way through and competition is fierce. Applicants need to be undeterred by these challenges and continue to work hard to achieve the final goal.

• Commitment – not only is the course itself long, but at times applicants will work long hours for little return and the job will be emotionally and physically exhausting. Applicants need to be self-motivated and enthusiastic enough to make it though the hardest times. Resilience is a key attribute.

• Enquiring mind – medicine is a fast-moving field and applicants will need to keep on top of new discoveries and developments. Sometimes there is no correct answer to problems and applicants may need to challenge some of the evidence put before them.

• Compassion – medicine is ultimately about caring for the welfare of others. Often it is advice and reassurance that are required rather than a specific drug or treatment. Applicants will often need to be sympathetic and sensitive to both patients and relatives as they may be a key source of support at a very emotional time. Empathy is important, as is a non-judgmental attitude.

• Scientific approach – applicants need to be methodical in their assessment of problems. Medicine is all about assessing symptoms, diagnosing illness, testing predictions, devising a treatment and then monitoring its progress.

• Leadership skills – a senior doctor may run a department that will involve managing other doctors/support staff as well as time and financial management. Applicants need to be self-motivated and confident. Even if a candidate doesn’t exhibit leadership skills now, they must have the potential to be successful in a leadership role

• Position of responsibility – applicants will need to make important decisions that will impact the lives of others. Applicants will need to remain calm and focused through stressful and pressurised scenarios.

• Breadth of interests – applicants should have a range of hobbies and demonstrate that they are an interesting person who has other interests besides medicine. It is important that the applicant knows how to escape from work and relax in their spare time; otherwise, they may not last long in the profession.

• Stamina – applicants must be able to deal effectively with stress and not let pressurised situations affect their judgement or ability to carry out duties.

• Limitations – no one is perfect and it is important that applicants can reflect on their strengths and weaknesses in order to develop

• A sense of humour – may also be key – especially as a junior doctor!