The RCP-SRO has circulated to all candidates a feedback email giving details of the scores awarded to different sections of their application, as well as details of the deanery/UoA to which their application has been allocated (where applicable).

In addition, the distribution of all short-list scores nationally can be viewed in the distribution chart available for download from this page of the website (a PDF document for each specialty in the left-hand menu).

Where specialties are using the SCA or clustered recruitment models, this document also includes information on the proportion of candidates allocated to their first-choice deanery/UoA preference in each case, and the minimum 'cascade' scores for each.

All short-list scores across all specialties have also been compiled into one document which is also available for download from this page.

Scores not revised

At no stage prior to interview are these reviewed; this includes the 'other' option which is an option in each points scoring area.

Achievements you list under 'other' will not be scored at the short-listing stage, but will be taken account of at any interview you attend.

Over-claiming

Please note that all achievements claimed are checked by a clinician at interview. Any instances of candidates trying to gain an unfair advantage by over-claiming their achievements will be taken extremely seriously.

This could lead to an application being rejected, and in more serious cases, it could be reported as a probity matter to the GMC.

If you are concerned, after submitting your application, that you may have over-claimed accidentally, please contact the ST3 recruitment helpdesk (st3recruitment@rcplondon.ac.uk) as soon as possible.

Under-claiming

In the event that you submit an application, but then at a later stage feel you have selected too low an option within a particular area - ie you have scored a lower mark than you feel is due to you - this cannot be amended once you have submitted your application.

Therefore, please do make sure your selection of options and the content of your application is as accurate as possible, as post-submission amendments cannot be made.

Helpdesk assistance

Unfortunately, the RCP-SRO helpdesk staff cannot give advice on the appropriate selection of options - it is crucial that every candidate's application form is their own work.

As such, we are not able to answer questions along the lines of '...I have [xyz]; does this mean I can select option [abc]?'

Where possible, we have given as much information and clarification as we can on the options available within each scoring section of the application form below:

NB - we do welcome feedback in order to maintain and improve our service to applicants.

Obviously, while it is important to bear in mind the points mentioned further up this page on over/under-claiming, we are also keen to stress there is a good deal of flexibility within the assessment process, and a wide appreciation of the application form's constraints.

That is; recruiters/interviewers understand that the potential breadth of candidate experience/achievements in a particular area is infinite, essentially; and that a finite list of options will never be able to cover accurately all the possible achievements of all candidates.

Choose highest appropriate option

The general guidance we give to candidates when considering options is to select the highest option they feel is applicable to the item of experience/achievement in question, and expand further in the accompanying fields.

This can never be an exact science; but provided you can justify your selection of the available options at any interview you attend, with supporting paperwork as required, this will usually be an appropriate course of action.

Extreme exaggeration punished

Blatant attempts to exaggerate achievements will be penalised at interview, and may result in an application being rejected.

While we appreciate selection of options can be difficult (see above), please do be aware that under no circumstances can we or will we instruct an applicant as to how to go about choosing options within their application form.

Your application must be solely your own work, and we can give no guidance beyond that which is provided within this page.

That is - within each section, you should select the highest option available which is appropriate to your experience/achievements.

Again, as noted above, it is inevitable that in some cases there will not be an exact 'fit' for an item; but recruiters/interviewers are aware of this, and expect candidates to employ a degree of interpretation when completing applications.

So for example, if you are due to give a presentation after applications close, but will not have actually given the presentation before you submit your application, then this cannot be included.

In the event that you have any achievements (etc.) which are 'in progress' at the time you submit, but are then completed at a later date, you will be able to bring these to the attention of interviewers at interview (should your application progress to that point), and these can then be taken into account as part of your assessment there.

But all content within your application must be correct at time of submission.

'In press' publications can be included

The one partial exception to this is in the case of publications, where articles which are 'in press' - ie have been written, submitted and accepted, but are just awaiting publication - can be included here.

Please see the publications section further down this page for more information.

Degree classifications

Where you have gained a degree/qualification which does not have a 'standard' classification (eg 1st, 2:1, etc.) then you should select the option here which you deem equivalent.

It may be difficult to identify an exactly equivalent option, but recruiters/interviewers do appreciate that experience will not always fit neatly within one of the available options.

Undergraduate or postgraduate?

In some cases, a degree/qualification may overlap between undergraduate and postgraduate; eg the initial part of a course may be undergraduate, but then successful completion may lead on to an additional stage of the course which leads to it being classed as postgraduate.

In the event that you have gained a qualification which could be included under either the undergraduate or postgraduate degrees/qualifications section, you can include this under whichever of the two sections you feel is most appropriate.

However, you should only include this under one section or the other, but not both.

Once you have decided which is the preferred section, you should again use your professional judgement to select the most appropriate option, and then give full details in the subsequently-arising fields.

For more information on completing this section, please visit the qualifications page of this website.

Common questions on additional achievements and qualifications can be found on the application form FAQs page.

Degree classifications

Where you have gained a degree/qualification which does not appear to fit exactly within one of the options available here, then you should select the option which you deem equivalent.

It may be difficult to identify an option which feels wholly 'correct', but recruiters/interviewers do appreciate that experience will not always fit neatly within one of the available options.

Undergraduate or postgraduate?

In some cases, a degree/qualification may overlap between undergraduate and postgraduate; eg the initial part of a course may be undergraduate, but successful completion may then lead on to an additional stage of the course, which leads to it being classed as postgraduate.

In the event that you have gained a qualification which could be included under either the undergraduate or postgraduate degrees/qualifications section, you can include this under whichever of the two sections you feel is most appropriate.

However, you should only include this under one section or the other, but not both.

Once you have decided which is the preferred section, you should again use your professional judgement to select the most appropriate option, and then give full details in the subsequently-arising fields.

For more information on completing this section, please visit the qualifications page of this website.

Common questions on additional achievements and qualifications can be found on the application form FAQs page.

For more information on completing this section, please visit the qualifications page of this website.

Common questions on additional achievements and qualifications can be found on the application form FAQs page.

This section is formatted slightly differently to the other scoring areas; rather than a single drop-down list and accompanying text fields, you will be asked if you hold any parts of the MRCP(UK) diploma or an equivalent/alternative examination, and if so, which parts you hold.

Scores are awarded as below:

*or equivalent.

No score is given for passing MRCP(UK) Part 1, as this is an essential eligibility requirement at time of application. See the MRCP(UK) page of the eligibility section of this website for more information on this.

Candidates claiming acceptable alternative examinations, or who are eligible under the EEA directive 2005/36/EC must tick 'yes' to the MRCP(UK) Part 1 question in order for their application to progress.

The MRCP(UK) page also holds information on which examinations are regarded as equivalent to the MRCP(UK).

For more information on completing this section of the application form, please visit the qualifications page of this website.

Common questions on MRCP(UK) can be found on the eligibility FAQs and application form FAQs pages.

NB - 'presentations' referred to here are oral presentations, with or without slides, in front of an audience; these options also allow for poster presentations.

These can be of anything related to medicine, typically a case or case series, research or other topic.

Please note - you must not include any audit presentations here - use the specific 'clinical audit' section (see further down this webpage).

For more information on completing this section, please visit the supporting information page of this website.

Common questions on presentations can be found on the application form FAQs page.

PubMed citations

Any item included under an option stating 'PubMed-cited' must be cited in PubMed, so as to demonstrate that it is both peer-reviewed and relevant to medicine.

Where possible, you should include this PubMed reference when giving details of publications. Cochrane reviews can be regarded as equivalent.

The only exception to this is in the case of published medical books, which do not require PubMed citation.

Please note

Below the table is a short glossary of terms used in the options.

One key point to note is that, unlike previous years, marks can now be awarded for articles/publications which have been completely accepted, but are just waiting to be published - ie 'in press'.

For more information on completing this section, please visit the supporting information page of this website.

Common questions on publications can be found on the application form FAQs page.

A glossary of terms used in the options here is included below the table.

For more information on completing this section, please visit the supporting information page of this website.

Common questions on teaching experience can be found on the application form FAQs page.

Please note that you cannot claim a presentation of your audit in the presentation section of the application form; any audit presentations must be detailed in this section.

For more information on completing this section, please visit the supporting information page of this website.

Common questions on clinical audit can be found on the application form FAQs page.