How Self-Assessment Scoring Works
Self-assessment scoring for the IMT application is done on Oriel while completing the full application form. See our application guide for advice on other parts of the form, including eligibility and commitment to speciality.
During this section you will be asked to select options for each of the domains listed below so that an overall application score can be calculated.
5 Rules for Submitting Your Application
Don't get caught out during your application - there's a danger of having it thrown out if you break the rules.
The JRCPTB reports that it treats this very seriously if it appears to be a deliberate attempt to mislead. They leave the consequences unsaid, but could potentially include a talking to from a scary 3-letter organisation.
- Don't Mislead
Be careful when assigning points – if interviewers feel that you have been purposefully misleading on your self-assessment, they may consider rejecting your application. Make sure your portfolio has evidence to back up your claims.
- You Can Claim the Same Achievement in Multiple Domains
You are now able to use one achievement across two domains – for example, if you performed a quality improvement project, presented it, and then gained a publication from it, you can claim points in each of these categories.
(I'm not entirely sure when this changed, but thanks to this user on Reddit for correcting us on this!)
- Have the Evidence
While you won't need to upload evidence of your achievements, applications are audited at random, so if you've claimed for something you don't have evidence of you could get in hot water.
- Check it Before Submitting
You won't be able to change much of the form once it's been submitted, and it's not certain that you'll be allowed to send another. Check and double-check everything before you hit submit.
- Do It In Time
There is a hard deadline of 4pm. If you try to submit at 4.01pm, it won't be accepted under any circumstances, which we're sure includes Oriel being clogged up with thousands of last-minute submissions.
Submit your application AT LEAST the day before, ideally more like a week or two.
Changes for 2027
IMT Recruitment has published a preview of the 2027 changes ahead of its full website update in autumn 2026. The process is described as "largely unchanged", but four things matter for your score:
- The 5-point IMT-only bonus is gone. In 2026, applying only to the joint IMT/ACCS-IM vacancy in Round 1 earned 5 extra shortlisting points. For 2027 those points are removed, and shortlisting is based on the self-assessment score alone.
- Presentations and posters are worth more. The domain maximum rises from 6 to 8 points (6 becomes 8, 4 becomes 6, 3 becomes 4, 2 is unchanged).
- Publications are worth less. The domain maximum falls from 8 to 6 points (8 becomes 6, 6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, 3 becomes 2, 1 is unchanged).
- Abstracts and letters no longer count as PubMed-cited "other publications". An abstract can only be claimed for the lowest-scoring option, and only if it is not from a presentation or poster you have already claimed in that domain.
The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act is now law and will apply at both the shortlisting and offers stages. IMT Recruitment says it cannot yet set out what this means for individual applicants, so check the IMT Recruitment website when the full 2027 pages are published.
Eligibility
Most eligibility criteria remain unchanged from previous years. The main change for this round is that full GMC registration is now required at the time of application. Applicants may apply without a licence to practise, provided they hold registration and appear on the GMC register.
Shortlisting
Shortlisting is based on the self-assessment score alone. The 5 extra points that IMT-only applicants received in 2026 have been removed for 2027, and the presentations and publications domains have been rebalanced as described above. The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act also applies at the shortlisting stage.
Separate Scotland Vacancy
For this round, there will be two separate IMT/ACCS-IM vacancies: one covering England, Northern Ireland, and Wales, and another for programmes in Scotland. Applicants may apply to only one of these vacancies and should ensure they choose their preferred option carefully. Further details on this process are available in the Planning Your Application section of the IMT recruitment website.
3 Reasons You Need to Maximise Your Score
IMT isn’t as competitive as many of the higher medical specialities, but aiming for a high application score is useful for a few reasons:
- Get Shortlisted for Interview
The self-assessment section is used to determine whether you will be shortlisted for an interview. IMT has become more competitive in recent years, so even if you are eligible for IMT recruitment you may miss out on an interview if you score poorly on your application.
- Ace Your ST4 Application
Higher medical speciality (ST3/4) application follows essentially the same scoring guidelines as the IMT application, so if you can max out your score in a few domains for IMT, you can focus on other domains when preparing for the ST3/4 application.
- Get Interview Ready
While the interview score is what matters for ranking and achieving the rotation & location of choice, up to half of the points for the interview are scored on similar points as the application score. Boost your application points and you’ll be able to get more points at the interview!
Application Scoring Matrix 2027
Each section of the self-assessment score gives you points depending on which option you have selected. You won’t have to supply the evidence, but you will have to describe why you have selected each option in part 3 of the application form.
There are 6 sections to score points on during IMT application scoring. The 5-point bonus for applying only to IMT/ACCS-IM, introduced in 2026, no longer applies from 2027.
The scoring sections are:
- Postgraduate degrees
- Presentations and Posters
- Publications
- Teaching experience
- Training in teaching
- Quality improvement
The main tip for maximising your points while planning your IMT application is to sniff out opportunities. Work out which sections you can improve on most, and which points are easiest to gain. Be enthusiastic during ward rounds with your consultant and registrars. Ask around for projects that you know will improve your application or interview score.
Networking can go a long way, particularly when it comes to research and publications. If you can make a good impression with a senior colleague, ask them who the “go-to” consultant is for research, or who they think would be willing to help you get a publication. They might put a word in or give you tips on whether that consultant will reply to an email.
Justin's Advice for Getting Involved in Projects
If you go to a course or conference and are inspired by a speaker or topic, try your hardest to pluck up the courage to go up to them and introduce yourself.
This can either be after their talk or later in the evening if there is a networking session.
From their perspective, they will almost always have projects and ideas for trainees to get working on (even if you have no initial knowledge of the topic). Even if you don’t want to take on any project work, you never know how many contacts you make at these sorts of events can help in your future career.
For example, I attended an Optimise interview course in preparation for my IMT/ACF applications, which was organised by Dr Balrik Kailey and I had several questions which were specific to my portfolio (which I didn’t want to publicly ask during the interview course).
I was nervous about approaching but decided to contact him directly, which in hindsight made a huge difference to my application. He was able to not only answer my questions but also helped me get involved in other projects which were great for my CV.
Postgraduate Degrees and Qualifications
If you started planning early, you can obtain a few extra points in the category of postgraduate degrees. Degrees earned following undergraduate medicine can either come from a break in training or by studying for a part-time master's while working.
Intercalated degrees do not count any section. You can only include a degree here if it was completed before or after your time at medical school, not during.
There are 4 points available in this section:
- 4 points – PhD or MD (by research, using the UK definition of MD), including non-medical related qualifications
- 3 points – Masters level degree, including non-medical qualifications (not including intercalation!)
- 1 point – Other postgraduate diploma (PGDip) or certificate (PGCert) related to medicine, for which only graduate entrants can apply. You cannot claim for membership exams such as MRCP.
A Master's in education qualification will now count here, though any PGDip/PGCerts etc that are specific to teaching should be in the training in teaching section.
Additional Achievements
Removed in 2025!
Presentations and Posters
This is a fantastic area to pick up some points during your foundation training or FY3 year, though you’ll have to make sure you have already met the criteria by the time you apply to IMT. Most projects, however small, can be easily presented to a local medical meeting to pick up a couple of points.
Research and Quality Improvement Projects can easily be turned into a poster, and there are many medical conferences that accept posters from junior doctors. Some medical conferences have interactive screens rather than physical posters, meaning they can fit in as many posters (and sell as many tickets) as they want. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to have a poster presentation at a conference.
Oral presentations are more difficult, and you’ll need to ensure your abstract grabs the attention of your chosen conference when you apply. Some well-known consultants will be invited to speak at conferences on their projects. Find someone with a reputation, do enough work to get yourself first or second on the author list, and ask to present it at a conference they’re speaking at, and you’ve bagged max points.
There are 8 points available in this section (up from 6 in 2026). For each section you must be listed as 1st or 2nd author:
- 8 points – Oral presentation at a national or international medical meeting
- 6 points – Poster shown at a national or international medical meeting
- 4 points – Oral presentation at a regional medical meeting
- 2 points – Poster at a regional or local medical meeting
- 2 points – Oral presentation at a local medical meeting
Conferences limited to one or more UK home nations (aka a Scotland-wide conference) will be counted as national.
Publications
Publications are another area you can bag lots of extra points if you plan ahead. Networking with research consultants or eager registrars can help you get case reports, research, and publications. Even if you don’t have the opportunity to perform your own research project, collaborating enough for you to be named as a co-author in a research publication can get you 5 points in this category.
You must plan carefully for this section – publications can take over a year from application to publication in a PubMed-cited format. You can still claim points if the publication is “in press” (accepted without any requested alterations, but not yet published).
There are 6 points available in this section (down from 8 in 2026):
- 6 points – First or joint-first author of one or more PubMed-cited original research publication
- 5 points – Co-author of one or more PubMed-cited original research publication
- 4 points – First or co-author of more than one PubMed-cited publication such as editorials, reviews and case reports (abstracts and letters no longer count here)
- 4 points – Author of one or more chapters of a book related to medicine (not including self-published books)
- 2 points – First or co-author of one PubMed-cited publication such as editorials, reviews and case reports (abstracts and letters no longer count here)
- 1 point – Published one or more abstracts or articles that are not PubMed-cited. An abstract only counts here if it is not from a presentation or poster you have already claimed in that domain
Justin's Tip for Research
A big tip that I learnt (too late!) on the Optimise Interviews application form course is that you can score maximum marks for a publication, even if you are a co-first author.
If I had known this in my foundation years, I would have pushed harder for the doctors I was working with on a research project in cardiology to put me as a co-first author. It takes nothing away from them and makes a big difference in terms of the points scored on the application form.
