Ophthalmology ST1 Interview 2027 - Facts & Tips

The Ophthalmology ST1 interview stands as a pivotal milestone for aspiring ophthalmologists, marking the initial step towards a fulfilling career in eye care. This is the last active stage in the ophthalmology st1 application, and success here means you'll be ranked for a potential training number. For 2027 entry, interview places go to the top 260 candidates after folder verification (shortlisting is on the MSRA alone, with a minimum self-score of 19), and interview offers are also subject to the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act. From 2028 entry, NHS England says candidates will self-score their achievements in Oriel at the point of application, counting only achievements completed by the November 2027 closing date.

This highly competitive process evaluates candidates on various fronts, ranging from clinical knowledge to communication skills and personal attributes. The format introduced in 2024 - two virtual consultation stations with an actor - continues for 2027 entry, and NHS England has published the 2027 dates (interviews on 22 and 23 March 2027). We'll give you tips and advice to get yourself into the best possible position!

In this article, we explore the intricacies of the Ophthalmology ST1 interview, providing insights and tips to help candidates navigate this pivotal stage with confidence and poise.

We'll walk you through:

The interview format
Both interview stations
Questions and answers
Available resources

Experience and Advice from High-Scoring Candidates

Dr Sean Zhou

Dr Binita Panchasara

Sean and Binita are both Ophthalmology trainees at NHS HEE East of England, having started ST1 together in 2019. They both have an interest in medical education with Binita now taking up the role of regional simulation lead, as well as clinical lead of Women in Vision UK.

Sean has taken a lead on the digital learning front both on a regional level as a HEE Blended Learning Fellow, and on a national scale as the Professional Development Lead on the Digital Learning Subcommittee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

They’ve combined their passion for medical education and helped many applicants since setting up their bespoke course EyePrep in 2019 with other fantastic colleagues in the region. If you want to gain an edge when it comes to your OST application and interview, book a course with EyePrep.

Key Documents

Oriel User Guide
Ophthalmology ST1 Person Specification 2027
NHS England - Ophthalmology ST1 selection process 2027

OST Recruitment Timeline

Check the schedule for crucial dates during the selection process on the recruitment timetable. The timetable is also accessible in the resources section on the National Ophthalmology website.

NHS England published the official 2027 timetable on 1 September 2026 (dates may change - check the official timeline before each deadline):

August 2027 Start Date (Round 1)

Vacancies published	Wednesday 21st October 2026 by 5pm
Applications open	Thursday 22nd October 2026 at 10am
Applications close	Thursday 19th November 2026 at 4pm (maximum of five applications per round across all specialties)
Invitation to MSRA	Early December 2026, via Oriel (to be confirmed)
MSRA Exam	January 2027 (window confirmed in your invitation)
Evidence Document Upload	Monday 18th January - Tuesday 2nd February 2027
Self-assessment Feedback	Thursday 25th February 2027
Invitation to interview	Monday 15th March 2027
Preferences open	Thursday 18th March 2027
Interviews	Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd March 2027
Interview Feedback	Thursday 25th March 2027
Initial Offers out	Tuesday 6th April 2027 by 5pm
Hold deadline	Friday 9th April 2027 at 1pm
Upgrade deadline	Wednesday 14th April 2027 at 4pm
Post start date	August 2027 onwards

The Interview Format

The assessment will be conducted virtually - so you'll be in front of your webcam rather than in a meeting room.

Candidates must book slots through Oriel, and availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. In other words, the earlier you book or request an interview slot, the higher the likelihood of securing your preferred time, as slots may fill up quickly.

The interview aims to evaluate both knowledge and communication skills through the two stations.

Be Prepared

Here are some things you must sort out before the interview:

A strong wi-fi connection.
A good laptop camera and room lighting
A clean, uncluttered background.
Already familiar with the video platform named in your interview invitation
These have all been tested!

Interview Stations

The interview will be conducted in two phases, which can be done in any order - be prepared to start on either section.

The total interview time is around 45 minutes, which will include:

Identity checks
Instructions
5 minutes reading time before each station
Interview station 1 - up to 10 mins
Interview station 2 - up to 10 mins
Debrief

The debrief will be your chance to talk to one of the consultant assessors and to ask questions or provide feedback.

Interview Station - Clinical Knowledge Assessment

Duration: Up to 10 mins

This component is an assessment of clinical knowledge that involves engaging in a patient consultation with an actor in a medical scenario. The actor will be taking the role of either a patient or a carer for a patient.

You'll have two assessors who will score you - see below for the mark scheme. You won't be able to see or hear the assessors - you will deal solely with the simulated patient/carer. At times a third quality-assurance assessor or a lay representative may also observe.

We go into more detail on the clinical station questions below.

Interview Station - Difficult Communication or Ethical Scenario Assessment

Duration: Up to 10 mins

This component assesses the candidate's ability to handle challenging communication or ethical scenarios. Again, this will involve an actor playing patient or carer. The simulated patient will be communicating with you and it's your job to communicate the best you can through a difficult communication or ethical scenario.

You'll have two assessors watching your performance, but you won't be able to see or hear them.

Take a look at the interview questions section for more details on the type of scenarios you can expect.

Interview Scoring

Candidates will be scored and assessed by two assessors who will only observe their interactions during the interview sessions. They will evaluate each candidate based on predetermined criteria.

What is the scoring criteria, you ask? We have no idea.

We've searched far and wide across the internet, and there doesn't appear to be a hint at how marking works for the ophthalmology interview, which is a shame as this makes the "40%" mark quite confusing to obtain.

All we can say here is to do your best and cross your fingers! 🤞

Feedback will be provided in stages throughout the selection process, with distinct release dates for feedback on the evidence folder and feedback from the online assessment.

If you manage to score 40% or more at this stage, you will move to the final stage of application, whereby you will be given a mark out of 100 based on:

Evidence folder - Max 50 points
Online assessment - Max 50 points

So, your interview score will count for 50% of your final mark. "The score from the MSRA will not be included within the total score."

The remaining candidates will be ranked based on this final score, with offers being given based on this ranking (e.g. if 100 places are available, the top 100 will initially recieve offers, with #101 being offered a place if someone in the top 100 declines, and so on).

Sean & Binita's Tips - The Interview

Interviews are difficult, especially when the stakes are high.

With any OSCE or interviews where it relies on the delivery of information and communication, it is important to practice in a mock environment to time. We highly recommend partnering up with others or asking a friendly colleague/senior to carry out mock interviews. This will help give you structure to your answers and communication scenarios.

Remember, they do not expect you to be a senior registrar at the time of the interview, but a good doctor with an interest in Ophthalmology.

The clinical station is likely a different format from the previous four to five clinical scenario OSCE stations that ran before COVID. Instead, it will probably be a single case and patient interaction. Therefore, you can target your reading to topics that involve diseases with serious sight-threatening implications or systemic involvement.

For those who are struggling to find a partner or want to simply verbalise their practice, check out www.iprepbuddy.com

What to Wear During The Interview

Now, forgive us for telling you what to wear.

Although there is no certain reference to the dress code for this interview, you will no doubt be seen negatively if you look unprofessional. This is absolutely your call, and to say that you should be aiming for "corporate beige" with no added personality is an old-fashioned view. That being said, some of your assessors may have old-fashioned views and could mark you down for your appearance due to unconscious bias.

The two stations are essentially telemedicine consultations and should be treated as such. Think about how you would like to present yourself to your patients, and maybe add an extra layer of professional sheen, just for good luck.

You could opt for professional attire with a formal shirt or blouse, and consider adding a blazer for a polished look. You could also choose neutral or solid colours, minimise accessories, and ensure a well-groomed appearance.

Alternatively, you could go for a onesie. ^{(maybe don't do this)}

It is expected to make some effort for your attire, but you should still be comfortable with whatever you choose.

man with leopard print trousers on an interview — Your top half is probably more important, but perhaps skip the leopard print.

Interview Questions and Answers

This is where we get out our get-out-of-jail-free card again and tell you that we don't know exactly what will be asked during the interview, especially for the clinical station.

However, there are some general topics you should be aware of, as well as a general approach to this.

Clinical Knowledge Assessment

In past years, scoring has been in favour of the clinical knowledge station. That being said, the format changed in 2024 and NHS England still publishes no mark scheme - only that assessors "score each candidate according to set criteria".

In general, the questions will be related to common conditions that would often come up in an eye clinic, or emergencies that are must-know. This could include conditions such as:

Glaucoma
Anterior uveitis
Diabetic retinopathy
Cataracts
Eyelid problems
Conjunctivitis
Corneal injury or ulcer
Central retinal vein occlusion
Temporal arteritis/GCA with eye disturbance
Acute angle closure glaucoma
Macular degeneration
Ischaemic optic neuropathy
Retrobulbar Haemorrhage
Orbital cellulitis
Retinal detachment

Remember, however, that in the 2027 interview you will not see or hear the assessors. This means that if you're asked any questions, it will be from the simulated patient/relative themselves. We don't know exactly the format this will take, but it could include things like:

Taking a history
Explaining a condition
Discussing treatment

The interview will assess both communication and clinical knowledge. It's important to practise your history taking and communication skills, as well as knowing how to approach presenting complaints including:

Eye pain
Red eye
Dry eye
Sudden loss of vision
Gradual loss of vision
Double vision
Eye discharge
Watery eyes

What your interviewers want is someone who is safe, knowledgeable, and competent. They want to see whether they would trust you to be their registrar, carrying out their instructions and looking after their patients.

Beyond this, there's not much more information we can give at this stage as this is a new approach to the interview station!

While Preparing for This Station:

Prioritise concise responses over lengthy explanations.
Focus on your basic knowledge rather than delving into the details of clinical trials.
Address associated systemic risk factors.
Be prepared for scenarios that link ophthalmic conditions with systemic associations, such as Uveitis with Ankylosing Spondylitis or Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Simplify Your Task

Don’t burden yourself with memorising complex definitions of conditions like “Neurofibromatosis” or “Ectopic Lens”. Go with the common conditions that you may encounter at your daily practice, Glaucoma, Cataract, Maculopathies, Retinopathies, etc.

Ensure you can explain a medical condition in simple English, without going into its mechanism of action. For Example, if you are explaining Glaucoma, you can simply say:

“Glaucoma is the rise of pressure inside the eye caused by the building up of fluid”

Prepare in a way that proves you a safe doctor for your patients who won’t miss any fundamental as well as simple cues. You should be able to recognise critical signs like a third nerve palsy, a swollen optic disc, or an RAPD (Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect), though in an online assessment you won't necessarily have a chance to demonstrate your examination skills.

Sean & Binita - The Clinical Station

Regarding the clinical station, the format changed in 2024 and continues in this form. It's unlikely that anyone (apart from the RCOphth committee) knows what the format of the questions will be.

While we can guess, it is still a patient interaction, so not a direct clinical question per se. In our course, we are preparing people for the most likely scenarios and getting them to think on their feet. The most important thing is to essentially be a good doctor and practice the safest things first.

Medical Consultation – Communication & Ethics

Scenarios will be given to assess how a candidate is communicating with the patient. You will be dealing with a simulated patient or relative rather than an assessor.

There are various scenarios that you could come across here - the important thing is to be able to show that you're proficient and empathetic communicator who can confidently deal with difficult communication or ethical situations.

These scenarios could include:

Dealing with an angry patient; who is upset about mistakes, side-effects of medication, other members of staff, or problems with their appointment.
Breaking Bad News; handling the emotional impact of diagnoses like papilloedema or any end-stage condition causing loss of vision permanently. This could also include ophthalmic cancers.
Confidentiality; dealing with issues such as a relative who wants to know their (competent) relative's health information.
Consent; communicating with a patient in order to get their consent, or dealing with issues around patients with memory loss.
General ethics; SJT-style scenarios around patients or colleagues who have acted inappropriately or breached GMC good practice.

To crack these stations, adopting skills like Building Rapport, Active listening, and demonstrating empathy are paramount.

Building Rapport establishes a positive connection with the patient. It fosters trust and comfort in the communication process.

Listening actively ensures a thorough understanding of the patient's concerns, allowing for accurate and empathetic responses.

Empathy, in particular, is crucial for demonstrating understanding and support. This makes patients feel heard and valued.

Communication Tips

Practice Regularly
Practicing with different partners will benefit you by receiving diverse feedback and also you will learn alternative approaches from them.
Record Yourself
Recording will help you to review and analyse your performance. Take notes on areas where you could have handled or phrased things differently.
Simplify Explanations
Avoid using medical jargon. Learn to explain ophthalmic conditions or ethical problems in plain English as previously discussed.
Observe Others
Access a network of practice partners through deanery groups, friends, or online forums such as Eyedocs. Alternatively, watch videos on platforms like YouTube and observe how they act.

Preparing for the Ophthalmology ST1 Interview 2027