Hands gesturing in front of wooden desk with laptop notebook and phone

As the cohort admitted in the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, my medical school admissions assessments were held entirely online. (I was clad in full formal wear… and my home slippers.) My experience was thus different from normal years’. I can’t reveal much anyway, since we all signed a confidentiality agreement. Nevertheless, this post may give you some useful tips for your own NUS or NTU Medicine interview. A master list of resources can be found at the end.


NUS Medicine Interview Experience

For just our year, the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine did away with their usual Focused Skills Assessment (FSA) and Situational Judgement Test (SJT), replacing it with 2 rounds of online interviews, held one after the other. This comprised a Scenario Station followed by a Portfolio Station. NUS Medicine has since reinstated its usual FSA and SJT.

NTU Medicine Interview Experience

I would say that the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine kept as close as possible to the essence of their Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). Despite everything being online, it was very well-executed, with well-crafted scenarios. The only difference was that NTU Medicine cut it down to 5 MMI stations instead of the usual 8.

NUS and NTU Medicine Interviews: My Personal Thoughts

Besides my dislike for online interviews, one distinct feeling I had was that the NTU Medicine interviews challenged me much more. I felt that anyone could have answered the NUS Medicine interview questions, and I walked away wondering how they could possibly differentiate the candidates.

Of course, NUS Medicine’s interview format was drastically changed for my year, and perhaps with their FSA and SJT, it will be a much more challenging and stimulating experience. (And this was only my personal experience, not all candidates may have felt the same.) By keeping to the essence of the MMI, in contrast, NTU Medicine gave an inkling of the kind of skills and standard they strive to uphold.

The Not-So-Nice Interviewer

The interviewers were all nice—just what you’d expect. That is, except at my last MMI station for NTU Medicine. The interviewer was very shrewd and appeared to me to be deliberately unsmiling. Throughout our discussion of the scenario, she questioned my stand, attempting to unseat me. At one point, she asked a question, and I felt a flame ignite within me. Not anger, but resolve. I still hold firm to what I believe. And nothing she says is going to change that. When I spoke again, I heard the tone of my own voice change—hardening just a little—reflecting the conviction in my words.

If you are challenged, it’s a good thing. You should be rejoicing internally. It’s time to assert your stand. Remember: It’s a test. The interviewers are there to aggravate you, to dislodge you, to intimidate you.

When you are challenged is when you can rise up to the challenge.

Essential Tips for NUS and NTU Medicine Interviews

Both NUS and NTU Medicine have adopted a more scenario-based interview format with multiple stations, in lieu of the more traditional panel-style interview. This is in the form of the FSA for NUS Medicine, and the MMI for NTU Medicine.

Therefore, you can prepare for both simultaneously, and in the same manner. Here are some practical tips for the NUS and NTU Medicine interviews:

  • Read up on medical ethics and healthcare in Singapore.
  • Do not spend too much time reading up on medical terms or topics. You are not required to have medical knowledge before entering medical school.
  • Reread your personal statement and know it well.
  • Have in mind key attributes and key experiences you wish to highlight about yourself—this applies to almost all interviews, including scholarship interviews.
  • Prepare some answers in point form to “keystone” questions. (This Medical School Interview Preparation Guide explains more.)
  • Practise responding to sample MMI questions and record yourself.
  • Relax and enjoy the process—you will do best when you’re in the “flow”.
Admissions Assessment – NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine – The school’s official page on the FSA and SJT, with all you need to know about the two assessments.
Practice SJT papers – UK Foundation Programme – 2 SJT practice papers (PDF) from the UK.
Situational Judgement Test – Practice Paper – Another SJT practice paper (PDF) from the UK (large print).
UKFP Practice Paper (F1) – An online SJT practice paper from the UK.
Good medical practice – GMC – Basically the code for doctors in the UK (only for reference, definitely don’t have to read through the whole thing).
SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (2016 edition) – Basically the ethical code for doctors in Singapore (only for reference, definitely don’t have to read through the whole thing).

Resources for NTU Medicine MMI

About Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) | Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine – The school’s official page on the MMI, with all you need to know presented in an FAQ format.
LKCMedicine Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) Tips – A helpful video walking you through the whole MMI process.

General Articles and Guides

Free PDF Downloads and Notes

MMI Question Bank (Free PDF download) – A 56-page compilation of 400+ MMI sample questions.
Medical Ethics (PDF) – A primer on medical ethics principles and key issues.
Singapore’s Healthcare System (PDF) – A primer on the healthcare system and healthcare challenges in Singapore.