Preparing for Selection Days

Identify your assessment type

Before you start preparing, you need to know exactly what your selection day involves. Check your invitation email carefully. It will outline the schedule and the types of tasks you will face.

If you are applying for healthcare courses like Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, or Midwifery, expect Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) or a Real-Life Scenarios Assessment (RLSA). Teaching degrees often require you to deliver a short, pre-prepared lesson or read a children’s book to a panel.

Research the specific university approach

Every university runs its selection day differently. The University of Southampton, for example, uses a traditional panel interview alongside a group task for its Medicine BMBS course, rather than an MMI circuit.

Look up student forums, university websites, and official guidance to understand the specific format. If the university uses an MMI, find out how many stations there are and how long you get at each one. If they use a group task, research the typical group size and the kinds of problems they set.

Practice collaborative problem-solving

You need to strike a balance between contributing valuable ideas and listening to others. Dominating the conversation will cost you marks. Sitting in silence will also cost you marks.

To succeed in a group task, practice active listening. If you notice a quieter member of the group has not spoken, invite them into the conversation by asking for their opinion. If the group goes off-topic, gently guide the discussion back to the brief.

Here is a breakdown of the roles you can play in a group task:

Prepare for common group scenarios

Group tasks often involve prioritisation or ethical dilemmas. For example, you might have to rank a list of patients waiting for a transplant, or decide how to allocate a limited budget for a school project.

Practice these scenarios with friends or teachers. Focus on explaining the reasoning behind your decisions clearly and respectfully challenging others when you disagree. Use phrases like, “I see your point, but have we considered…” instead of “You’re wrong.”

Prepare the STAR technique for questions

Interviewers will ask competency-based questions to assess your skills. They want evidence, not just claims. Use the STAR technique to structure your answers:

– Situation: Set the scene (e.g., “During my work experience at a local clinic…”)

– Task: Explain what you needed to do (e.g., “…a patient became distressed in the waiting room.”)

– Action: Describe exactly what you did (e.g., “I calmly approached them, offered a glass of water, and listened to their concerns.”)

– Result: Share the outcome and what you learned (e.g., “They calmed down, and I learned the importance of active listening in healthcare.”)

Align with professional standards

If you are applying for a vocational course, you must understand the values of that profession. For nursing, midwifery, and medicine, this means the NHS Constitution. The core values—working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives, and everyone counts—should underpin all your answers.

According to the University of Southampton (2025), nursing students spend half their degree in clinical settings, which is why assessors heavily scrutinise your empathy and resilience during the interview.

Revise core academic concepts

If your selection day includes a fundamental skills test, brush up on your GCSE-level maths and English. Teaching applicants often have to complete a comprehension task and interpret school data. Universities usually send practice materials or tell you what topics to cover in advance.

For situational judgement tests like the RLSA, you need to imagine yourself in a specific scenario and choose the most appropriate response. These tests assess your professional judgement and ethics. You cannot revise for them in the traditional sense, but you can practice similar questions online to get used to the format.

Organise travel and documentation

Book your train tickets or plan your driving route as soon as you receive your invitation. Aim to arrive at the campus at least 45 minutes early. This gives you time to find the right building, use the bathroom, and compose yourself.

Check the invitation for a list of required documents. You usually need to bring photographic ID (like a passport or driving licence) and your original GCSE and A-Level certificates. Place them in a smart folder the night before.

Dress appropriately for the profession

First impressions matter. You should dress smartly, as if you are attending a job interview. A suit, or smart trousers/skirt with a blouse or shirt, is appropriate for almost all selection days.

Avoid wearing anything distracting or uncomfortable. If you are attending a teaching selection day that involves a physical group task, make sure you can move easily in your outfit.

If you want more advice on managing your transition to higher education, read our university applications guide.