← All pathways Before you begin CST uses evidence indicators and an assessed portfolio interview For 2027, prepare the mandatory index plus evidence for three domains. The letters below describe evidence categories; they are not numbers to add together. Assessors consider the evidence and your interview answers before awarding the portfolio-station score.
1 Identify your strongest eligible achievement in each domain and check its indicator.2 Assemble the required proof and official index; mark a section ready only after checking both.3 Practise explaining your contribution, results and learning in the communication and safety domains.
Portfolio station 45% of the final selection score; assessed evidence and interview answers.
Management and clinical station 45% of the final selection score.
MSRA 10% of the final selection score after scaling. Restoring browser choices…
Submission check Not reviewed Mandatory index and submission What to prepare Complete the official index. Without it, portfolio evidence receives zero. Finish achievements by 19 February 2027; the evidence upload window is 19–24 February. Use one PDF per domain and do not reuse an achievement across domains. This is a submission check, not a fourth scored evidence domain.
Official CST evidence requirements and indicators ↗ Evidence and application notes Use the official index sheet; missing index means zero. Achievements must be complete by 19 February 2027; upload portal 19–24 February. One best achievement per domain; do not reuse work in another domain.
Choose ready after checking the requirements and preparing the relevant documents or examples. This records your progress; the recruitment team decides eligibility and assessment marks.
Your preparation status Mark this section ready when you have worked through the requirements above.
Preparation status Choose an answer I still have something to prepare I have checked the requirements and prepared this section
1. Knowledge, skills and development Not reviewed Knowledge, skills and development What to prepare Provide the eLogbook consolidation report and completed-placement evidence described below. Published indicators: operative cases and surgical exposure Category Requirement Operative A 40 or more eligible cases. Operative B 30–39 eligible cases. Operative C 20–29 eligible cases. Operative D 11–19 eligible cases. Operative E 10 or fewer eligible cases, or no evidence. Exposure A Completed surgical taster: at least 5 days; or medical-student surgical elective: at least 4 weeks. Exposure B No qualifying completed exposure.
The operative and exposure indicators are separate. Observed cases and routine Foundation competencies do not count as operative involvement. The official page sets a 19 February achievement deadline but also says a taster booked for 2027 earns zero. Obtain clarification before counting a new 2027 taster.
Official CST evidence requirements and indicators ↗ Evidence and application notes For operations, use one all-specialty eLogbook consolidation report showing case numbers and dates, with every page signed and dated by a consultant whose name and GMC/equivalent number are included. For a taster/elective, use a completed-placement letter on official letterhead naming the hospital, dates, learning experience, supervisor and registration number; a booking letter is insufficient.
Choose ready after checking the requirements and preparing the relevant documents or examples. This records your progress; the recruitment team decides eligibility and assessment marks.
Your preparation status Mark this section ready when you have worked through the requirements above.
Preparation status Choose an answer I still have something to prepare I have checked the requirements and prepared this section
2. Patients, partnership and communication Not reviewed Patients, partnership and communication What to prepare Choose one communication achievement; match its format, authorship and supporting proof to the official descriptor. For presentation claims, check peer-review selection, meeting accreditation and your own attendance/delivery. Oral-poster presentations do not qualify as oral presentations. Journal articles need a PubMed or Web of Science record, or unconditional acceptance by an indexed journal. Teaching claims need your contribution to programme design and organisation as specified, plus delivery and reviewed feedback. Podcast/webinar claims need your creation and delivery; leaflet claims need your lead role in design, production and implementation. Supply evidence of impact. Published communication indicators — abbreviated guide Category Requirement A First prize for your national/international oral presentation; qualifying first-author publication excluding cases/letters; designed face-to-face programme with ≥4 sessions delivered; or impactful surgical podcast, webinar or patient leaflet. B Your national/international oral presentation; first-author national/international prize-winning poster; first-author case/letter or externally published medical book chapter; designed online programme with ≥4 sessions delivered; or impactful media/leaflet. C Regular teaching: ≥4 sessions in the year, with programme input. D National/international first-author poster with your attendance; your regional oral presentation; or cited research-collaborative contribution. E None of the eligible categories.
Alternatives within a letter are not cumulative. Use the full descriptor and mandatory evidence before choosing your index entry.
Official CST evidence requirements and indicators ↗ Evidence and application notes Presentations need the slides/poster, acceptance or programme naming you, and attendance evidence; include prize proof when claimed. Publications need the indexed article or final unconditional acceptance; book chapters need authorship and book details. Teaching, media and patient-information work need the output and supervisor confirmation of your role, dates and reviewed formal feedback, including the required consultant name and GMC/equivalent number.
Choose ready after checking the requirements and preparing the relevant documents or examples. This records your progress; the recruitment team decides eligibility and assessment marks.
Your preparation status Mark this section ready when you have worked through the requirements above.
Preparation status Choose an answer I still have something to prepare I have checked the requirements and prepared this section
3. Colleagues, culture and safety Not reviewed Colleagues, culture and safety What to prepare Select one QI/audit project and check the separate project and presentation indicators. For presentation credit, show that you personally presented the project, with first-author slides and meeting confirmation. Leading the project needs evidence of your role at every stage, not simply your name on the report. Published QI/audit and presentation indicators Category Requirement Project A Led every stage of surgical QI/audit, including change and ≥2 cycles. Project B Led equivalent completed QI/audit in another field. Project C Contributed actively through multiple cycles of a QI/audit project with demonstrated change, without leading the project. Project D Some involvement in a QI/audit project, such as collecting data for at least one cycle. Project E None of the eligible categories. Presentation A Personally presented both cycles of data, or the project's intervention and change, at a meeting. Presentation B Personally presented one cycle of the project at a meeting. Presentation C Did not present any part of the project.
The separate presentation credit applies to project categories A–C. Evidence and interview discussion determine the marks; no numeric conversion is published here.
Official CST evidence requirements and indicators ↗ Evidence and application notes Use a signed, dated consultant letter specifying your role and their name/GMC-equivalent number, plus the project report or slides showing its scope, findings and change. For presentation credit, include the slides and acceptance letter or programme identifying the project and presenter. Make the cycles, implementation and your own contribution explicit. Remove patient identifiers and provide certified translations where required.
Choose ready after checking the requirements and preparing the relevant documents or examples. This records your progress; the recruitment team decides eligibility and assessment marks.
Your preparation status Mark this section ready when you have worked through the requirements above.
Preparation status Choose an answer I still have something to prepare I have checked the requirements and prepared this section Your result · 2027
Your readiness breakdown 0 / 4 sections marked ready
4 sections still have unanswered items.
Mandatory index and submission Not reviewed
Knowledge, skills and development Not reviewed
Patients, partnership and communication Not reviewed
Colleagues, culture and safety Not reviewed These are your preparation checkmarks, not an official mark or an eligibility decision.
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Check the official recruitment-year person specification for eligibility requirements.
Official sources Checked 2026-10-30. Cycle: 2027. Check for updates before submitting.
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