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Answering IMT Interview Questions: Portfolio Station
If you’re applying for Internal Medicine Training (IMT), you’ll already know the interview can feel stressful. The portfolio station often worries candidates the most. It’s not just about showing a folder of certificates, it is about telling your story: why you’ve chosen internal medicine, what you’ve achieved, and what kind of trainee (and future consultant) you’ll be.
The good news? You’re talking about yourself. You already know your own experiences better than anyone else. The challenge is presenting them clearly, confidently, and reflectively in a short space of time.
This guide walks you through how to approach portfolio questions in your IMT interview: what the assessors want, how to structure your answers, and how to avoid the common traps?
What the Portfolio Station is Really About
The portfolio station isn’t just a tick-box exercise. The panel want to see:
- Who you are: Are your achievements genuine and do they reflect the kind of doctor you are?
- How you think: Do you reflect on your experiences or just list them?
- What you contribute: Did your work actually make a difference — for patients, colleagues, or the system?
- Where you’re going: Do your experiences show that you’ll thrive in IMT and beyond?
They’ll map your answers to areas in the IMT person specification: things like teaching, leadership, audit and QI, clinical experience, and commitment to the specialty.
Choosing right IMT application and IMT Interview coaching plan
The Types of Questions You’ll Face
Expect open questions such as:
- “Tell me about your teaching experience.”
- “What audits or QI projects have you done?”
- “How have you shown commitment to internal medicine?”
- “Can you describe a leadership role you’ve taken?”
- “Tell us about a time you received feedback.”
They’re simple on the surface, but your answer needs to show depth, structure, and reflection.
How to Structure Your Answers
When you’re nervous, it’s easy to ramble or miss the point. Having a structure in your head makes your answer clear and easy for the panel to follow.
Two simple ones to use:
- iSTARR (Introduction, Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection): great for describing a project, audit, or leadership role.
- What, So What, Whats next: helpful for reflective questions (what happened, why it mattered, what you’ll do differently).
Think of these as scaffolding: they keep your answers tidy without making you sound robotic.
Tackling the Main Question Areas
They’ll often ask: “Tell us about your teaching experience.”
What they want: proof you’ve taught others, gathered feedback, and thought about how to improve.
How to answer:
- Start with your biggest or most recent example: maybe you organised a teaching programme or ran simulation sessions.
- Use STAR: explain the situation, your role, what you did, and the outcome.
- Mention feedback if you collected any.
- End with what you learned — perhaps adapting to different learning styles or growing your confidence.
Example (spoken style):
“In my FY1 year I organised weekly teaching for final-year medical students. I planned the timetable, delivered sessions myself, and recruited colleagues to help. I collected anonymous feedback and over 90% of students found it very useful. It gave me confidence in planning structured sessions and showed me how important it is to tailor teaching to the learner. It’s something I’d like to keep developing in IMT.”
Common question: “Can you describe an audit or QI project you’ve done?”
What they want: evidence that you can spot a problem, measure it, and make things better — ideally closing the loop.
How to answer:
- Pick one strong project instead of listing lots.
- Show initiative, teamworking, and measurable change.
- Link it to patient care.
Example:
“I led an audit on VTE prophylaxis. Our first cycle showed 25% non-compliance. I introduced a clerking checklist and gave teaching sessions. On re-audit, compliance rose to 90%, and the checklist was adopted permanently. It taught me how structured interventions can directly improve patient safety.”
Interview tips for International Medical Graduates (IMG) doctors
Likely question: “Can you give an example of leadership?”
What they want: signs you can take responsibility, represent others, or solve problems.
How to answer:
- Think beyond formal titles: maybe you organised a rota swap system or improved handover.
- Show how you engaged others and what impact you made.
Example:
“I was the FY1 rep for my cohort. Colleagues were struggling with rota gaps, so I collected feedback and raised it with management. This led to rota changes and locum cover. I also created a handover template, which made induction smoother. It taught me the value of clear communication and balancing trainee wellbeing with patient care.”
They may ask: “Tell us about feedback you’ve received.”
What they want: honesty, humility, and evidence you’ve grown.
How to answer:
- Pick one example where you improved.
- Don’t shy away from weaknesses — panels value reflection.
Example:
“Early on, my supervisor said my ward round presentations were too detailed, which slowed things down. I reflected, observed how seniors summarised, and started using SBAR. Feedback later showed big improvement, and I felt much more confident. It reinforced the value of adapting my communication to the clinical setting.”
Tips for Delivering Your Answers
- Know your portfolio inside out: if it’s in there, be ready to talk about it.
- Practice speaking, not reading: record yourself or practice with a friend.
- Signpost your answer: say “Firstly… Secondly… Finally…” to stay clear.
- Watch the time: 2–3 minutes per example is about right.
- Show enthusiasm: let your passion for internal medicine come through.
- Always link back: end by saying how the experience prepares you for IMT.
Pitfalls to Avoid
- Just listing achievements without saying what you learned.
- Being vague — always use specific examples.
- Forgetting patient impact — everything should connect back to care.
- Talking too long and losing focus.
- Sounding rehearsed instead of natural.
Final Thoughts
The portfolio station isn’t about who has the most certificates. It’s about who can reflect on their journey, show they’ve learned from it, and explain how it all points towards a career in internal medicine.
Think of it like telling your professional story: where you’ve been, what you’ve learned, and where you’re heading. If you prepare structured but conversational answers, and remember to keep the patient at the centre of everything, you’ll come across as thoughtful, capable, and motivated.
With practice, the portfolio station can become the part of the IMT interview where you shine the most.
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How Career4Doctors Can Help
At Career4Doctors, we specialise in helping you secure your NHS consultant job faster and with confidence. Our expert services include:
- One to one Interview Coaching
- Realistic Mock Interviews
- Presentation Coaching and Feedback
- Books
- Video lectures
- Weekly Master classes
- Award winning coach
Whether your interview is six days, six weeks or six months, we’ll help you become the best version of yourself on the day that matters the most. If you’re still in training (ST6 upwards), start early. Building your interview prep matters now will make your transition smoother later. Use on-call lulls to reflect on cases. Document your achievements in real time. Volunteer for leadership and QI projects. These early steps give you strong material for your future consultant interview.
Ready to prepare smart, not hard? Join our NHS Consultant interview preparation to plan your preparation that works around your schedule.
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