Your Essential Guide to UK Medical School Applications: UCAT, UCAS, Interviews & Beyond

Welcome to the Blue Peanut Medical School Blog—your trusted resource for navigating the challenging and competitive journey into medicine. Whether you're in sixth form preparing your UCAS personal statement, studying for the UCAT, or gearing up for interviews such as MMIs or panel formats, our blog provides expert guidance at every stage.

Created by practising NHS General Practitioners and experienced medical educators, each article distils practical strategies, up-to-date insights, and insider knowledge to help you achieve your dream of securing a place at a UK medical school.

Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

MMI Interviews Candidate Feedback - Advice for students

In general, all our students performed very well. You all had a decent attempt at all the MMI stations you came across and we advise you continue this excellent effort. We would like to give some specific advice in order for you to continue to improve as you learn and challenge yourself over the next few weeks.

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Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Medical School Interview Hot Topics – BREXIT

In 2016 the United Kingdom held a referendum in which the majority of the electorate voted to leave the European Union. We look at how medical schools can ask questions relating to Brexit in medical school interviews.

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Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Should you attend a medical school interview course?

Whilst learning from a book – providing it is not outdated – will give you a good background knowledge of what can be asked in interviews, we believe the best way to prepare for this is to be taught, just like at sixth form, and practice with live feedback from medical school tutors. It’s also the most enjoyable way to prepare!

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Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Actors in MMI Interview Stations - Some tips

Some students have been asking us about the actors that are used in MMI stations. They can simulate any third party, for example a patient, a friend or even a stranger. The subject of the station might not even be medical. Remember St Georges have indicated on their website they have a station involving you speaking to your neighbour having run over her cat.

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Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Actors in MMI Interview Stations - Some tips

Some students have been asking us about the actors that are used in MMI stations. They can simulate any third party, for example a patient, a friend or even a stranger. The subject of the station might not even be medical. Remember St Georges have indicated on their website they have a station involving you speaking to your neighbour having run over her cat.

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Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

What GCSEs do I need to be a doctor?

Universities vary in their requirements for GCSEs. Some will calculate the score from the 8 highest GCSE grades you get, others will look at all of them and then others will focus more on the core subjects like Maths, English and Sciences only

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Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Uncategorised Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Veterinary medicine – more complex questions - financial and ethical considerations

We taught several students last year who were applying for veterinary medicine. The interviews tended to focus on broadly the same domains as medical school interviews. However, there are some important considerations. One of these is the financial impact of care. Whilst this is increasing becoming a consideration in deciding which treatments the NHS can fund, you are more likely to be exposed to such a consideration in a veterinary school MMI interview.

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