Kent and Medway (KMMS) Medical School Interview Questions — 2026 Entry
Introduction
Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS)—a collaboration between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University—runs a distinctive, research-informed admissions process designed to widen participation while selecting resilient, values-driven future doctors. This guide summarises KMMS’s latest published approach for 2026 entry and complements it with sample practice material you can use right away. Official information is drawn directly from KMMS’s 2026 Entry Requirements and Admissions Policy pages.
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How KMMS decides who to invite to interview
KMMS uses a staged process with applicant groups (A–E) depending on your background (e.g., pre-A level, post-A level, graduates, international). The key stages are: Stage 1 (minimum academic checks) → Stage 2a (UCAT threshold) → Stage 2b (contextualisation/scoring) → Stage 3 (MMI) → Stage 4 (decision).
For 2024–25, KMMS used a UCAT threshold of 2490+ (≈47th centile) and SJT Band 3+, but it does not commit to the same threshold for 2026; academic attainment is contextualised against your school’s average rather than judged purely on absolute grades.
How KMMS interviews for 2026 entry
KMMS runs Multi-Station Mini Interviews (MMIs) that are “considerably different to the majority of UK medical schools.” Previous cycles comprised six short 7-minute stations (with 3-minute intervals) plus a 40-minute group station; KMMS notes it may change the number/type of stations for 2026 but expects to keep similar timings. International (Group E) interviews are conducted remotely, typically with three short stations and a group station. All invitees sign an NDA.
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What is the interview style?
Format: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) + assessed group station.
Prior labels used: Data handling, Problem analysis, Situational judgement, Role-play, Task, and Values-based. (KMMS may vary this for 2026.)
When are KMMS interviews held?
External guides and applicant discussions indicate that interviews typically run from December to January, with additional rounds possible in February to March, depending on the uptake of offers. KMMS itself states it may hold further MMIs in Feb/March if needed.
Topics commonly covered at KMMS
Based on KMMS’s published station labels, expect assessment of:
Values & professionalism (NHS values, dignity & respect, empathy, responsibility).
Communication & role-play (breaking bad news, explaining a plan, handling conflict).
Teamwork (40-minute group task with individual assessment).
Reasoning & problem solving (data interpretation, problem analysis).
Situational judgement & ethics (prioritisation, confidentiality, consent, honesty).
Applied numeracy/data handling (charts, rates, risks).
How many applicants receive an interview, and how many receive offers?
Freedom of Information (FOI) responses provide recent-cycle snapshots:
2020 entry: 1,537 applicants → 284 interviewed (18.5%) → 184 offers (12.0%).
2021 entry: 1,463 applicants → 404 interviewed (27.6%) → 207 offers (14.1%).
2022 entry: 1,714 applicants → 429 interviewed (25.0%) → 171 offers (10.0%).
KMMS also reports strong widening-participation outcomes in recent years (e.g., ~37% interviewed and 38% admitted were WP across four years), highlighting the impact of its “contextualise everyone” policy.
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Example KMMS-style MMI stations & questions (practice set)
KMMS requires an NDA, so exact content isn’t public; the following original examples mirror KMMS’s published station categories and values focus:
1) Values-based
“Tell us about a time you took responsibility when things weren’t going well. What did you learn?”
“How would you act if you witnessed a peer making disparaging remarks about a patient?”
2) Situational judgement
“You’re a first-year student on the ward round. The FY1 asks you to access a patient’s notes using their login as it’s quicker. What do you do?”
“A friend begs you to share OSCE materials marked ‘confidential’. How do you respond?”
3) Communication / Role-play
Scenario: A partner is frustrated that the clinic is running 90 minutes late. Show de-escalation, apologise effectively, and outline options.
Scenario: Explain common vaccine side-effects to a hesitant parent and check understanding.
4) Problem analysis
“A GP practice has rising DNAs (missed appointments). With limited funding, propose and justify two interventions.”
“An ED is missing sepsis targets. What additional data do you need before suggesting changes?”
5) Data handling
“This chart shows sensitivity/specificity for two screening tests. Which would you choose for a low-prevalence condition and why?”
“Calculate the absolute risk reduction and NNT from a trial summary.”
6) Task station
“Teach the interviewer to assemble a simple object from a diagram in 5 minutes.” Focus on chunking, signposting, and checks.
7) Group station (40 minutes, individual assessment)
“Design a student-led initiative to improve medication adherence for patients with asthma in a deprived area.”
“Prioritise five proposals for improving GP access and agree a plan.”
(These reflect KMMS’s assessed group task emphasis.)
When does KMMS release offers?
KMMS states that decisions are sent in batches; first offers are usually posted in January via KentVision/UCAS, with further offers up to May. Rejections also go out in stages, and additional MMI rounds may be held in February or March.
Student comments (what applicants say)
NDA culture: Applicants must sign an NDA; disclosure of stations is discouraged—KMMS confirms this explicitly.
Interview season vibe: Forum posts commonly mention December–January interviews and portal updates during that window. (Anecdotal, but aligns with timelines above.)
Prep course fit: KMMS comments that some generic interview courses were “positively disadvantageous” for their MMI style—so target preparation to authenticity, reflection and teamwork, not memorised scripts.
Top tips for succeeding at KMMS
Know the stages and where you stand (minimums → UCAT threshold → contextualisation → MMI). Tailor your narrative to KMMS’s values and fairness focus.
Practise the group station deliberately. Rotate roles (facilitator, summariser, timekeeper), show listening and compromise, and make decisions with reasons.
Be data-literate. Rehearse reading charts, calculating ARR/RRR/NNT, and explaining uncertainty clearly.
Role-play with feedback. De-escalation, empathy, and agenda-setting beat canned answers.
Values > varnish. KMMS prizes empathy, dignity, responsibility, and teamwork—back claims with specific, recent examples.
Simulate timings. Short 7-minute bursts require tight structuring: intro → analysis → action → reflection.
Align your prep to KMMS. Given their warning on generic courses, choose practice that mirrors values-based MMI and a substantive group task.
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FAQ
Is KMMS using MMIs in 2026?
Yes—KMMS states that interviews are Multi-Station Mini Interviews and notes that it may adjust the station number/type (timings are likely to be similar).
How many stations are there, and how long is the interview?
Previous MMIs used six 7-minute stations plus a 40-minute group station, with short intervals; KMMS may vary this for 2026.
Does KMMS have a UCAT cut-off?
KMMS uses a UCAT threshold each cycle (e.g., 2490 total and SJT Band 3 in 2024–25) but does not commit to the same threshold for 2026.
How competitive is an interview/offer?
FOI data suggest that ~18–28% of applicants were interviewed and ~10–14% received offers across recent cycles, with variations from year to year.
When are interviews and offers?
Interviews typically run from December to January (with potential rounds in February and March ), and offers are released in batches from January to May.
Are international interviews online?
Yes—KMMS has conducted remote interviews for international applicants, typically featuring three short stations and a group station.
Do traditional interview courses help?
KMMS notes that some generic courses were “positively disadvantageous” for their process. Choose prep that focuses on authenticity, teamwork, and values, and practise a KMMS-style group task.
Final word
KMMS’s process rewards real people with real potential—those who can think clearly under time pressure, collaborate respectfully, and live the NHS values. Build those muscles now with targeted, KMMS-style practice:
Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools→ https://bluepeanut.com/medical-school-interview
MMI Mock Circuits (including group task practice) → https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
