What Makes a Good Doctor? Interview Answers That Score Highly
Understanding Why Interviewers Ask This Question
Medical school interviews in the UK often include questions like “What makes a good doctor?” – and for good reason. Interviewers use this question to assess whether you appreciate the key qualities needed in medicine and whether you possess or value them. In other words, they’re not just testing your knowledge; they want to know whether you have the right mindset and personal attributes to become an excellent doctor. This question gives you a chance to demonstrate your insight into the profession and reflect on the skills and values a doctor must have.
Why is this important? Being a doctor isn’t only about top grades in biology or chemistry. It’s a caring profession that demands communication, empathy, ethics, teamwork, and resilience – among many other qualities. Medical schools want to ensure that their future students understand the full scope of a doctor’s role and are prepared to develop the qualities needed to thrive in it. By asking you what makes a good doctor, interviewers can gauge your motivation for medicine, your awareness of a doctor’s responsibilities, and whether your personal values align with those of the medical profession.
Top Qualities of a Good Doctor (and Why They Matter)
What makes a good doctor? Various authoritative bodies – from the Medical Schools Council to the General Medical Council (GMC) – have outlined the core qualities and values expected of doctors. In fact, the Medical Schools Council highlights attributes such as effective communication, teamwork, respect, resilience, empathy, and honesty as essential for medical students and doctors. Leading medical schools echo these points, often listing the personal characteristics they seek in applicants, such as empathy, integrity, good communication, and alignment with NHS values. Below, we break down some of the top qualities you should consider mentioning in your answer, with a brief explanation of why each is important:
🗣️ Communication Skills:
A good doctor communicates clearly and listens actively. Whether explaining a diagnosis to a patient or collaborating with colleagues, clear communication is fundamental. Strong communication skills help ensure patients understand their conditions and feel at ease, and enable effective teamwork in clinical settings. Being able to adjust language for different audiences – for example, speaking to a child versus a medical colleague – is also key. In short, communication is the bridge that connects a doctor’s knowledge to patient care.
❤️ Compassion and Empathy:
Excellent doctors genuinely care about their patients. Empathy – the ability to imagine and understand others’ feelings – enables a doctor to treat patients as individuals with respect. Patients are often anxious or vulnerable; a compassionate doctor shows kindness, patience and understanding, helping to build trust. UK medical schools emphasise that empathy and the ability to care for others are core values for future doctors. Demonstrating empathy not only improves patient satisfaction and outcomes but also exemplifies the caring nature of the medical profession.
🤝 Teamwork and Collaboration:
Modern healthcare is a team effort. Good doctors work well in multidisciplinary teams – collaborating with nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and others to deliver the best patient care. Being a team player means respecting others’ expertise, communicating effectively within the team, and contributing reliably. Medical schools look for evidence of teamwork in applicants, because in a hospital or GP practice, no doctor works in isolation. Demonstrating that you can work with others towards a common goal shows that you’ll thrive in the cooperative environment of medicine.
🧭 Integrity and Professionalism:
Honesty, ethics, and responsibility are non-negotiable in medicine. A good doctor adheres to high ethical standards – being truthful with patients, maintaining confidentiality, and taking responsibility for their actions. For example, the University of Oxford’s medicine admissions criteria explicitly seek honesty and integrity. Similarly, the Medical Schools Council calls for attributes such as honesty and conscientiousness in prospective medics. In practice, this means patients and colleagues can trust a good doctor to behave professionally and to put patients’ interests first. Mentioning integrity in your answer (and perhaps giving an example of how you’ve shown honesty or ethical behaviour) will signal that you understand the importance of trust and ethics in healthcare.
💪 Resilience and Adaptability:
Life as a doctor can be challenging – long hours, high-pressure situations, and unexpected problems are all part of the job. Therefore, a good doctor must be resilient – able to cope with stress and bounce back from difficulties – and adaptable in the face of new information or changing circumstances. You might highlight qualities such as staying calm under pressure and being flexible when plans change. Interviewers value this: for instance, the Royal College of Surgeons advises that good doctors are flexible and adept at working under pressure, able to adapt their knowledge to solve problems. In your answer, you could mention how a doctor needs to remain calm and effective even during a busy A&E shift or when a treatment plan isn’t working, and perhaps connect it to times when you’ve had to adapt or stay resilient during adversity.
🧠 Problem-Solving and Continuous Learning:
Medicine is as much about critical thinking as it is about compassion. Good doctors are inquisitive and analytical – they gather information, weigh options, and apply their knowledge to diagnose and treat patients. Problem-solving goes hand in hand with an eagerness to continue learning, as medical knowledge is always advancing. Medical school interviewers appreciate candidates who recognise that being a doctor involves lifelong learning and continuous skill development. You might say, for example, that a good doctor is always seeking the best solution to a patient’s problem and stays updated on medical research to provide high-quality care. The Royal College of Surgeons notes that the ability to adapt knowledge to find solutions is a valuable quality in doctors. Emphasising your own love of learning or scientific curiosity can reinforce this point.
Tip: You don’t need to list every possible quality (there are many, including leadership and attention to detail), but it’s wise to mention a few of the most important. Make sure you understand each quality you mention so you can explain why it matters. The goal is to show insight into the doctor’s role. For instance, anyone can say “a good doctor needs to be empathetic,” but if you add that empathy helps build trust and leads to better patient care (and perhaps give an example), it shows you truly grasp its importance.
✅ Turn practice into performance.
Our doctor-led mock MMI mirrors real stations—communication, ethics, prioritisation, data interpretation—assessed by experienced tutors and former assessors 🥇. Gain confidence and a personalised action plan. ➡️ Click here to secure your spot — strict 10 places per circuit.
How to Structure a High-Scoring Answer
Knowing the qualities of a good doctor is half the battle – the other half is communicating this effectively in your interview. Here’s a step-by-step approach to crafting an answer that will impress the interviewers:
Start with a clear statement:
Begin your answer by clearly stating a few key qualities you believe make a good doctor. For example: “I think a good doctor needs to be empathetic, communicative, and resilient.” Starting with a concise list of traits sets the stage and shows the panel you have a structured answer. (Interviewers often appreciate a straightforward approach – it shows clarity of thought.)
Explain why each quality is important:
After listing the qualities, take a moment to explain each briefly. You might say, “Empathy is crucial because it allows a doctor to understand and comfort patients who are going through difficulties,” or “Good communication ensures that a doctor can explain options to a patient clearly and work effectively in a team.” By doing so, you demonstrate insight into how these qualities affect patient care and teamwork in a medical setting. This part of your answer shows that you’re not just reciting words – you understand the role of these traits in practice.
Back it up with personal evidence:
This is where you make your answer truly memorable. Try to connect each quality to your own experiences, or at least explain why you personally value it. The best answers are specific and rooted in your personal journey. For instance, you could mention your volunteer work at a care home, where you learned the importance of listening to patients (highlighting communication), or a time when you stayed calm under pressure during a school project or a first aid course (highlighting resilience). If you’ve done work experience in a hospital or GP surgery, reflect on what you observed: “During my hospital placement, I noticed doctors often had to adapt quickly when patients didn’t respond to the first treatment – it showed me how adaptability and problem-solving are vital for a good doctor.” By referring to your own characteristics or experiences, you not only answer what makes a good doctor in theory, but also subtly show that you’re developing those qualities yourself.
Conclude with your commitment:
End your answer on a positive note that ties everything together. You might say you strive to develop these qualities as you enter the medical profession. For example: “In summary, a good doctor is compassionate, communicative, and always learning. I’ve been actively working on these skills, and I’m excited to continue developing them in medical school and beyond.” This kind of conclusion reinforces that you understand the question and are committed to becoming the kind of doctor who embodies these traits.
By following a structure—state your points, explain them, support them with evidence, and conclude—you’ll deliver a well-rounded answer. Interviewers will appreciate a response that is clear, specific, and reflective. As the Royal College of Surgeons advises, answer “as specifically as possible,” referencing your own experiences and qualities alongside the general traits of a good doctor. This approach shows maturity and self-awareness, qualities of a future doctor, too.
Dos and Don’ts for this Interview Question
DO tie qualities to examples:
If you say “good communication” is important, follow up with a brief example or observation (e.g., how a GP you shadowed communicated well with an elderly patient, or how your role as head girl/head boy taught you to communicate with a team). This makes your answer more credible and personal. Interviewers have heard generic answers before – using your story helps you stand out.
DO focus on the patient-centred nature of these qualities:
Many of the traits above (empathy, communication, integrity) ultimately benefit the patient. Emphasising the outcome – such as building trust or ensuring patient safety – shows that you understand the end goal of these qualities is better patient care. It signals a patient-first mindset, which is highly valued and aligns with the NHS’s core values of compassion, respect and quality care.
DON’T just rattle off a long list of qualities without explanation.
Quality is better than quantity here. It’s far more effective to discuss 2–4 qualities in a meaningful way than to list 10 qualities without context. Avoid simply saying “A good doctor needs to be kind, smart, hardworking, etc.” without expansion – that can come across as superficial. Always add a brief explanation or an example for each trait you mention.
DON’T say anything that contradicts the qualities expected in a doctor:
Be careful not to undermine yourself. For example, avoid statements like “I’m not very good at working in teams” or “I get upset seeing people in pain.” Even if said innocently, such comments can raise red flags. Medical school interviewers want to see that you’re aware of the profession’s challenges and prepared to handle them. If you discuss a weakness, frame it as something you’re working to improve, not a fundamental shortcoming. (For instance, it’s okay to admit you found it tough to see a patient suffering during work experience, provided you then explain how you learned to cope or why it motivated you to become a more compassionate doctor.)
DON’T forget to be genuine and positive:
Interviewers can tell when an answer is overly rehearsed or insincere. It’s perfectly fine to use prepared points (indeed, practice is encouraged), but deliver them with sincerity. Speak with a positive tone about the profession, even when acknowledging challenges, and avoid sounding cynical. Medical schools understand that no candidate is a perfect doctor (you’re just starting your journey, after all!), but they appreciate honesty, self-awareness, and enthusiasm to learn. Show that you have a realistic yet optimistic view of what it means to be a good doctor.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for the “What makes a good doctor?” question is not just about impressing the interview panel – it’s also a chance for self-reflection. Thinking deeply about the qualities of a good doctor helps you clarify why you’re pursuing medicine and what kind of doctor you aspire to be. Remember, the interview is a two-way street: it’s as much about showing who you are as it is about ticking boxes on a mark sheet. If you can convey that you understand the role of a doctor and have already begun cultivating the necessary qualities, you will leave a strong impression.
Finally, stay calm and confident when answering. 😊 You’ve done the hard work by achieving stellar academic results and securing an interview; now it’s about showcasing your character and commitment. With a friendly yet professional approach – demonstrating empathy, communicating clearly, and linking your answer to your personal experiences – you’ll convince the interviewers that you have the makings of a truly good doctor. Good luck! 🚀
References:
Medical Schools Council – Interviews: Applying to Medical School medschools.ac.uk (Medical Schools Council official guidance on what interviewers look for)
Medical Schools Council – Statement on the core values and attributes needed to study medicine medschools.ac.uk (Key qualities expected of medical applicants and doctors)
Royal College of Surgeons – Medical School Interview Questions rcseng.ac.uk (Includes advice on answering “What makes a good doctor?” and qualities to mention)
University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division – Medicine: Selection Criteria medsci.ox.ac.uk (Example of a UK medical school outlining desired qualities like empathy, communication, integrity, teamwork, and alignment with NHS values)
