Basic physician training selection is run by networks rather than by the college, and the formats differ: a structured panel with one clinical scenario and one situational judgement question in several networks, a five or six station multiple mini interview in others. What does not differ much is the content, because every network maps its questions to the RACP professional qualities and its own selection criteria. This guide covers the questions that come up almost everywhere.
The role and the fit
- Why do you want to do basic physician training, and why this network?
- What are the qualities of a good BPT, and what do you understand the role of a BPT to be?
- What do you have to offer our programme?
- What do you know about the RACP basic training programme, the written and clinical examinations, and what will be required of you?
- This programme requires time in a rural location. How do you feel about that?
- What would you do if you were not successful this year?
Panels score insight into the job and the programme. The role of a BPT is a specific question with a specific answer: the medical registrar who runs the ward team, leads the acute take after hours, teaches the juniors, communicates with families, and studies for two sets of examinations while doing it. Say that, then say which parts you are ready for and which you will find hard. For the rural question, say what you would bring to a regional site and what you would learn there, not only that you are willing.
The situational judgement question
Most networks ask one, and two scenarios recur so often they are worth preparing word for word:
- You are a first term BPT. Your supervisor is hard to approach, often unavailable, and makes decisions you do not always agree with. How do you manage this professionally?
- You are the registrar for a patient from a non English speaking background with end stage cancer and severe pain. The family refuse opioids, fearing they will hasten death. How do you approach this?
For the supervisor: patient safety first, then a direct and respectful conversation, then the supervisor of training and the network's channels if needed, while keeping your own conduct impeccable. For the family: explore the belief, use an interpreter, explain plainly without pressure, involve the palliative care team and a cultural liaison, and find the option the family can accept. Panels score structure, respect and persistence.
The clinical scenario
At registrar level, usually with two minutes of reading time:
- The septic patient on the ward, hypotensive and tachycardic, then a handover to the consultant by phone.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis and its complications.
- A potassium of 6.9.
- The acute stroke within the window.
- The drowsy COPD patient on high flow oxygen.
- The acutely confused patient overnight.
- ST elevation in a hospital without a cath lab.
Answer with structure: assess, stabilise, decide, escalate with ISBAR, communicate, and say what you would do afterwards. In a hospital without a cath lab, say what you would do while retrieval is arranged. Panels want a registrar who decides and escalates early, not one who waits for permission.
Teamwork, conflict and errors
A multidisciplinary teamwork example, a conflict with a colleague, and an error you made and what changed are near certainties, in STAR form with your own actions clear. Then wellbeing: how you will manage the examinations alongside full time work, and what you do when you are struggling.
Preparing for your network
Find out whether your network runs a panel or an MMI, because the preparation differs: a panel rewards depth and probing, an MMI rewards getting the structure out in six minutes and moving on. Either way, write one STAR example per criterion, prepare the two situational scenarios and the seven clinical ones, and practise aloud against a timer with someone who probes.