Interview Preparation Day

HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR ANSWER

There are many ways and approaches to answering interview ques6ons. In fact, if your interview is going
well it can feel much more like a conversa6on between two likeminded individuals, then a barrage of
ques6ons aimed to through an unsuspected applicant o guard!
So where to start?

Lets think about some common ques6ons that you might be asked by your friends. In the space provided
jot down some bullet points to the following ques6ons:

AM

PL

Why do you use facebook?

EX

What type of mobile phone do you have, and why?

One 2 One Medicine 2013.

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Interview Preparation Day

Structure
It is important that you answer has structure, rather then a collec6on of ideas thrown together. Above you
have joGed down a serious of arguments for using Facebook / mobiles that you need to now structure if
you want to form a well rounded argument.
To create a strong structure, your answer should have an introduc6on, middle (your arguments for and
against) and a conclusion. In many ways your answer is almost put together the same as a small essay.
Without a structure - ideas will not fall into sequence and you may begin to repeat yourself, or worse start
to contradict yourself or worse s6ll confuse the examiner!
So how to create structure?

The introduction.

PL

Your answer, like an essay, needs an introduc6on. It would be detrimental to throw yourself straight into an
argument without an introduc6on as this may suggest to the examiner that you do not think through your
work.
Thankfully, the introduc6on is the easiest part of your answer! Quite simply, just rearrange the ques6on
that you were asked! For example:
Q. Son, why do you need a mobile phone at this age?

AM

A. Well dad, there are many reasons why a mobile phone is essen=al at my age. Firstly...
Q. Why do you want to study Medicine?

A. There are many reasons that I want to study medicine...

EX

Q. A pa=ent with a chronic condi=on wants to end their life because they are in pain all day every day. Can
you explain what you would do in this situa=on?
A. Im very sorry to hear that such a scenario exists where a pa=ent would want to end their life due to
pain. This situa=on is a complex one as it draws on mul=ple factors, both ethical and legally which would
govern my ac=ons in this situa=on. There are both arguments for and against euthanasia ...
Your turn:

Try to create a good introduc6on by simply rearranging the ques6on, to the following ques6ons:
Q. Why do you want to study medicine and not nursing?
Q. What are the aspects of X University Medical School that draw you to it?
Q. If an unconscious pa=ent came into A+E would you treat them?
Q. What did you learn on your work experience in hospital?

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Interview Preparation Day

Summary:
An introduc6on is necessary for each ques6on because:

The body of your answer, creating an argument.

1. It shows the examiner that you understand what the ques6on is asking of you. If your introduc6on was
not correct - the examiner will stop and correct you, making sure you now understand the ques6on.
2. It gives you an extra (vital) 30 seconds to create and think about your argument.
3. It stops an awkward pause developing while you think of your argument, which itself can be o-puTng
and through your game.

PL

AUer your introduc6on comes the argument. This is the main body of your answer where you explain, one
by one, your reasons for and/ or against your discussion topic. Rather like an essay, you should try to open
each point towards an argument with an opening line. Furthermore you should try to group your arguments
for and against or +ves and -ves together rather then alterna6vely.
This, o course, is much easier said then done! Lets look again at the ques6on posed above.

AM

Q. A pa=ent with a chronic condi=on wants to end their life because they are in pain all day every day. Can
you explain what you would do in this situa=on
A. Im very sorry to hear that such a scenario exists where a pa=ent would want to end their life due to
pain. This situa=on is a complex one as it draws on mul=ple factors, both ethical and legally which would
govern my ac=ons in this situa=on. There are both arguments for and against euthanasia. Arguments for
euthanasia include:

2.

The pa=ents autonomy. The pa=ent wishes to die. It is there life to do with it what they choose. So
to respect the pa=ent autonomy would mean that one would help the pa=ent end their life.
Benecence. As a doctor I want to do the best for my pa=ents and reduce pain. If all medical
approaches to reduce pain in this pa=ent have been exhausted then, maybe the only approach leS
to stop their suering is the end their life.

EX

1.

However, there are also a number of arguments against mercy killing, ac=ve or passive euthanasia. They
include
3.
4.

Non-Malecence. A doctor should be trying to preserve life not end it. Hippocrates stated rst do
no harm.
The law in the UK prevents ac=ve and passive euthanasia and therefore it would be illegal to help
end this pa=ents life in any way.

As you can see the ques6on has an introduc6on - that re-arranges what the examiner has asked. The
introduc6on also shows the candidate can empathize with the pa6ents situa6on. Most importantly though,
it highlights to the examiner that the candidate understands the ques6on is asking about euthanasia and
that the answer is going to discuss both reasons for and against.
The reasons for are looked at rst, followed by the counter argument. This order is beGer then having
alterna6ve arguments aUer each other. Note, the arguments are not long, they are succinct and purposeful.
They do not drag out. Unfortunately a long answer can bore an examiner. Imagine that you have to listen
to 30 students in one day answer the same ques6on again and again, it would get mighty 6resome -
especially if the candidate starts to wae.

One 2 One Medicine 2013.

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