Plymouth Dentistry Interview Questions & Tips

Past Interview Questions & Tips

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Plymouth Dentistry Interview Format

Plymouth has around 400 applicants per year for its Dentistry course. Plymouth ranks applicants based on their academic score and UCAT. As it stands, the SJT banding score is ignored. The minimum UCAT tariff required to secure an interview is around 2300, and Plymouth provide an exact number on their website each year. There will be an overall ‘target score’ made from combining academics and the UCAT that must be reached to gain an interview.

Interviews are likely to be conducted online – Plymouth will confirm details in the coming weeks.

Plymouth interviews using the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format. Their interview looks for the following qualities at interview: integrity, veracity, flexibility, motivation and commitment, empathy and being non-judgemental, communication skills, potential to be a leader, insight into the role of being a dentist, insight in the responsibilities of a dentist, ability to be a team player, ability to deal with stress, problem solving skills, an understanding of strengths, weaknesses and limitations, an ability to reflect, and ‘a suitable approach to life and people.’

Each station will have only one assessor present, and there will be a total of 5-7 stations. The whole interview process will last for approximately 50 minutes. No medical or scientific knowledge will be tested. You should expect to be assessed by clinicians, members of the general public, and patients. You should be aware of the values in the NHS Constitution: working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, and improving lives. Station formats vary from traditional stations to role play and practical tasks.

Plymouth Dentistry Key Application & Interview Statistics

Overall Success Rate (Total Applicants : Total Spaces)

Percentage of Candidates Interviewed

Percentage Of Candidates Interviewed

Interviewee Success Rate

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Plymouth Dentistry Past MMI Stations & Interview Questions

Teamwork and Communication Skills

Tell us about a situation in which you found it hard to communicate with someone.
Why do you think that being a good communicator is so important to being a dentist?
What did you think of the communication skills of the dentists that you have shadowed?
How do you think that communication skills can be improved?
Tell us about a time that a team that you played in were successful.
Tell us about a time when you lead a team to success.
What do you think are the qualities of a good leader?
Do you find that you work better independently or as part of a team?
Do you learn well in groups?
How would you reassure an anxious patient?
How do you think that communication among a team can be improved?
Tell us about the team that dentists work in – who do they work alongside?

Insight into the Career

What have you done to try to understand what being a dentist is like?
What have you learnt about the profession from your work experience?
What surprised you from your work experience?
What books have you read about dentistry?
What do you think are the most challenging aspects of being a dentist?
What do you think are the most rewarding aspects of being a dentist?
What do you think are the qualities that make a good dentist?
What are some of the biggest changes to the profession in the last 20 years?
How do you think that the profession will change over the next 20 years?
Do you think that digital technology will change the way that dentists work?

Strengths and Weaknesses

What do you think is your greatest strength?
What is your biggest weakness and how might you work on it?
What kind of character traits would make one less suitable for a career in Dentistry?

Integrity and Professionalism

What is the role of the General Dental Council?
What kind of issues might cause a dentist to be struck off the professional register?
How have you shown integrity and responsibility at school?

Motivation for Dentistry

Why do you want to become a dentist?
When did you first think about becoming a dentist?
What other careers in healthcare did you consider, and why did you elect to become a dentist rather than a doctor or nurse?
Why are you interested in studying at Plymouth?
What area of dentistry would you be most interested in practising in? Have you researched this specialty at all?