StepUp ST4
All stations/Station 1/Sub-station 1B

Sub-station 1B — Portfolio & Commitment to Specialty

Same panel, new domain. Examiners probe why this specialty, evidence of commitment, achievements, audit/QI, teaching, research and reflective practice.

7–8 minutes Same 2 examiners as 1A Station 1
Practise Portfolio & Commitment to Specialty questions Run a timed mock

What happens in the room

  • Examiners move straight from clinical into portfolio probing — you do not present a CV, they question against the PHST self-assessment.
  • Expect questions like 'Why this specialty?', 'Tell me about a QI project', 'What's the most challenging case you've reflected on?'.
  • They may ask about a specific item you self-scored highly (audit, teaching, leadership).
  • Final 60 seconds often ask about future plans and where you see yourself as a consultant.

What the examiners are scoring

  • Genuine, evidenced commitment to the specialty applied for.
  • Depth and impact of audit / QI work — full cycles, measurable change.
  • Teaching evidence (formal courses, feedback, curriculum design).
  • Research / publications / presentations and your role in them.
  • Leadership and management roles with reflection on what you learned.
  • Reflective practice — what did you change, not just what happened.

Framework — PEEL + STAR — answer with structure, evidence and reflection

  1. 1Point

    One-line headline answer to the question.

  2. 2Evidence

    Specific project, role, course, publication — with dates and your contribution.

  3. 3Explain (STAR)

    Situation, Task, Action, Result — quantify the impact.

  4. 4Link

    Tie it back to the question and to your commitment to the specialty.

High-yield topics

Why this specialty (3 reasons: clinical, academic, personal)Closed-loop QI / audit with measurable improvementTeaching with formal feedback (FY1/medical students/peers)Research / publications / posters / oral presentationsLeadership: rota lead, BMA rep, departmental committee, trainee repManagement & service improvement exposureReflective practice — challenging case, error, complaint, M&M

Example stems

  • "Why do you want to be a [specialty] consultant?"
  • "Tell me about a QI project you led — what did you change and how do you know it worked?"
  • "Describe a time you led a team through a difficult clinical situation."
  • "What is the most challenging case you've reflected on and what did you change as a result?"
  • "Where do you see yourself in 10 years and how does this programme get you there?"

What a Score 5 answer looks like

  • Three crisp, specific reasons for the specialty — clinical, academic and personal.
  • Every claim backed by a named project, role, course or output with your specific contribution.
  • Quantified impact: '30% reduction in…', '4 teaching sessions with feedback score 4.7/5'.
  • Demonstrates reflection — what you learned and what you changed.
  • Links the portfolio to a credible plan as a future consultant in this specialty.

Common pitfalls

  • Generic 'I love the variety' answers without specialty-specific evidence.
  • Audits described as data collection rather than closed-loop change.
  • Listing achievements without your role or the impact.
  • Failing to reflect — describing what happened, not what you changed.
  • Not knowing your own portfolio score domains and where you scored weakly.