St George's Medicine Interview Guide 2026: SAMMI-Select Explained

Last verified by Dr Dibah Jiva — March 2026

St George's, University of London — now officially City St George's, University of London following its merger with City, University of London — made a significant change for 2026 entry: it replaced its traditional MMI with a brand-new format called SAMMI-Select. If you applied expecting a live interview, you need to recalibrate entirely. SAMMI-Select is fully asynchronous, fully online, and requires a completely different type of preparation.

This guide explains exactly what SAMMI-Select is, how the shortlisting formula works, what the entry requirements are, and how to prepare effectively for a format that is genuinely unlike anything else in UK medicine admissions.

Overview: St George's Medicine at a Glance

St George's is the UK's only university dedicated to medical and health sciences education. Its MBBS programme (A100, five years) is consistently well-regarded, and the school sits in south-west London at Tooting — home to St George's Hospital, one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. The school also offers a graduate entry MBBS (A101, four years) for applicants with a prior degree.

For 2026 entry, St George's invites between 300 and 400 undergraduate applicants to interview — a small number relative to most medical schools. This reflects how competitive the shortlisting process is: only applicants who meet the UCAT threshold and rank highly in the combined scoring are invited.

Entry Requirements for 2026

A-Levels

Grades required: A\*AA to AAA

Unlike most medical schools with a single grade requirement, St George's publishes a range. The exact offer you receive will depend on your application profile. The standard expectation is within the A\*AA–AAA band.

Compulsory subjects: Chemistry AND Biology

Both Chemistry and Biology are required at A-level. This is non-negotiable. There is no flexibility here — applicants without both sciences are ineligible.

Sitting requirements: All A-levels must be sat in a maximum of two years and within a single sitting period. This is slightly different from schools that require a single calendar year — it means you can spread your A-levels across two academic years, but not more.

Resits: St George's accepts resits, provided all qualifications are completed within the two-year sitting window described above. A\*AA–AAA must be achieved after resitting.

GCSEs

GCSEs are not formally scored in St George's shortlisting formula (unlike schools such as Nottingham, which heavily weight GCSEs). Strong GCSEs strengthen your overall profile, but St George's shortlisting is primarily driven by A-level predicted grades and UCAT score.

A minimum of grade C/4 in English Language and Maths is expected as standard.

UCAT

UCAT is required for all 2026 entry applicants to A100. The three cognitive subtest scores are used — Verbal Reasoning (VR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Reasoning (QR) — giving a total out of 2,700.

St George's has a published minimum threshold: 500 per cognitive subtest.

This means you need at least 500 in each of VR, DM, and QR individually — not just a high total. A score of 2,100 total is no use if one of your subtests sits below 500. Check each subtest score carefully.

After the per-subtest minimum is met, applicants are ranked by total UCAT score. The higher you rank, the more likely you are to receive an interview invitation. The SJT is also considered in the shortlisting process.

What score do you need? St George's does not publish a specific total cut-off beyond the 500-per-subtest minimum. However, given that only 300–400 applicants are invited from the full pool, and the 2025 UCAT mean was 1,891/2,700, you realistically need to be well above average. Aiming for 2,100+ (roughly 80th percentile or above) is a sensible target.

| UCAT Total | Approximate Percentile | |---|---| | 1,880 | ~50th (median) | | 1,950 | ~60th | | 2,010 | ~70th | | 2,100 | ~80th | | 2,220 | ~90th |

Source: UCAT consortium 2025 statistics

Personal statements are not formally assessed in St George's shortlisting process.

The New Interview Format: SAMMI-Select

This is the most important section of this guide. SAMMI-Select is a completely new format for 2026 entry, and understanding how it works is the key to performing well.

What is SAMMI-Select?

SAMMI stands for Scalable Automated Multiple Mini Interview. "Select" refers to the version used for undergraduate admissions.

SAMMI-Select is a fully asynchronous, online video interview. You log in to the platform, watch pre-recorded questions, and then record your own video responses. There is no live interaction with any interviewer at any point. Your recorded responses are later reviewed and scored by trained assessors.

Key features:

- Asynchronous: You do not speak to anyone in real time. You watch questions and record answers. - Pre-recorded questions: Questions are delivered via video by the platform — not by a live interviewer. - Response time: Approximately 4.5–5 minutes per response. You have a limited time window to give each answer. - Fixed timeframe: All questions must be completed within a set period (typically in one sitting). - No follow-up: Because there is no live interviewer, you will not be asked follow-up questions or prompted to clarify. Your answer is your answer. - Scored later: Assessors review your recordings after the sitting window closes.

When does it take place?

December 2025. St George's confirmed specific dates for 2025: 3 December and 9 December 2025. Interview timings for each cycle are published on the St George's admissions website.

Source: St George's Apply for Medicine

Why SAMMI-Select Changes Everything

In a traditional live MMI, you get cues from the interviewer — body language, a nod that tells you to continue, the human rhythm of conversation. You also get follow-up questions that let you correct or deepen an answer that went in the wrong direction.

In SAMMI-Select, none of that exists. You must:

1. Be complete from the start. There is no opportunity to backtrack or clarify. Structure your answer deliberately. 2. Manage your own timing. You have a fixed response window. Running out of time before you have made your key point is a serious problem. Equally, trailing off with two minutes left undermines the quality of your response. 3. Project warmth to a camera lens. One of the most underrated challenges of asynchronous video is that you need to engage an assessor who is watching a recording, not sharing a room with you. Eye contact (into the camera, not at your own image on screen), a calm voice, and clear delivery all matter more than usual. 4. Answer the actual question. Without an interviewer to redirect you, there is no check on whether you have drifted off-topic. Make sure your first sentence names what you are going to address.

What SAMMI-Select Stations Assess

St George's has not published the precise content of SAMMI-Select questions, but the format is designed to assess the same competencies as a traditional MMI. Based on the school's published selection criteria and the known structure of the SAMMI platform, questions are likely to cover:

1. Motivation for medicine Why do you want to be a doctor? What specifically has shaped this decision? Expect to draw on work experience and personal reflection here.

2. Insight into the medical profession What do you understand about what being a doctor actually involves — the difficulty, the teamwork, the communication demands, the ethical weight?

3. Ethical and professional scenarios A scenario involving a moral dilemma — often clinical or quasi-clinical. You will be asked to reason through it. Assessors want structured thinking, not a definitive verdict.

4. Communication and empathy Your ability to show that you understand the human dimension of medicine. These questions often present a situation involving a patient, colleague, or family member and ask how you would respond.

5. NHS and healthcare awareness Current issues in healthcare and the NHS. What pressures does the system face? What does it mean to practise medicine in a publicly funded health service?

6. Personal qualities Resilience, teamwork, leadership, coping with challenge. Expect questions that begin with "tell me about a time when..."

Example SAMMI-Select Questions

These are representative questions, not guaranteed content. They reflect the typical domains assessed in MMI-style interviews:

Motivation and insight: - "What experience made you most certain that medicine was the right career for you? What did it teach you?" - "What do you think is the most challenging aspect of being a junior doctor, and how would you prepare for it?"

Ethical scenarios: - "A doctor discovers that a colleague has been making clinical errors but is reluctant to report them because of loyalty. What considerations are at play, and what should happen?" - "Should patients have the right to refuse life-saving treatment? Walk me through your thinking." - "A patient tells you something in confidence that you believe puts another person at risk. What do you do?"

Communication and empathy: - "Imagine a patient has just been told they have a serious diagnosis. They are sitting alone. What would you do if you walked in at that moment?" - "Describe a time you had to communicate something difficult to someone. How did you approach it, and what would you do differently now?"

Healthcare awareness: - "What do you think is the single biggest challenge the NHS faces over the next decade?" - "How should limited healthcare resources be allocated fairly?"

Personal qualities: - "Tell me about a time you faced a significant setback. How did you respond, and what did it teach you about yourself?" - "Describe a situation in which you had to work as part of a team on a high-stakes project. What was your role and what did you learn?"

How to Prepare for SAMMI-Select

1. Practise recording yourself on video — from day one

This is not optional. The single most common mistake candidates make in asynchronous video interviews is assuming that a skill they have in live conversation will transfer automatically to video. It does not. You need to practise watching a question on screen and then answering directly to the camera, within a time limit, with no feedback.

Record yourself. Watch it back. Notice whether you are looking at the camera or at your own reflection. Notice whether you trail off, whether you over-use filler words, whether your answer actually addresses the question.

2. Use the 4.5–5 minute window strategically

A 4.5–5 minute response window is generous by MMI standards. Structure your answer:

- 30 seconds: Name the issue/theme and your opening position - 3–3.5 minutes: Develop your reasoning with specific examples, multiple perspectives, or structured analysis - 30–45 seconds: Conclude — tie back to the question, acknowledge any uncertainty, avoid trailing off

Do not try to fill every second. A well-structured 4-minute answer with a clean conclusion beats a rushed 5-minute answer that runs out of time mid-sentence.

3. Build a bank of examples from your experience

SAMMI-Select questions — like all MMI questions — reward specific examples over general assertions. Before your interview date, prepare concrete stories about:

- What you learned from your clinical work experience (not just what you did) - A time you showed leadership or followed a lead - A time you dealt with conflict or a difficult conversation - A time something went wrong and how you responded - Why medicine, and specifically why you chose to apply to St George's

4. Know your ethics

Brush up on the key ethical frameworks: - Autonomy — a patient's right to make their own decisions - Beneficence — acting in the patient's best interest - Non-maleficence — avoiding harm - Justice — fair distribution of healthcare resources

You do not need to cite Beauchamp and Childress by name, but having a framework in your head helps you give structured answers to ethical scenarios without panicking.

5. Read about current healthcare issues

St George's sits in south London — one of the most diverse, socially complex patient populations in the UK. The school trains doctors who understand health inequalities and work in under-resourced environments. Know about NHS pressures, staffing, public health, and social determinants of health. The King's Fund website and NHS England's published plans are excellent starting points.

6. Set up your environment properly

SAMMI-Select is recorded. Think about: - Lighting: Face the light source, not away from it. Sit near a window or use a lamp placed in front of you. - Background: Plain, uncluttered background. A bookshelf is fine; a messy bedroom is not. - Sound: Use headphones or ensure your microphone is clear. Background noise is distracting for assessors reviewing recordings. - Camera position: Camera at eye level. Laptop on a stack of books if needed. Looking up at a camera is awkward; looking down is worse. - Technical check: Test the platform in advance. Ensure your internet connection is stable. Have a backup plan (a mobile hotspot) in case of issues.

Timeline: What to Expect and When

| Stage | Approximate Timing | |---|---| | UCAT sitting | July–October 2025 | | UCAS application deadline | 15 October 2025 | | Shortlisting decisions made | November 2025 | | SAMMI-Select interview invitations | November 2025 | | SAMMI-Select interviews | December 2025 | | Offers released | Rolling, typically January–March 2026 |

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both Chemistry and Biology at A-level? Yes. St George's requires Chemistry AND Biology at A-level. There is no exception.

What is the UCAT minimum threshold? A minimum of 500 per cognitive subtest (VR, DM, QR). Your total score out of 2,700 is then used for ranking.

Does the SJT matter? Yes. The SJT is considered in St George's shortlisting process alongside the cognitive score. Aim for Band 1 or Band 2.

Is SAMMI-Select a one-shot process? Yes. You complete your responses in one sitting within the allocated timeframe. There is no opportunity to redo a response once submitted.

Does my personal statement affect my shortlisting? No. Personal statements are not formally assessed in St George's shortlisting process.

I previously applied when the format was a traditional MMI. How different is SAMMI-Select? Very different. The content assessed — motivation, ethics, communication, NHS awareness — is similar. But the delivery is entirely different. You need specific preparation for asynchronous video, including practising on camera and managing a fixed time window without an interviewer to guide you. Do not assume your old preparation is sufficient.

What about the graduate entry programme (A101)? The A101 graduate entry programme uses GAMSAT rather than UCAT, and typically uses an in-person MMI format for eligible applicants. This guide covers the A100 undergraduate route. Check the St George's graduate entry page for A101-specific details.

Final Thoughts

SAMMI-Select is genuinely new territory. Most applicants reading this will be preparing for a format that has never existed before at St George's and that has very few precedents in UK medicine admissions. That is actually an opportunity: the candidates who prepare specifically for asynchronous video — who practise on camera, who master the time window, who learn to project warmth to a lens rather than a person — will stand apart from those who over-rely on traditional MMI preparation.

The content of medicine interview questions has not changed. The delivery demands have changed enormously. Adjust accordingly.

Good luck.