Medical School Interview / University of Exeter
University of Exeter medicine interview: what the MMI is testing
Around 700 interviews for a course that says the MMI exists to test communication, reflectiveness and empathy, and that your offer typically depends on how you perform in it.
Updated September 2026The University of Exeter uses a Multiple Mini Interview for its BMBS Medicine course and describes its purpose plainly: to determine whether applicants have the non-academic qualities, such as communication skills, reflectiveness and empathy, needed to become a successful doctor. Selection for interview is based on an Exeter score built from your UCAT and academic results (achieved grades get an uplift), or GAMSAT for applicants who are not direct school leavers, and work experience is not a standard entry requirement. Exeter interviews around 700 applicants in total, including only about 30 international applicants for its 10 international places. Interviews normally run in December and January, in person or online, and offers are only made once every interview is complete, usually in late February or early March. Exeter's interview page notes that for 2024 entry the format included four stations; it has not published a station count for the current cycle, so check your invitation.
Merra is not affiliated with any medical school, the Medical Schools Council, the GMC or UCAS.
Merra: practise it out loud before it counts
Merra's Exeter practice is a spoken, MMI-style mock on the three qualities Exeter names: five questions, one follow-up each, about fifteen minutes, then spoken feedback and a written report. It is not a station circuit and it does not claim a station count Exeter has not published.
- 1Sign up free — no card, 2 free coaching sessions available until used.
- 2Practise out loud — answer unseen questions across the areas this school assesses.
- 3Get readiness feedback — see what worked and what to fix, with a recording and transcript.
No card details required. Your first 2 coaching sessions are free.
Practise the Exeter medicine interview
An AI interviewer runs a spoken mock across the talking stations, pushes once with a follow-up, then scores you on the areas your school actually assesses.
Practise the Exeter medicine interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscriptionThe interview process
- 1Selection for interview uses an Exeter score combining UCAT and academic attainment, with achieved grades given an uplift; non-direct school leavers sit GAMSAT instead. Work experience is not a standard entry requirement.
- 2Around 700 applicants are interviewed in total. With only 10 international places, only about 30 international applicants are interviewed.
- 3Interviews normally take place in December and January, in person or online. Interview days include tours, presentations and discussion with staff.
- 4The interview is an MMI designed to test non-academic qualities: communication skills, reflectiveness and empathy. Exeter's page last stated a format of four stations for 2024 entry and has not published a station count for the current cycle.
- 5An offer typically depends on interview performance.
- 6Offers are made only after all interviews are complete, usually late February or early March, with all decisions by mid-May at the latest.
Interview questions
Exeter publishes the qualities its MMI tests but not its stations or questions. The practice questions below are Merra's, written to communication, reflectiveness and empathy; they are not Exeter's own.
“Exeter doesn't require work experience. So tell me about any experience, medical or not, that changed how you see other people.”
“Tell me about a time you behaved in a way you're not proud of. What would you do differently?”
“What's something you believed strongly a year ago that you've changed your mind about?”
“A patient tells you they've stopped taking their medication because it makes them feel old. What do you say?”
“An elderly patient is embarrassed about needing help to wash. How do you handle the next five minutes?”
“Someone close to you is grieving and doesn't want to talk. What do you do?”
“Explain to a patient what 'we need to run some more tests' means without frightening them.”
“Give me clear directions from the front door of a hospital to a ward on the third floor, as you'd say them to a confused visitor.”
“Why medicine, and why Exeter's course in particular?”
“Exeter says the MMI tests non-academic qualities. Which of yours do you think is weakest, and how do you know?”
Pricing
FAQs
What does the Exeter medicine MMI test?
Non-academic qualities: Exeter says the MMI is designed to determine whether applicants have the communication skills, reflectiveness and empathy required to become a successful doctor.
How many stations are in the Exeter medicine interview?
Exeter's interview page last stated four stations for 2024 entry and has not published a station count for the current cycle. Check your invitation.
How many people does Exeter interview?
Around 700 in total, including only about 30 international applicants for the 10 international places.
When are Exeter medicine interviews and offers?
Interviews normally run December to January, in person or online. Offers are made only after all interviews are complete, usually late February or early March.
Do I need work experience to apply to Exeter medicine?
It is not a standard entry requirement. Selection for interview uses an Exeter score from UCAT and academic results.
Official information
More medical school interview guides
Merra is not affiliated with any medical school, the Medical Schools Council, the GMC or UCAS. Merra’s feedback is advisory only — it is not a guarantee of any offer or admission outcome.
The medicine interview is spoken. Practise it that way.
Your first mock takes about 15 minutes: unseen questions, a follow-up, and feedback on what to fix. Free, no card.
Practise the Exeter medicine interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription