Panel Interviews: What to Expect
Everything you need for a dentistry panel interview: what panels are, how they score you, the questions that come up, pre-set tasks, and how to stand out.
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At a glance
10 golden rules for panels
- It’s a conversation, not a test paper. Answer, then let them steer.
- Talk to everyone on the panel, not just the person who asked.
- Aim for 1–2 minutes per answer. Long enough to show depth, short enough to invite follow-ups.
- Expect the follow-up. “Why?” and “What did you learn?” come after almost every answer.
- Know every line of your personal statement, but never assume they have read it.
- Evidence, then reflection. Every claim about yourself needs a real example.
- Plain English. Panels can include members of the public and people without a healthcare background.
- Think out loud on hard questions. Your reasoning is what gets marked.
- Hold a view, but stay open. Challenge is a test of composure, not proof you’re wrong.
- Do the pre-work. Prepare any pre-set tasks or reading properly.
What a panel interview is
In a panel interview you sit with the same small group of interviewers (usually 2–4) for 20–30 minutes. Questions flow from one topic to the next, and the panel can dig deeper into anything you say.
Panel vs MMI
| Panel | MMI | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | The same people throughout | A new assessor at each station |
| Flow | One conversation; follow-ups build on your answers | Separate, independent stations |
| Depth | Deeper probing of your motivation and experiences | Wider range of tasks |
| Recovering | You can come back to a point later (“Could I add something to my earlier answer?”) | A bad station is over when the bell goes |
What panels are really assessing
Motivation and a realistic view of dentistry, insight from your experiences, communication, teamwork, ethical and social awareness, honesty and integrity and what you would bring to the university.
The test behind the questions
Polished, coached answers are easy to spot. What stands out is someone authentic who can explain what genuinely drives them. An answer doesn’t need to be perfect, as long as it’s real.
How panels score you and make offers
Modern panels are structured: interviewers use set questions or themes and score you against set criteria, often each panel member independently. Candidates are then ranked, and many schools make offers on interview performance alone.
No buzzword checklist
You don’t earn ticks for buzzwords. Assessors usually use a 5-point scale guided by positive and negative indicators. The top marks go to answers that are insightful, reflective and genuine.
Fit to sit
Attending usually means you declare yourself fit to be interviewed, and problems raised afterwards often aren’t considered. If you are unwell, contact the school before the interview.
Schools that do it differently
- Sheffield adds a separate group Interpersonal Skills Test (see the next section).
- Some schools use UCAT to break ties or keep a waiting list for candidates just below the line.
Pre-set tasks and group tests
Some dental panels set work before the interview or add a group task. If yours does, this is where well-prepared applicants pull ahead.
Pre-set tasks (e.g. Bristol)
Bristol has asked applicants to make a model to talk about on camera and give a 5-minute presentation on a current dental topic. Check your invitation, as tasks can change.
- Choose a topic you can argue both sides of (e.g. NHS access, fluoridation).
- Time it a little under the limit and end with your reasoned view.
- Have a hard copy ready in case of tech problems.
Pre-reading (e.g. Queen Mary)
If you’re sent an article, read it more than once, summarise it in your own words, and note its strengths, weaknesses, author and source.
Group tasks (e.g. Sheffield)
Scored for respect, teamwork and communication. Suggest a process, add one or two strong ideas, bring quieter people in by name and help the group decide. Never dominate or argue.
A presentation structure that works
- Hook: one striking fact or patient story
- The issue in plain English
- Arguments for and against
- Impact on patients and dentists
- Your view and one practical solution
The panel question bank, with approaches
Panels return to the same themes. Prepare bullet points and real examples for each, not scripts. All questions are written by MedWay for practice.
| Theme | Typical questions | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | “Tell us about yourself.” “How did you get here today?” | 60–90 seconds: who you are, what drives you towards dentistry, one thing outside academics. Not a CV recital. |
| Motivation | “Why dentistry?” “Why not medicine or dental therapy?” “What will you find hardest?” | Evidence → reflection → why only dentistry. Show you know the downsides and still want it. |
| Your experiences | “What did you learn from work experience?” “Tell us about something you saw that surprised you.” | What? So what? Now what? One specific moment beats a list of placements. Any experience counts. |
| Personal statement | “You mention X. Tell us more.” “What did that book argue?” | Be able to talk for two minutes on anything you wrote. If you can’t, take it out of your head now. |
| Qualities | Teamwork, leadership, a mistake, resilience, conflict, your weaknesses | STARR: brief situation, mostly your actions, a result and a genuine reflection. |
| Ethics and professionalism | Cosmetic treatment on healthy teeth, NHS vs private, consent, infection control, the wrong tooth extracted | Identify the tension, weigh both sides, apply principles to the case, act within your role, conclude. |
| NHS and hot topics | NHS dental access, the dental contract, AI, fluoridation, social media and cosmetic dentistry | Explain briefly, both sides, a cautious view, impact on patients and on you. |
| The school | “Why here?” “What will you contribute to university life?” | Specifics: teaching style, patient population, outreach, societies, research. |
| Curveballs | “What would you do if you didn’t get in?” “What’s something you’ve changed your mind about?” | Pause, be honest, show resilience and reflection. There’s no trick answer. |
| Your questions | “Do you have any questions for us?” | One genuine question you couldn’t answer from the website, e.g. what qualities they see in students who thrive there. “No, you’ve covered everything, thank you” is also fine. |
Golden tips for panel interviews
- Make the first 60 seconds count. Smile, thank them, introduce yourself, sit upright. In a panel, the tone you set lasts the whole interview.
- Address the whole panel. Start your answer to the questioner, then include the others with your eye contact. One panel member may look down taking notes; they are still listening.
- Pause before answering. Taking a moment to absorb the question is fine and looks thoughtful.
- Summarise as you go so you don’t lose your thread, and finish each answer with a one-line conclusion.
- Assume they know nothing about you. Many interviewers haven’t read your statement. Tell them what you did and what you learned.
- Any experience counts. Paid or voluntary, clinical or not, it’s what you learned that matters.
- Research the city, not just the course. Schools want to know you’ll thrive where you study.
- Welcome the follow-up. A second “why?” means they’re interested. Go one level deeper rather than repeating yourself.
- Never talk anyone down: other applicants, other professions, past teachers or colleagues. Show you understood their perspective.
- Practise with strangers. Teachers or students you don’t know recreate the formality; friends don’t.
- Online: look at the lens, keep ID beside you, and dress fully.
- End well. Thank each interviewer. If you realise you missed something earlier, ask if you can add it.
Myths about panels
- “Panels are just a chat, so you can’t prepare.” They are structured and scored. Preparation of examples and themes makes a big difference.
- “If they challenge you, you’ve said something wrong.” Challenge tests composure and reasoning. Defend a sound view; change it if given a good reason.
- “A serious panel member means you’re failing.” Interviewers vary in style, and some stay neutral on purpose.
- “You need to know the answer to every question.” Saying “I’m not sure, but here’s how I’d think about it” scores better than bluffing.
Ready to practise?
Put the guides into action with every question, mark scheme and timed mock interview for your track.
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- Full question bank & mark schemes
- Model answer builder for every topic
- Timed mock interviews