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titleBehaviour-based questions

Behaviour-based questions are interview questions that prompt you for a specific time when you used a skill or dealt with a situation in the past.

It combines a prompt for one specific example (e.g. “tell me about a time when”) with a skill you need or situation you will face in your program or profession (e.g. “you had to communicate complex information”).

Examples:

  • Tell me about a time when you had to communicate complex information. How did you do it?

  • Describe a situation when you took on too much and couldn’t accomplish everything.

How do I prepare for a behaviour-based question?

To help prepare for behaviour-based questions:

  • Review relevant frameworks, skills and competencies essential to your prospective profession.

  • Identify related personal experiences to start building your library of experiences you want to pull from in your responses. Consider reflecting on:

    • What you did

    • Why you did what you did

    • What options you considered

    • What you learned from the experience

    • How you would handle things differently in hindsight.

Info

The “STAR Approach” is a useful technique for answering behaviour-based questions.

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titleDifficult conversations

Difficult conversation questions will prompt you to share how you would deliver bad news or handle an uncomfortable conversation.

Examples: How would you communicate a cancer diagnosis to a 65-year-old patient? If you hit another vehicle with your car, what would you say to the other driver?

Difficult conversation questions provide an opportunity to demonstrate your interpersonal communication. You will be evaluated on how well you demonstrate your skill set, rather than on solving the problem.

How do I prepare for a difficult conversation question?

If you find frameworks helpful to structure your responses:

  • practice with friends, family and peers so you feel comfortable in an interview

  • review frameworks for sharing bad news. (e.g., SPIKES model and effective listening strategies for uncomfortable conversations).

Info

The SPIKES model is a useful tool for answering questions about delivering bad news as well as effective listening strategies for uncomfortable situations.

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titleCritical thinking and ethical questions

Critical thinking and ethical questions are designed to let the interviewer see how you think as you walk through a complex problem that doesn’t have a clear answer.

Examples:

  • Should Canada have presumed consent for organ donation?

  • You are a student working in a free clinic. After reviewing the scheduling for the day, you notice some appointment times are double-booked. Discuss the scheduling with the receptionist.

How do I prepare for an ethical or critical thinking question?

Ethical and critical thinking questions can be complex. There are various ways to prepare for these types of questions. You might:

  • Identify how you like to work through a problem

  • Review common ethical scenarios in your field

  • Search for critical thinking/ethical questions and practice responding out loud in a structured way

While responding to ethical or critical thinking questions, it may be helpful to:

  • Summarize the question in your own words to help the interviewer understand your sense of the question

  • Identify missing information or state assumptions or note the key issue to narrow the scope of the question

  • Structure the response to systemically work through the factors and perspectives

  • Incorporate information from other sources when applicable (personal experiences, articles, class content)

  • Propose a new initiative, training or information gathering mechanism that could improve your suggested solution

  • Summarize your response with a clear decision

Info

Organize your response to ethical and critical thinking questions by using models like PESTLE, CARVE and ABCDE.

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titleEthical scenario/situational interview questions

Ethical scenario/situational interview questions ask what you would do in a hypothetical situation. These types of questions evaluate your interpersonal skills and fit for the profession based on your approach to a hypothetical situation. 

Examples:

  • What would you do if you saw a colleague cheating on an exam?

  • How would you fire someone?

To answer a situational question well, you will need to describe your actions in detail, including:

  • What options you would consider

  • What past experiences you would draw on in the situation

  • What you would do and why, and the outcome of your actions

How do I prepare for an ethical scenario/situational interview question?

To help prepare for these types of interview questions:

  • Reflect on your experiences, particularly your past handling of difficult situations.

  • Identify how you like to work through a problem.

  • Research possible questions online and practice responding according to your interview’s known conventions.

  • Practice summarizing the question in your own words and identifying missing information or assumptions - this will help to contextualize your responses.

Info

Tip: Asking questions

If there is an opportunity to ask your own questions in the interview, ask away! This is an opportunity to show your interest in the program, school and interviewers, as well as gather information to help in your decision-making.

It is recommended that you ask questions that you are genuinely interested in, that are not easy to answer elsewhere (e.g. not available online), and that create opportunities for your interviewers to talk about their perspectives or experiences.

For example: If you’re struggling with the idea of specialization, consider asking how your interviewer chose a specialty. If you’re interested in finding community on campus, consider asking how your interviewer got involved.

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titleCurrent events or Knowledge stations
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titleCurrent events or Knowledge stations

Current event or knowledge stations draws on your knowledge of healthcare to answer a question about policy or current events. These questions could be based on a wide variety of trends and topics.

Examples:

  • If you could recommend one change to the Canadian healthcare system, what would it be and why?

  • Compare and contrast the Canadian and American healthcare systems.

How do I prepare for a knowledge station?

You might already know more than you think; review some common questions like the examples listed above and work through your answer based on what you know right now. You may also want to add some current events, podcasts, documentaries or readings to your interview preparation schedule.

Other students have shared it is helpful to:

  • State the issue and why it is an issue. You might share what you’re basing your recommendations on and or what type of research you’ve done on the issue already.

  • Include ideas or initiatives to improve the issue. You might share how you think these suggestions could help advance change.

  • Discuss actions and implications. Depending on the issue, you might share possible financial implications; benefits and challenges to social or environmental concerns.

  • End with a summary statement.

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titleCollaboration stations

In the collaboration station, you will work with another candidate to complete a task. There will be one or more observers who will grade your station. You may also be asked to give feedback to the other candidate.

Examples: Guide your partner to draw the image you are given. At the end of the station, you will be given time to provide feedback to one another. Your partner will guide you through a task. At the end of the station, you will be given time to provide feedback to one another.

Collaboration stations evaluate your ability to work with others and adapt the way you communicate information. You will not be evaluated based on your ability to complete a given task.

How do I prepare for a collaboration station?

Practice with as many different people as you can. The more data you have about how people handle collaboration puzzles, the better you are at adapting during the interview. Remember to:

  • Describe the task to your partner, or ask to have it described to you

  • Strategize with your partner about how to complete the task

  • Discuss any possible difficulties or problems

  • Provide step-by-step instructions on completing the task

  • Check that your instructions were clear and ask when to move on

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titleDebate station

In a debate station, you will be assigned a perspective on an issue and debate with another candidate. Often, you will give feedback on your performance or the other candidate’s performance after the debate.

Example: The Olympics are a waste of money. Candidate 1 agrees. Candidate 2 disagrees. Defend your position to the other candidate.

How do I prepare for a debate station?

Ask your friends to debate with you and practice listening carefully to their points and responding. What is this part of the interview evaluating? Debate stations evaluate how well you interact and communicate with others. Stay focused on the issue and acknowledge your debate partner’s points. When you evaluate the debate, provide positive feedback and tips for what could have worked better.

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titlePilot stations

Pilot stations test future MMI content. They won't be identified as pilot stations. Don’t panic if you’re asked to label a diagram, respond to a data set, add words to comic bubbles or do something else you weren’t expecting.

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titleRest stations

In a rest station you can rest, get a drink of water and possibly talk to a current student at the rest station.

The rest station can throw you off during the MMI as it can distract you from the flow of the interview; don’t rehash your previous stations or try to predict which questions will be next. Take a drink, stay calm and be ready to move to your next station at the signal. Referenceswill grade your station. You may also be asked to give feedback to the other candidate.

Examples: Guide your partner to draw the image you are given. At the end of the station, you will be given time to provide feedback to one another. Your partner will guide you through a task. At the end of the station, you will be given time to provide feedback to one another.

Collaboration stations evaluate your ability to work with others and adapt the way you communicate information. You will not be evaluated based on your ability to complete a given task.

How do I prepare for a collaboration station?

Practice with as many different people as you can. The more data you have about how people handle collaboration puzzles, the better you are at adapting during the interview. Remember to:

  • Describe the task to your partner, or ask to have it described to you

  • Strategize with your partner about how to complete the task

  • Discuss any possible difficulties or problems

  • Provide step-by-step instructions on completing the task

  • Check that your instructions were clear and ask when to move on

Expand
titleDebate station

In a debate station, you will be assigned a perspective on an issue and debate with another candidate. Often, you will give feedback on your performance or the other candidate’s performance after the debate.

Example: The Olympics are a waste of money. Candidate 1 agrees. Candidate 2 disagrees. Defend your position to the other candidate.

How do I prepare for a debate station?

Ask your friends to debate with you and practice listening carefully to their points and responding. What is this part of the interview evaluating? Debate stations evaluate how well you interact and communicate with others. Stay focused on the issue and acknowledge your debate partner’s points. When you evaluate the debate, provide positive feedback and tips for what could have worked better.

Expand
titlePilot stations

Pilot stations test future MMI content. They won't be identified as pilot stations. Don’t panic if you’re asked to label a diagram, respond to a data set, add words to comic bubbles or do something else you weren’t expecting.

Expand
titleRest stations

In a rest station you can rest, get a drink of water and possibly talk to a current student at the rest station.

The rest station can throw you off during the MMI as it can distract you from the flow of the interview; don’t rehash your previous stations or try to predict which questions will be next. Take a drink, stay calm and be ready to move to your next station at the signal. References

Info

Tip: Asking questions

If there is an opportunity to ask your own questions in the interview, ask away! This is an opportunity to show your interest in the program, school and interviewers, as well as gather information to help in your decision-making.

It is recommended that you ask questions that you are genuinely interested in, that are not easy to answer elsewhere (e.g. not available online), and that create opportunities for your interviewers to talk about their perspectives or experiences.

For example: If you’re struggling with the idea of specialization, consider asking how your interviewer chose a specialty. If you’re interested in finding community on campus, consider asking how your interviewer got involved.

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