# Core Surgery Interview

> 299 core surgery interview questions with model answers — portfolio, management and clinical stations for the national CST interview. £97.

## Pages

- [Preparation guide](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/The-Interview): How to prepare, station by station
- [Free sample questions](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/Question-Bank/Sample-Questions): Try real questions before buying
- [Pricing and registration](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/Core-Surgery-Interview-Questions-Bank/Register): Access options, prices and FAQs
- [Contact](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/Contact-Us): Support and general enquiries
- [Interview courses](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/Interview-Courses): Live course dates and programme
- [CV analysis](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/cv-analysis): Portfolio and CV review service
- [Study hub](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/study-hub): Articles and study resources
- [Interview Overview](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/the-interview/interview-overview): CST interview guide chapter
- [Portfolio Station](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/the-interview/portfolio-station): CST interview guide chapter
- [Management & Clinical](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/the-interview/management-station): CST interview guide chapter
- [The MSRA](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/the-interview/msra): CST interview guide chapter
- [Application Overview](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/the-interview/application-overview): CST interview guide chapter
- [CST Self-Assessment 2027: What Replaced It](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/the-interview/self-assessment): CST interview guide chapter

## Core Surgery Knowledge Library

- [Acute Appendicitis: Assessment and Management](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/acute-appendicitis-assessment-and-management): The WSES 2020 Jerusalem update recommends the AIR and AAS scores rather than the Alvarado score to predict acute appendicitis in adults, ult
- [Acute Kidney Injury in Surgical Patients: Prevention, Staging and Management](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/acute-kidney-injury-in-surgical-patients-prevention-staging-management): According to NICE NG148, acute kidney injury is a rise in serum creatinine of 26 micromol/L or more within 48 hours, a rise of 50% or more w
- [Acute Limb Ischaemia: the Six Ps and Time to Theatre](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/acute-limb-ischaemia-six-ps): Acute limb ischaemia is graded by the Rutherford classification, anticoagulated at once with intravenous unfractionated heparin, and revascu
- [Analgesia and the Acute Pain Ladder](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/analgesia-and-the-acute-pain-ladder): NICE NG180 offers oral paracetamol before and after surgery irrespective of pain severity, oral ibuprofen for immediate post-operative pain 
- [Arterial Blood Gases and Acid-Base for the Surgical SHO: Reading the Gas Out Loud](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/arterial-blood-gases-surgical-sho): Read a gas in a fixed order: oxygenation against the inspired oxygen, then pH, then whether the primary problem is respiratory or metabolic,
- [Audit vs QI vs Research, and How the Portfolio Grades Them](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/audit-vs-qi-vs-research-portfolio): HQIP defines clinical audit as a quality improvement cycle that measures the effectiveness of healthcare against agreed standards and takes 
- [Breaking Bad News and Disclosing Complications: Duty of Candour](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/breaking-bad-news-duty-of-candour): The professional duty of candour, in joint GMC and NMC guidance, requires you to tell the patient when something has gone wrong, apologise, 
- [Cauda Equina Syndrome: Red Flags and Emergency MRI](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/cauda-equina-red-flags): The GIRFT national pathway says suspected cauda equina syndrome with symptoms of under two weeks is an emergency referral for an MRI at the 
- [Compartment Syndrome and the BOAST Standard](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/compartment-syndrome-boast): The BOAST standard on compartment syndrome says the diagnosis is clinical, on pain out of proportion and pain on passive movement; that dres
- [Consent and Capacity, Including Consent beyond Your Competence](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/consent-and-capacity-beyond-competence): Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 an adult is presumed to have capacity, and lacks it only if an impairment or disturbance of the mind or b
- [DKA in the Surgical Patient](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/dka-in-the-surgical-patient): The Joint British Diabetes Societies guideline diagnoses diabetic ketoacidosis when all three of known or new diabetes, capillary ketones of
- [Fluids and Electrolytes: Assessment, Resuscitation versus Maintenance and NICE CG174](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/fluids-and-electrolytes-nice-cg174): CG174 separates resuscitation from maintenance: resuscitate with 500 ml of a sodium-containing crystalloid over less than 15 minutes when th
- [Head Injury and the NICE CT Criteria](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/head-injury-nice-ct-criteria): NICE NG232 sets the CT head criteria for adults: within 1 hour for GCS 12 or less on arrival, GCS under 15 at 2 hours, suspected open or dep
- [Hip Fracture and the 36-hour Target](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/hip-fracture-36-hour-target): NICE CG124 says to operate on a hip fracture on the day of, or the day after, admission, and the NHFD Best Practice Tariff measures that as 
- [Hyperkalaemia and the Critical Electrolytes](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/hyperkalaemia-critical-electrolytes): The UK Kidney Association 2023 guideline grades hyperkalaemia as mild at 5.5 to 5.9, moderate at 6.0 to 6.4 and severe at 6.5 mmol/L or more
- [Necrotising Fasciitis: the Rapidly Spreading Painful Limb](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/necrotising-fasciitis): Necrotising fasciitis is a surgical emergency diagnosed on suspicion: pain out of proportion, rapid spread and systemic toxicity mean immedi
- [New Atrial Fibrillation after Surgery](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/new-atrial-fibrillation-after-surgery): NICE NG196 says to carry out emergency electrical cardioversion without delaying to achieve anticoagulation in anyone with life-threatening 
- [Open Fractures and the BOAST Standards](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/open-fractures-boast): The BOAST and NICE NG37 standards for open fractures: intravenous antibiotics ideally within 1 hour of injury, photograph then cover with sa
- [Perforated Peptic Ulcer: Sudden Severe Epigastric Pain](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/perforated-peptic-ulcer): The WSES guidelines on perforated peptic ulcer recommend CT as the imaging of choice, operative treatment for significant pneumoperitoneum, 
- [Post-operative Abdominal Pain and Anastomotic Leak](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/post-op-abdominal-pain-anastomotic-leak): The ACPGBI and ASGBI define an anastomotic leak as a leak of luminal contents from a surgical join between two hollow viscera, with a preval
- [Post-operative Chest Pain: ACS, PE and the Surgical Differential](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/post-operative-chest-pain-acs-pe-surgical-differential): According to NICE NG185, a patient with a suspected acute coronary syndrome receives a single 300 mg loading dose of aspirin as soon as poss
- [Post-operative Confusion and Delirium](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/post-operative-confusion-and-delirium): NICE CG103 asks you to assess a post-operative patient with indicators of delirium using the 4AT, or the CAM-ICU or ICDSC in critical care a
- [Post-operative Hypotension: the Structured Approach](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/post-operative-hypotension-structured-approach): Post-operative hypotension is hypovolaemia until proven otherwise, and NICE CG174 gives the response: a 500 ml bolus of sodium-containing cr
- [Post-operative Pyrexia: the Five Ws](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/post-operative-pyrexia-five-ws): The five Ws of post-operative pyrexia (wind, water, wound, walking and wonder drugs) are a teaching heuristic for the source; the decision t
- [Post-operative Respiratory Compromise: Atelectasis, Pneumonia, PE and Oxygen Targets](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/post-operative-respiratory-compromise-atelectasis-pneumonia-pe-oxygen-targets): According to the BTS oxygen guideline, a breathless post-operative patient is given oxygen to a target saturation of 94 to 98%, or 88 to 92%
- [RUQ Pain: Cholecystitis, Cholangitis and Pancreatitis](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/ruq-pain-cholecystitis-cholangitis-pancreatitis): Right upper quadrant pain separates into acute cholecystitis, acute cholangitis and acute pancreatitis, and NICE CG188 offers early laparosc
- [Ruptured AAA: Collapse with Abdominal and Back Pain](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/ruptured-aaa-collapse): NICE NG156 says to think of a ruptured AAA in anyone with new abdominal or back pain, collapse or loss of consciousness, to do an immediate 
- [Sepsis and Septic Shock: Sepsis Six, Source Control and NICE NG253](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/sepsis-and-septic-shock-sepsis-six-source-control-nice-ng253): According to NICE NG253, a surgical patient at high risk of sepsis (NEWS2 of 7 or more) needs broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and a 2
- [Shock and Haemorrhage: Recognition, Massive Transfusion and Damage Control](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/shock-and-haemorrhage-recognition-massive-transfusion-damage-control): According to NICE NG39, a bleeding patient in hospital is resuscitated with blood components at a ratio of 1 unit of plasma to 1 unit of red
- [Small and Large Bowel Obstruction](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/small-and-large-bowel-obstruction): Bowel obstruction at the CST station is resuscitation, a prompt CT with intravenous contrast, nasogastric decompression, and a decision: str
- [The Acute Scrotum: Torsion until Proven Otherwise](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/acute-scrotum-torsion): Acute severe testicular pain is torsion until proven otherwise and goes to theatre on clinical suspicion. According to BAUS, salvage is 90 t
- [The Airway-Compromising Neck Swelling after Thyroid or Neck Surgery](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/neck-haematoma-after-thyroid-surgery): A neck haematoma after thyroid surgery occurs in 0.45% to 4.2% of cases, most within 24 hours and about half within 6 hours; the DAS, BAETS 
- [The CCrISP Three-Stage Assessment: Immediate Management, Full Assessment, Decide and Plan](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/ccrisp-three-stage-assessment): CCrISP structures every deteriorating surgical patient into three stages: immediate management by ABCDE, a full assessment of chart, history
- [The Deteriorating Surgical Patient: NEWS2, Escalation and When to Call Critical Care](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/deteriorating-surgical-patient-news2): NEWS2 aggregates six observations into a score with fixed triggers: 5 or more needs an urgent review by a clinician with acute-care competen
- [The Struggling or Impaired Colleague: SPIES and the GMC Duties](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/struggling-colleague-spies-gmc-duties): A struggling colleague is handled with SPIES, seek information, patient safety, initiative, escalate, support, and the professional duty und
- [The Trauma Primary Survey for the Non-trauma SHO](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/the-trauma-primary-survey-atls): NICE NG39 asks you to record catastrophic haemorrhage, airway with in-line spinal immobilisation, breathing, circulation, disability and exp
- [The WHO Checklist, Never Events and Human Factors](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/who-checklist-never-events-human-factors): NHS England defines Never Events as patient safety incidents that are wholly preventable because national guidance providing strong systemic
- [Three Calls at Once: Prioritisation Frameworks](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/three-calls-at-once-prioritisation): When three calls come at once, prioritise by physiological threat rather than by who called first: CCrISP teaches prioritising the patients 
- [Upper GI Bleeding: Glasgow-Blatchford, Resuscitation and Endoscopy](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/upper-gi-bleeding-glasgow-blatchford): NICE CG141 recommends the Blatchford score at first assessment and the full Rockall score after endoscopy, early discharge for a pre-endosco
- [VTE Prophylaxis and the Swollen Leg](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/knowledge/vte-prophylaxis-swollen-leg): NICE NG89 requires a VTE and bleeding risk assessment on admission, mechanical prophylaxis from admission for abdominal surgery and pharmaco

## Blog (application-cycle news and preparation guides)

- [CST Offers, Ranking, Hold and Upgrade 2027](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/cst-offers-ranking-hold-upgrade-2027): Initial CST offers for 2027 are released on Oriel at 5pm on Tuesday 6 April 2027, with a hold deadline of 9am on 9 April, an upgrade deadlin
- [50 CST Interview Questions 2027 with a Model-Answer Structure](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/50-cst-interview-questions-2027-model-answer-structure): Fifty Core Surgical Training interview questions across the presentation, the two portfolio questions, the management scenario and the two c
- [CST Interview Courses and Question Banks Compared 2027](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/cst-interview-courses-and-question-banks-compared-2027): Ten CST interview resources rated 1 to 5 on seven criteria with prices checked 10 September 2026: coresurgeryinterview (our own), Medibuddy,
- [Shortlisted for the CST Interview 2027 with Two Weeks to Go: the Plan](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/shortlisted-cst-interview-2027-two-weeks-plan): A day-by-day fortnight for a shortlisted CST candidate: evidence upload and index sheet first, the three-minute presentation by day four, th
- [MSRA for CST 2027: the 10% Weighting and What a Safe Score Looks Like](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/msra-for-cst-2027-weighting-safe-score): The MSRA is worth 10% of the CST selection score, scaled to 0 to 10, but it also decides who is interviewed. What is in the Professional Dil
- [CST Interview 2027: Stations, Timings and the Scoring Matrix](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/cst-interview-2027-stations-timings-scoring-matrix): The CST interview is two 15-minute online stations on Qpercom: a management and clinical station with three five-minute scenarios, and a por
- [CST Portfolio 2027: the Five Domains, A to E Grades and the Evidence Index](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/cst-portfolio-2027-domains-grades-evidence-index): The CST portfolio is graded A to E across five domains in NHS England's 2025/26 guidance: operative experience, surgical experience, quality
- [CST Application 2027: Dates, Eligibility and the Competition Ratio](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/blog/cst-application-2027-dates-eligibility-competition-ratio): Core Surgical Training applications for 2027 open at 10am on 22 October 2026 and close at 4pm on 19 November 2026, with interviews between 1

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- [AI information](https://www.coresurgeryinterview.com/ai-info): what the product is, price, question counts and key URLs
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## FAQ

### How much does registration cost?

The Core Surgery Interview Questions Bank costs £97, reduced from £145, for access up to the next interview date. It includes personalised CV analysis (one per user), the question banks, support emails and monthly email cases.

### Can I register for longer access?

Yes — please get in touch via the contact form and we can arrange extended access.

### Is my payment secure?

Yes. Payments are processed securely by Stripe with 2048-bit SSL encryption, accepting all major cards including AMEX.

### What happens after I buy access?

You’ll be redirected to a success page and can sign in immediately with your email to start practising and change your password.

### I have purchased access but haven’t received my login details or an email

Please check your junk/spam folder first, then contact us within 72 hours and we’ll sort it straight away.

### What terms and conditions am I bound by when purchasing access

Access is for single person personal use only. All core surgery interview questions are unique and designed for personal use — copying or distributing access or the questions is strictly prohibited. Our full terms and conditions apply.

### I have successfully gained a core surgical training number. Can I get involved with the website?

Yes — we’re always looking for successful candidates to write for us and help review questions. Get in touch via the contact form and tell us about your interview.

### I wasn’t successful what do I need to do to activate the Core Surgery Guarantee?

Email us your score, feedback and station breakdown. You must have completed all of the question bank questions and videos and attended a mock interview course.