Free resource
The interview question bank
133 real interview questions for medical, PA, dental and other health programs, with sample answer outlines for 48 of them. Filter, open an answer, then practice it out loud.
- 133
- questions
- 48
- sample answers
- 3
- formats
- 11
- programs
MMI station · Beginner16
Clear filters- Practice this question nowCurveballBeginnerMMI station MD, DO, PA
A pregnant patient wants her C-section a week early because she "can't raise a Gemini." What do you do?
Communication · Autonomy and consent · Patient safety
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Take her seriously and ask what's behind it. There may be anxiety, family pressure or cultural meaning.
- Explain in plain words why an early delivery without a medical reason carries risks for the baby, such as breathing and feeding problems.
- Find the shared goal: a healthy start for her child.
- If there's no medical reason, decline kindly, offer what you can, and document the conversation.
What makes it work
- Respect without mockery turns a funny prompt into a test of communication.
- Autonomy has limits when a request causes harm without benefit.
Avoid
- Laughing it off or lecturing.
- Practice this question nowCurveballBeginnerMMI station Most programs
Three patients arrive: one an hour early, one an hour late, one on time. Who do you see first?
Critical thinking · Communication
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Ask for the missing information: is anyone sick? Clinical urgency outranks arrival time.
- If all three are stable, see the on-time patient first. It is fair and keeps the schedule.
- Fit in the early patient if a slot opens, and see the late patient if time allows, or rebook them kindly.
- Tell everyone waiting what to expect.
What makes it work
- Asking about urgency first shows clinical instinct.
- It turns a trick question into a clear rule: need first, then fairness.
- Practice this question nowCurveballBeginnerTraditional one-on-one, MMI station MD, DO
What song would you play in the OR, and why?
Self-awareness · Teamwork
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Pick a song you actually like and say it without overthinking.
- Give a reason that shows something real about you: a memory, a mood, what helps you focus.
- Earn a bonus point by thinking of the team: volume, everyone's focus, and the patient if they're awake.
- Keep it under a minute and enjoy it.
What makes it work
- Curveballs test composure and personality, not the right answer.
- The team detail quietly shows good judgment.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station MD, DO, PA, Nursing, Residency, Pharmacy
A patient demands antibiotics for a cold and threatens to leave you a 1-star review if you say no. What do you do?
Communication · Professionalism
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Acknowledge that they feel awful and want relief. Ask what worries them most.
- Explain in plain words that antibiotics don't work on viruses and can cause harm: side effects and resistance.
- Offer a real plan: symptom relief, what to watch for, and when to come back.
- Stay calm about the review. It doesn't change your clinical judgment.
What makes it work
- Empathy first lowers the temperature before you say no.
- A plan gives them something instead of only a refusal.
Avoid
- Giving in to keep them happy.
- Arguing or getting defensive.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station Most programs
Your classmate posts a patient's X-ray on Instagram with a funny caption. What do you do?
Confidentiality · Professionalism
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Recognize it as a privacy breach and a professionalism issue, so act quickly.
- Talk to your classmate privately and ask them to take it down now. Explain that even "anonymous" images can identify a patient.
- If they refuse, or it has spread, tell the course lead or privacy office. The school may need to act.
- Keep it proportionate: it may be a lapse in judgment, not malice. Suggest a refresher on social media policy.
What makes it work
- Speed and privacy first, then fairness to the classmate.
- Clear escalation if the direct approach fails.
- Practice this question nowEthicsBeginnerMMI station MD, DO, PA, Nursing, Residency
A dying patient asks you to pray with them. You're not religious. What do you do?
Empathy · Cultural humility · Communication
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Respond to the need behind the request: comfort and connection at the end of life.
- You can be present respectfully, by staying quietly, holding their hand or listening, without claiming a belief you don't hold.
- Offer the chaplain or their own faith leader.
- Keep your own views out of it; this moment is about them.
What makes it work
- Presence over performance: honest and kind at once.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station Most programs
The night before your final exam, your father has a heart attack and is admitted to the hospital. What do you do?
Resilience · Self-awareness · Communication
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Gather facts: how serious is it, who else is with him, what does the family need?
- Be clear that family comes first in a crisis, and that schools have processes for deferred exams.
- Contact the course coordinator or student affairs right away, explain, and ask about options.
- If he's stable and you choose to sit the exam, have a plan for support afterward.
- Show what it says about you: you can ask for help and set priorities under stress.
What makes it work
- Knowing that systems exist for this shows maturity, not weakness.
- Practice this question nowRole-playBeginnerMMI station Most programs
Role-play: Your coworker, played by an actor, keeps arriving late and you have been covering for them. Talk to them.
Communication · Teamwork · Professionalism
Show sample answerHide sample answer
Sample answer outline
- Choose a private moment and open with care: "I've noticed you've been late a few times. Is everything OK?"
- Listen. There may be a reason (health, family, transport) that changes what help looks like.
- Be honest about the impact on you and the team, using "I" statements.
- Agree on something concrete together, and say you'd need to involve the manager if it keeps happening.
What makes it work
- Curiosity before judgment opens the conversation.
- It ends with a clear plan, not just feelings.
- Practice this question nowRole-playBeginnerMMI station Most programs
Role-play: Your roommate, played by an actor, plans to drive home after a party where they have been drinking. Talk to them.
Communication · Patient safety
How to approach itHide
How to approach role-play questions
- Talk to the actor directly, as if it were real. Don't narrate what you would do.
- Introduce yourself and find out what they know and feel before giving information.
- Name emotions out loud, then share information in small pieces.
- Agree on a next step before time runs out.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowPolicyBeginnerMMI station, Traditional one-on-one MD, DO, PA, Nursing
What role should telemedicine play after the pandemic?
Health systems · Equity and access
How to approach itHide
How to approach policy and current issues questions
- Define the issue in one sentence so you and the interviewer agree on terms.
- Give the strongest arguments on both sides, with one fact you are sure of.
- Take a clear position and name its tradeoffs.
- Bring it back to patients and your future role.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station, Traditional one-on-one Dental
How would you help a patient who has severe dental anxiety?
Empathy · Communication
How to approach itHide
How to approach situational questions
- Start with safety: is anyone at risk right now?
- Gather information before judging anyone involved.
- Act in proportion: a private conversation first, escalation when needed.
- Close the loop: follow up, document and reflect.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station Pharmacy
A customer asks you to recommend something for a headache while buying several other medications. What would you want to know first, and why?
Patient safety · Communication
How to approach itHide
How to approach situational questions
- Start with safety: is anyone at risk right now?
- Gather information before judging anyone involved.
- Act in proportion: a private conversation first, escalation when needed.
- Close the loop: follow up, document and reflect.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station, Traditional one-on-one OT
A client recovering from a stroke says the only goal they care about is cooking for their family again. How would that shape therapy?
Empathy · Autonomy and consent
How to approach itHide
How to approach situational questions
- Start with safety: is anyone at risk right now?
- Gather information before judging anyone involved.
- Act in proportion: a private conversation first, escalation when needed.
- Close the loop: follow up, document and reflect.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station Most programs
A classmate is consistently late for your clinical skills sessions. How do you address it?
Professionalism · Communication
How to approach itHide
How to approach situational questions
- Start with safety: is anyone at risk right now?
- Gather information before judging anyone involved.
- Act in proportion: a private conversation first, escalation when needed.
- Close the loop: follow up, document and reflect.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
- Practice this question nowSituationalBeginnerMMI station, Traditional one-on-one Most programs
How would you communicate with a patient who has limited English proficiency?
Communication · Cultural humility · Patient safety
How to approach itHide
How to approach situational questions
- Start with safety: is anyone at risk right now?
- Gather information before judging anyone involved.
- Act in proportion: a private conversation first, escalation when needed.
- Close the loop: follow up, document and reflect.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
How to approach itHide
How to approach curveball questions
- Take a breath. There is usually no right answer.
- Give a genuine answer quickly, then one reason that shows something about you.
- If it's a puzzle, ask a clarifying question and reason out loud.
- Keep it light and short.
We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.
Reading is not practicing
Answer out loud to an AI interviewer that asks real follow-up questions and gives feedback on every answer. Over 500 questions in the app.
7-day free trial