Dentistry MMIs

The interview format for entry to the School of Dentistry at Leeds is Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). You will be greeted on Level 6 of the Leeds Dental Institute and be given a briefing for the session.

What are MMIs?

MMIs comprise a series of short task-specific stations with applicants moving around a circuit from one task station to the next.

What happens in the MMIs?

The MMIs will take place on the clinics on Level 5 and 6 of Leeds Dental Institute. There will be nine stations of seven minutes in the MMI circuit which will take approximately an hour and a half to complete. You will be given a station handbook on the day with all the station scenarios in. You may make notes in this handbook and take it into the MMIs with you. If you require the station handbook in alternative formats, please ensure that you have contacted the admissions team by the 5th February 2020 so arrangements can be agreed.

Each station is manned by one or more assessors who may be staff, alumni, actors and/or students. At each station, applicants will be presented with a scenario or asked to perform a task and answer short questions before moving on to the next station. Your scores are collated at the end of the circuit.

You will also be given an accommodation talk during your visit.

What will the MMIs assess?

The MMIs are structured to test applicants on a variety of skills, abilities and thought processes. The scenarios are designed to help us identify the applicants who have the attributes and potential to be a good clinician, in accordance with the core values of the NHS Constitution value based recruitment.

The stations will assess characteristics such as interpersonal and communication skills, discipline, teamwork, empathy, compassion, social awareness, manual dexterity, commitment, motivation, passion, time management skills, work ethic, critical thinking, reflection and resilience.  

Below are brief outlines of each of the stations in the MMIs so that you have some idea what to expect. Please be aware that whilst the stations are numbered, each candidate will start at a different station so most people will not actually start on Station 1.

MMI Station 1: Achievements

This station is designed to explore your personal qualities and achievements.

You will be asked to discuss a number of your life experiences with an assessor that relates to your personal qualities and achievements.

The assessor will score you on the skills you have developed and your ability to reflect on your life experience.

MMI Station 2: Ethics

This station is designed to assess your ethical reasoning.

At the start of the station you will be given a scenario involving an ethical dilemma. You will then need to discuss with the assessor what your thoughts are in relation to this scenario.

The assessor will score you on your ability to discuss the ethical issues in relation to the scenario.

MMI Station 3: Rest Station

You will have the opportunity to prepare for the next station or to talk to a current dental student.

This station is not assessed.

MMI Station 4: Professionalism

This station is designed to assess your reasoning when faced with a difficult situation.

You will be given time to read through a scenario and then an assessor will invite you to share your opinions. They will then go on to have a conversation with you, asking questions about the scenario.

The assessor will score you on your ability to discuss the issues in relation to the scenario.

MMI Station 5: Communication Skills and Empathy

This station is designed to assess your communication skills and the ability to show compassion.

You will be given a scenario to read prior to starting the station. In the station, you will need to have a conversation with an actor. This is a role-play station that will start as soon as you enter the station.

There will be an assessor observing your interaction with the actor. They will score you on how well you communicate with the actor and handle the scenario. 

MMI Station 6: Data Analysis and Interpretation

This station is designed to assess your analytical and data interpretation skills. You will be given a graph to interpret from a research paper and you will be asked to discuss aspects of your interpretation with an assessor.
The assessor will score you on how well you understand what the graph is about and what conclusions you are able to draw using the data from the research.

MMI Station 7: Resilience

This station is designed to assess how you manage difficult situations.

You will be presented with scenarios that you will be asked a series of questions about. The assessor will want to know how you would react and how the scenario might make you feel.

You will be scored on your response and how well you manage the scenarios.

MMI Station 8: Social Awareness

This station is designed to assess your insight into issues members of the public may face in relation to healthcare.

You will be asked to talk to an assessor about what issues someone might potentially face in either accessing dental services or enjoying good oral health.

The assessor will score you according to the breadth of your insight and understanding of potential issues which you have identified and discussed.

MMI Station 9: Simodont™ Virtual Dental Trainers

You will be given time to experience our SimodontTM Virtual Dental Trainers, which offer you a 3D virtual reality experience of using a dental drill. After time to practice, you will then have ten minutes to complete a manual dexterity task on the Virtual Dental Trainers.

The computer will generate a score for this station.