A clear plan to pass your FY2 Standalone SJT exam

The FY2 Standalone Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is used by the UKFPO as the primary shortlisting tool for doctors applying to FY2 Standalone posts. Only candidates who score highly enough on the SJT are invited to interview. It assesses professional judgement and workplace behaviour – not clinical knowledge. The four domains assessed are: Professional Integrity, Team Collaboration, Empathy and Compassion, and Adaptability.

The FY2 SJT consists of 20 scenarios. Each scenario requires you to rate between 4 and 8 response options on a 5-point scale from Extremely Desirable to Extremely Undesirable. Up to 4 marks are available per response option. The test is taken online. There are no ranking questions and no multiple choice – only rating items.

The FY2 Standalone recruitment process runs once per year, with key stages including the application window, SJT booking, SJT test (usually March), outcomes and interviews (usually April) spread over the first few months of the year.

Exact dates vary each year and are published by the UKFPO in advance. Applications are submitted through Oriel, and late applications are not accepted under any circumstances.

Marks are awarded based on how closely your ratings match the clinician-validated model responses. The closer your answer to the model, the more marks you receive. Your SJT score is your shortlisting score on Oriel. SJT scores are valid only for the year in which they were taken – you must resit in any subsequent year you reapply. There is no appeals process.

FY2 Standalone posts are limited in number and competition is significant. Only candidates achieving the highest SJT scores are invited to interview. Scoring highly in the SJT is not optional – it is the entry requirement for the rest of the process.

The FY2 SJT tests professional judgement aligned with GMC Good Medical Practice and the FY2 person specification – not clinical knowledge. Thorough understanding of UK professional standards, NHS working culture, and the four core domains is essential.

Practise rating-format questions extensively – not just reading about the domains.

The Arora FY2 Standalone package provides 700+ AI-powered SJT practice questions, mock exam papers, SJT flashcards and a live virtual course.

Eligibility criteria are published by the UKFPO ahead of each recruitment round. Generally, applicants are doctors who have not yet completed a UK Foundation Programme and who hold or are close to obtaining full GMC registration with a licence to practise. Check the UKFPO website for the current eligibility requirements, as these can change between recruitment years.

Yes. If two or more candidates achieve the same interview score, the SJT score is used as a tie-breaker to determine final ranking. There is no appeal mechanism for SJT outcomes.

Candidates who score highly enough are invited to attend a 20-minute virtual panel interview via Qpercom, scheduled in late April. Post-interview, offers are made in rounds through Oriel. Successful appointees must apply for full GMC registration before their start date.

Arora offers 1-month, 3-month and 6-month access options for FY2 Standalone SJT preparation. All options include the same full content – AI-powered question bank, mock exams, flashcards and Arora app access. Extensions are available at any level.

The Arora FY2 Standalone package includes an AI-powered SJT question bank with 700+ practice questions, full mock SJT exam papers, SJT flashcards, a live virtual SJT course, and Arora app access.

Yes. The Arora FY2 SJT question bank uses AI-powered adaptive learning to identify the scenario domains and rating patterns where you are losing marks and focuses your practice there automatically.

Yes. All Arora FY2 packages include access to the Arora app on iOS and Android.

The live virtual FY2 SJT course runs in early February, timed to align with the FY2 Standalone application and SJT testing cycle. If you cannot attend live, the course is recorded and available to watch back before the SJT assessment window.

The standard FY2 Standalone package covers the SJT exam only. A separate bolt-on interview preparation package is planned for candidates who progress to the interview stage.

As early as possible after your FY2 Standalone application opens. The SJT is the primary shortlisting tool – only the highest-scoring candidates are invited to interview – so maximising your preparation time is important. There is no limit on usage, so buying early costs nothing extra.

Yes. At checkout, select the PayPal option and choose ‘Pay Later’. Available in certain countries.