The CST Presentation Station
How the Core Surgical Training presentation station works: the ~3-minute pre-prepared presentation, what examiners assess, the common themes, and how to prepare.
On this page
Three minutes you can script in advance. It is the only part of the Core Surgical Training interview you fully control, which is exactly why a rambling, over-running presentation stands out for the wrong reasons. The talk opens the Portfolio station and is followed by about two minutes of questions.
What actually happens
You deliver your presentation to the panel, who listen without interrupting, then question you on it. The topic is either your own, often an achievement, or a set theme emailed out weeks beforehand. The questioning is where the marks move: it tests whether you understand what you presented and can reflect on it, or whether you memorised a speech.
What you are marked on
- Structure and delivery: a clear, signposted talk delivered to time.
- Significance: why the topic matters, and to whom.
- Personal contribution: what you specifically did.
- Insight and reflection: what you learned and would do differently.
Where candidates lose marks
Over-running is the classic. Most candidates write four minutes of material for a three-minute slot and get cut off before their reflection, which is where the marks were. The other trap is describing what happened without ever saying what you did or what it changed.
Common themes
Themed prompts have included leadership in surgery, teamwork, communication, overcoming a challenge, and improving patient care, as well as an “achievement” presentation on a topic of your own choosing.
How to prepare
Write to three minutes, then rehearse to the clock until it lands at 2:45 without rushing. Lead with why it matters, make your contribution explicit, and end on reflection rather than a summary slide in spoken form. Then prepare for the obvious follow-up questions. You can rehearse the presentation station with an AI panel on Reviva, timed questioning included.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the CST presentation station?
- Part of the Portfolio station: you give a short pre-prepared presentation of around three minutes, followed by about two minutes of questioning. It may be on your own topic or a themed one circulated in advance.
- What are you marked on in the presentation?
- The structure and delivery of the presentation, the significance of what you present, your personal contribution, and your insight and reflection on it.
- How do I prepare the presentation?
- Build a tight, signposted structure that fits comfortably in three minutes, lead with why it matters, make your own contribution clear, and finish with honest reflection. Rehearse it to time, out loud, and prepare for follow-up questions.
Sources. Based on the Core Surgical Training selection format modelled by Reviva and the official HEE national recruitment guidance. Educational only. Confirm the current format against the official national recruitment portal.