Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 · Latest published criteria

Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 self-assessment 2027: points calculator and scoring guide

2026 criteria; 2027 not yet published (Wessex page, updated 8 Oct 2026, lists the 2027 criteria as "coming soon") Last checked

Pick the option that fits your evidence at each step to see your score out of 59, and what you can still add before the deadline.

Applications close 4pm, Thu 19 Nov 2026

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Cardiothoracic ST1 points calculator

Answer one question for each scored domain. We add up your points with the published rules shown on each step, then show what you could still add before the deadline, with dates. It takes about two minutes.

We'll show your result and email you a copy.

When are you applying?

We use this to date your plan. Applying this round, it works back from the deadline. Applying next year, you get the long-run version instead.

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 59.

Maximum 6 pointsAcademic Prizes & Awards (undergraduate)

Section 1: Undergraduate Medical Career. Academic Prizes & Awards. Range 0 - 6

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 6 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Undergraduate 1st prizes, research/travel bursaries, and graduating in the top 10% or 1st for the whole degree.

Watch out. Claiming top 10% from one year or one module. It must be "for the ENTIRE medical degree", confirmed in a signed medical-school letter.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-6. No 3- or 5-point descriptor is published.

Maximum 5 pointsUndergraduate Clinical Electives and Attachments

Undergraduate Clinical Electives and Attachments. Range 0 - 5. Home institution is defined as any cardiothoracic surgery centre attached / affiliated with the medical school the applicant attended.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 5 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Cardiothoracic electives or attachments as a student. Longer ones, and ones away from your own medical school's affiliated centres, score more.

Watch out. Counting an attachment at a hospital linked to your own medical school as 'away'. Any cardiothoracic centre "attached / affiliated with the medical school the applicant attended" is home.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-5. No 4-point descriptor is published.

Maximum 6 pointsHigher Degrees

Section 2: Post graduate qualifications. Higher Degrees. Range 0 - 6. Generic topics such as physiology, anatomy, surgery etc will not score as directly related to cardiothoracic surgery.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 6 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Awarded higher degrees. A Master in Education scores 2 here, the same as any degree not directly related to cardiothoracic surgery.

Watch out. Calling a generic surgery or anatomy master's 'directly related'. The criteria say generic topics "will not score as directly related".

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-6. Only awarded degrees score.

Maximum 4 pointsPost graduate qualifications (exams)

Post graduate qualifications. Range 0 - 4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

MRCS Part A (2) or full MRCS (4). MRCP scores 1.

Watch out. Claiming MRCS Part A before the result is out. Only a pass you can evidence counts.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-4. No 3-point descriptor is published.

Maximum 3 pointsPG Cert & PG Dip

PG Cert & PG Dip. Range 0 - 3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Awarded postgraduate certificates and diplomas from supervised study. A PG Cert in Education is explicitly included.

Watch out. Treating a short teaching course or CPD certificate as a PG Cert. Only an awarded postgraduate certificate "following part or full-time supervised study" scores.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-3.

Maximum 4 pointsResearch

Section 3: Professional Development. Research. Range 0 - 4. To score for this there must be clear documentation proving that the grant is awarded to the applicant as the primary holder of this.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

A substantive role in a completed project that is not yet presented or published (1), or research grants you hold.

Watch out. Presenting or publishing the same project. The 1-point substantive-role descriptor only applies to work "Not recognised elsewhere in application i.e. not yet presented or published". Present it and the research point moves to Presentations.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-4.

Maximum 3 pointsQuality Improvement Project / Audit

Quality Improvement Project / Audit. Range 0 - 3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Leading QI or audit projects that are registered with the audit department and completed. Full audit-plus-re-audit cycles score most.

Watch out. An unregistered project, or one without the consultant-signed summary document covering the listed bullet points.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-3.

Maximum 3 pointsPostgraduate Awards and Prizes

Postgraduate Awards and Prizes. Range 0 - 3. There needs to be clear documentation of any award from the awarding body.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Postgraduate prizes, graded by the level of the awarding body.

Watch out. Expecting a postgraduate travel bursary to score. Postgraduate bursaries, grants and fellowships sit in the 0 column here.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-3.

Maximum 3 pointsOperative Skills - Incisions

Section 4: Operative Skills. Operative Skills- Incisions. Range 0 - 3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Laparotomy, thoracotomy or sternotomy openings done as primary surgeon.

Watch out. Counting cases where you assisted. Only openings "as primary surgeon for opening" count, and they must be in a consolidated, consultant-signed logbook.

Caps. 0-3. The 1-point column reads "0-5 cases"; the criteria do not say whether zero cases scores 1 (see open_questions).

Maximum 3 pointsOperative Skills - Closures

Operative Skills- Closures. Range 0 - 3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Laparotomy, thoracotomy or sternotomy closures done as primary surgeon.

Watch out. A logbook with no breakdown by type of closure, or without consultant sign-off.

Caps. 0-3. Same "0-5 cases" wording issue as Incisions.

Maximum 4 pointsOperative Skills - Whole procedures

Operative Skills- Whole procedures. Range 0 - 4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Whole operations you performed as primary surgeon, e.g. appendicectomy, saphenous vein harvest, VATS pleural biopsy.

Watch out. Logging part-procedures here. Openings and closures have their own domains; this one is for whole procedures as primary surgeon.

Caps. 0-4. Same "0-5 cases" wording issue as Incisions.

Maximum 3 pointsPresentations

Section 5: Supporting Activities. Presentations. Range 0 - 3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

National or international posters (1) and orals you delivered yourself from the podium (2 for 1-2, 3 for 3 or more distinct talks).

Watch out. Claiming an oral that a co-author delivered. The oral descriptors need "Personally delivered ... as the podium presenter". Departmental talks score 0 and regional ones have no descriptor.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-3. Regional presentations have no descriptor. No specific evidence note is published for this domain.

Maximum 4 pointsPublications

Publications. Range 0 - 4. Screenshot from PubMed to be provided when uploading evidence to the Self Assessment portal. If a publication is not retrievable on PubMed it will not score.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Peer-reviewed papers listed in PubMed. First-author papers (not case reports) score most.

Watch out. A paper that isn't on PubMed, or a published abstract. "If a publication is not retrievable on PubMed it will not score", and abstracts sit in the 0 column. Conference proceedings write-ups (including NMERC's) only score here if they are PubMed-listed.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-4.

Maximum 2 pointsOrganisational and Leadership Skills

Organisational and Leadership Skills (within 3 years’ of application closing date i.e. Dec 2022 onwards). Range 0 - 2. This needs to be verified with documentation from the body represented stating clearly the role of the applicant.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Official committee, project or charity roles (1), or being overall Chair or Secretary of a national or international body (2).

Watch out. Older roles. Only roles within 3 years of the application closing date count, and you need a letter from the body stating your role.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-2. Roles count only within 3 years of the closing date (2026 criteria: "Dec 2022 onwards"; the 2027 cut-off is not yet published).

Maximum 4 pointsTeaching

Teaching. Range 0 - 4. Applicants should upload evidence in form of contract to the Self Assessment portal. The contract must specify the number of hours worked per week and be signed by the HR department to score. Point will only be awarded for roles completed by the time of uploading of evidence for verification if a applicant gets to this stage).

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Teaching you deliver: regular monthly teaching for 6+ months (1), course faculty with a published programme and formal feedback (2), or a contracted teaching post of at least 50% WTE (3-4).

Watch out. Claiming a teach-the-teacher course you attended. No descriptor scores training received. Also, the HR-signed contract note is written for the whole domain, so get the strongest documentation you can for every tier.

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-4. Scores teaching you deliver, not teaching courses you attend.

Maximum 2 pointsAchievements outside of medicine

Achievements outside of medicine. Range 0 - 2

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Non-medical achievements that led to a regional or national award or prize, or county-level or national team membership. Recent ones (last 3 years) score 2.

Watch out. Listing charity or committee work here. It "will not score in this domain and should be included in the leadership domain".

Caps. Single best descriptor, 0-2.

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The Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 self-assessment has 16 domains in five sections, and the criteria state a “Maximum score available 59”. You score yourself on the Oriel form, a cut-off decides who uploads evidence (in 2026, anyone within 6 points below it was invited too), three assessors verify each portfolio, and “Your self-assessment score will be carried over to make up part of the total final score after the interview.” NHS England Wessex runs the national round: the Oriel window runs from Thursday 22 October (10am) to Thursday 19 November 2026 (4pm), and the 2027 criteria are still listed as coming soon, so the scoring below is the 2026 version.

Cardiothoracic ST1 self-assessment (scored on the Oriel application form, then verified against uploaded evidence) points at a glance

2026 criteria; 2027 not yet published (Wessex page, updated 8 Oct 2026, lists the 2027 criteria as "coming soon") Last checked

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 59.

Published maximum: "Maximum score available 59" (2026 criteria). The 16 domain ranges add up to 59. The self-assessment decides who is invited to upload evidence. 2026 guide: "Those who score above a specified self-assessment cut-off score" plus "Any applicant who scores within 6 points below the specified cut-off score". Three assessors verify each portfolio. It then counts toward the final score: "Your self-assessment score will be carried over to make up part of the total final score after the interview." The weighting against the interview is not published.

Cardiothoracic ST1: every domain, what scores and the maximum
DomainWhat scores (official wording)Max
Academic Prizes & Awards (undergraduate)
  • 0 points Shortlisted or finalist for an award but not winner of an award Certificate of merit, certificate of appreciation, runner-up etc.
  • 1 point One 1st prize awarded for academic performance One or more bursary(ies), grant(s) or fellowship(s) awarded for research or travel
  • 2 points Two or more 1st prizes awarded for academic performance
  • 4 points Graduated from final year medical school amongst top 10% overall
  • 6 points Graduated from final year medical school ranked 1st overall

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 6 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-6. No 3- or 5-point descriptor is published.

6
Undergraduate Clinical Electives and Attachments
  • 0 points Electives or clinical attachments in Cardiothoracic Surgery in own institution of 2 weeks or less
  • 1 point One elective or clinical attachment in Cardiothoracic Surgery in own institution of more than 2 weeks One elective or clinical attachment in Cardiothoracic Surgery in non home institution of at least 2-week duration
  • 2 points One elective or clinical attachment in Cardiothoracic Surgery in non home institution of at least 4-week duration
  • 3 points Two or more separate electives or clinical attachments in cardiothoracic surgery in own institution of more than 2 weeks each
  • 5 points Two or more separate electives or clinical attachments in cardiothoracic surgery in non home institution of at least 4- week duration each

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 5 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-5. No 4-point descriptor is published.

5
Higher Degrees
  • 0 points MD as primary medical qualification Registered for higher degree but not yet awarded.
  • 2 points Higher degree awarded in a subject not directly related to Cardiothoracic Surgery (MSc, MS, MCh, MPhil, MD, DPhil, PhD). Master in Education, MBA (Above can have been awarded at any timepoint)
  • 4 points Awarded master degree (MS, MCh, MPhil) with original research component directly related to Cardiothoracic Surgery.
  • 6 points Awarded doctorate degree (MD, PhD, DPhil) with original research component directly related to Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 6 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-6. Only awarded degrees score.

6
Post graduate qualifications (exams)
  • 0 points USMLE ECFMG
  • 1 point MRCP
  • 2 points MRCS Part A
  • 4 points Full MRCS

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-4. No 3-point descriptor is published.

4
PG Cert & PG Dip
  • 0 points No evidence
  • 1 point 1 or 2 postgraduate certificate(s) awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery. (Include PG Cert in Education)
  • 2 points 3 or more PG Cert. awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery. 1 or 2 PG Dip(s) awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery. (Include PG Cert or PG Dip in Education)
  • 3 points 3 or more PG Dip. awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-3.

3
Research
  • 0 points Limited involvement in research e.g. data collection only
  • 1 point Substantive role in a completed research project (Not recognised elsewhere in application i.e. not yet presented or published) Recipient of one or more research grant as co- applicant Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of less than £2,000
  • 2 points Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of £2,000- £9,999 (Post-graduate – i.e. must be after first university degree and medical school)
  • 3 points Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of £10,000- £19,999 (Post-graduate – i.e. must be after first university degree and medical school)
  • 4 points Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of £20,000 or more (Post-graduate – i.e. must be after first university degree and medical school)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-4.

4
Quality Improvement Project / Audit
  • 0 points Participation in QI / clinical audit e.g. data collection -audit project commenced but not yet completed
  • 1 point Leadership in the design, conduct, and presentation of 1 to 3 completed QI / clinical audit project(s) registered with audit department OR Leadership and completion of 1 QI / audit cycle registered with audit department (i.e. completed both audit AND re- audit)
  • 2 points Leadership in the design, conduct, and presentation of 4 or more completed QI / clinical audit projects registered with audit department OR Leadership and completion of 2 different QI / audit cycles registered with audit department (i.e. completed both audit AND re- audit)
  • 3 points Leadership and completion of 3 or more different QI / audit cycles registered with audit department (i.e. completed both audit AND re-audit)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-3.

3
Postgraduate Awards and Prizes
  • 0 points Bursaries, grants and fellowships awarded for research or travel
  • 1 point Awards or prizes awarded by a local or regional peer group related to achievement in medicine or surgery
  • 2 points National award(s) reflecting outstanding achievement in medicine or surgery
  • 3 points International award(s) reflecting outstanding achievement in medicine or surgery

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-3.

3
Operative Skills - Incisions
  • 0 points No descriptor in the 0 column
  • 1 point Opening of laparotomy / thoracotomy / sternotomy (as primary surgeon for opening) 0-5 cases
  • 2 points Opening of laparotomy / thoracotomy / sternotomy (as primary surgeon for opening) 6-10 cases
  • 3 points Opening of laparotomy / thoracotomy / sternotomy (as primary surgeon for opening) 11+ cases

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

0-3. The 1-point column reads "0-5 cases"; the criteria do not say whether zero cases scores 1 (see open_questions).

3
Operative Skills - Closures
  • 0 points No descriptor in the 0 column
  • 1 point Closure of laparotomy / thoracotomy / sternotomy (as primary surgeon for closure) 0-5 cases
  • 2 points Closure of laparotomy / thoracotomy / sternotomy (as primary surgeon for closure) 6-10 cases
  • 3 points Closure of laparotomy / thoracotomy / sternotomy (as primary surgeon for closure) 11+ cases

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

0-3. Same "0-5 cases" wording issue as Incisions.

3
Operative Skills - Whole procedures
  • 0 points No descriptor in the 0 column
  • 1 point Number of whole operative procedures performed by applicant as primary surgery. For example – appendicectomy, varicose vein surgery, excision of subcutaneous cyst, saphenous vein harvesting, VATS pleural biopsy etc) 0-5 cases
  • 2 points Number of whole operative procedures performed by applicant as primary surgery. For example – appendicectomy, varicose vein surgery, excision of subcutaneous cyst, saphenous vein harvesting, VATS pleural biopsy etc) 6-10 cases
  • 3 points Number of whole operative procedures performed by applicant as primary surgery. For example – appendicectomy, varicose vein surgery, excision of subcutaneous cyst, saphenous vein harvesting, VATS pleural biopsy etc) 11-15 cases
  • 4 points Number of whole operative procedures performed by applicant as primary surgery. For example – appendicectomy, varicose vein surgery, excision of subcutaneous cyst, saphenous vein harvesting, VATS pleural biopsy etc) 16 + cases

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

0-4. Same "0-5 cases" wording issue as Incisions.

4
Presentations
  • 0 points Departmental presentations
  • 1 point Poster presentations at national or international meetings
  • 2 points Personally delivered 1 to 2 oral presentation(s) as the podium presenter at a national or international society involving a major personal commitment
  • 3 points Personally delivered 3 or more distinct oral presentations as the podium presenter at a national or international society involving a major personal commitment

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-3. Regional presentations have no descriptor. No specific evidence note is published for this domain.

3
Publications
  • 0 points Letter to editor Abstract E-comments Pay to publish journal articles
  • 1 point Co-author for 1 to 4 peer-reviewed publications (listed in PubMed) or published book chapter(s) OR First author for 1 peer-reviewed publication (listed in PubMed) (Excluding case reports) NB Joint first authorship would only be accepted and scored when it is clearly stated by the publishing journal.
  • 2 points Co-author for 5 or more peer- reviewed publications (listed in PubMed) or published book chapters OR Author or editor of a relevant textbook OR First author for 2 peer-reviewed publication (listed in PubMed) (Excluding case reports) NB Joint first authorship would only be accepted and scored when it is clearly stated by the publishing journal.
  • 3 points First author for 3 peer-reviewed publications (listed in PubMed) (Excluding case reports) NB Joint first authorship would only be accepted and scored when it is clearly stated by the publishing journal.
  • 4 points First author for 4 peer-reviewed publications (listed in PubMed) (Excluding case reports) NB Joint first authorship would only be accepted and scored when it is clearly stated by the publishing journal.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-4.

4
Organisational and Leadership Skills
  • 0 points Rota master or similar roles
  • 1 point Official role in local or regional committee work, project development, charity work etc. OR Official role in local or regional branch of a national body
  • 2 points Overall Chair, Secretary of a national or international body or society

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-2. Roles count only within 3 years of the closing date (2026 criteria: "Dec 2022 onwards"; the 2027 cut-off is not yet published).

2
Teaching
  • 0 points Ad hoc teaching commitment (i.e. less than monthly for at least 6 months duration) Talks given to members of the public
  • 1 point Evidence of regular teaching commitment to clinical professionals e.g. medical students, nurses etc. (minimum frequency of monthly for at least 6 months duration)
  • 2 points Faculty of a course with evidence of a published programme AND formal participant feedback
  • 3 points Formal teaching role for 6 months or more e.g. anatomy demonstrator (minimum 50% WTE for at least 6 months duration)
  • 4 points Formal teaching role for 12 months or more e.g. anatomy demonstrator (minimum 50% WTE for at least 12 months duration)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-4. Scores teaching you deliver, not teaching courses you attend.

4
Achievements outside of medicine
  • 0 points No evidence
  • 1 point I have recognised achievements outside of medicine at a significant level that have not fitted into any other domain. This score will only be awarded for achievements requiring a significant level of skill or ability which has led to a regional or national award / prize or being member of a county level or national team. (Charity work, project work, committee work or work for an organisation will not score in this domain and should be included in the leadership domain)
  • 2 points I have recognised achievements outside of medicine at a significant level within the last 3 years that have not fitted into any other domain. This score will only be awarded for achievements requiring a significant level of skill or ability which has led to a regional or national award / prize or being member of a county level or national team. (Charity work, project work, committee work or work for an organisation will not score in this domain and should be included in the leadership domain)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

Single best descriptor, 0-2.

2
Total59

Dates for this round

  • Advert published source
  • Applications open (Oriel) source
  • Applications close (self-assessment score submitted on the form) source
  • Interviews (day 1) source
  • Interviews (day 2) source

What you can still add before 19 November 2026

What each of these adds is the difference between the option you would reach and the one you already hold, so it can be nothing if you hold that option already. The calculator works out the gain from your own answers.

  • Postgraduate Awards and Prizes. Awards can't be planned for, but there is one possible upside: if you win a prize at NMERC 2026 (14 Nov 2026) and have documentation of it from the organiser before applications close (4pm 19 Nov 2026), claim it as "National award(s) reflecting outstanding achievement in medicine or surgery" (2). "There needs to be clear documentation of any award from the awarding body." An NMERC prize is claimed at the national award tier. The self-assessment score is submitted on the form, and applications close at 4pm on 19 Nov 2026, so only a prize already documented by then can be claimed.
  • Operative Skills - Incisions. Perform supervised cases as primary surgeon and log them. Keep a consolidated logbook with a breakdown of type and get consultant sign-off as accurate and dated before the evidence upload. Start by 10 October 2026. The self-assessment score is entered on the Oriel application form, which closes at 4pm on 19 Nov 2026 ("Applications close: 4:00pm 19/11/2026"). Evidence uploaded later only verifies what you "cited on your application form" (2026 applicant guide), so the activity must be done before you submit.
  • Operative Skills - Closures. Perform supervised cases as primary surgeon and log them. Keep a consolidated logbook with a breakdown of type and get consultant sign-off as accurate and dated before the evidence upload. Start by 10 October 2026. The self-assessment score is entered on the Oriel application form, which closes at 4pm on 19 Nov 2026 ("Applications close: 4:00pm 19/11/2026"). Evidence uploaded later only verifies what you "cited on your application form" (2026 applicant guide), so the activity must be done before you submit.
  • Operative Skills - Whole procedures. Perform supervised cases as primary surgeon and log them. Keep a consolidated logbook with a breakdown of type and get consultant sign-off as accurate and dated before the evidence upload. Start by 10 October 2026. The self-assessment score is entered on the Oriel application form, which closes at 4pm on 19 Nov 2026 ("Applications close: 4:00pm 19/11/2026"). Evidence uploaded later only verifies what you "cited on your application form" (2026 applicant guide), so the activity must be done before you submit.
  • Presentations. Submit an abstract to a national meeting held before 19 Nov 2026 and deliver it yourself. NMERC 2026: free abstract submission at nmerc.org/submit, decisions within 5 days, presented online on Sat 14 Nov 2026, evidence letter and abstract book issued by 16 Nov 2026 16:00. Gain from 0: oral +2, poster +1. The oral descriptor requires delivery ("Personally delivered"), and the score is entered on the application form that closes at 4pm 19 Nov 2026, so the talk must be given before then. 14 Nov 2026 is 5 days before close.
  • Organisational and Leadership Skills. Take an official, documented role on a local or regional committee, project or charity. You need a letter from that body stating your role. NMERC organising roles are not open this round: helping organise NMERC could count from next year's round, and if you're keen to help organise it, contact us. Start by 10 October 2026. The self-assessment score is entered on the Oriel application form, which closes at 4pm on 19 Nov 2026 ("Applications close: 4:00pm 19/11/2026"). Evidence uploaded later only verifies what you "cited on your application form" (2026 applicant guide), so the activity must be done before you submit. No minimum duration is published for the 1-point role.
  • Teaching. Join the faculty of a course that has a published programme and collects formal participant feedback (2 points). Erudical is always looking for teachers for its Teach the Teacher course: contact us if you'd like to teach on it. A role only scores once it is completed by the time you upload evidence. Regular monthly teaching needs 6 months, so it is too late to start for 19 Nov 2026. Start by 10 October 2026. The self-assessment score is entered on the Oriel application form, which closes at 4pm on 19 Nov 2026 ("Applications close: 4:00pm 19/11/2026"). Evidence uploaded later only verifies what you "cited on your application form" (2026 applicant guide), so the activity must be done before you submit. The domain also says "Point will only be awarded for roles completed by the time of uploading of evidence for verification". The domain-wide note asks for an HR-signed contract, which a faculty role may not have; the panel decides.

Evidence traps

  • A teach-the-teacher course scores nothing. The Teaching domain scores only teaching you deliver; the only teaching qualification that scores is an awarded PG Cert or PG Dip in Education (1 point for 1-2 PG Certs). 1 or 2 postgraduate certificate(s) awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery. (Include PG Cert in Education) source
  • Presenting your research can cost you the research point. The 1-point 'substantive role' only counts for work not yet presented or published. Present a different project (e.g. your audit) if you want both. Substantive role in a completed research project (Not recognised elsewhere in application i.e. not yet presented or published) source
  • Off PubMed means zero. Abstracts and letters score nothing, and first-author case reports don't count toward the first-author descriptors. If a publication is not retrievable on PubMed it will not score. source
  • One PDF per domain. In 2026, applicants who uploaded several PDFs for a domain were not scored at all. For each domain the entire evidence for that domain must be uploaded as a single PDF. Applications with multiple PDFs uploaded for each domain will not be scored and excluded from the application process. source

Sources

Points still within reach before 4pm on 19 November

Your score is fixed by what you put on the application form, and later evidence only confirms what you “cited on your application form”, so every addition has to be complete by 4pm on 19 November 2026. The largest single step is in Presentations: a national poster lifts you from 0 to 1, and an oral you deliver yourself from the podium takes you to 2, which NMERC on 14 November makes possible if you send an abstract at nmerc.org/submit. Ten of the 59 points sit in the three operative domains, so every opening, closure or whole procedure you do as primary surgeon and log with consultant sign-off can count: a sixth opening or closure moves that domain from 1 to 2, and an eleventh whole procedure moves Whole procedures from 2 to 3. An official, documented role on a local or regional committee, project or charity is worth 1 in Leadership if you have nothing there. Joining the faculty of a course with “a published programme AND formal participant feedback” is the one teaching gain still possible, worth 2, although the Teaching domain asks for an HR-signed contract as evidence and the panel decides whether a faculty role without one is enough. The same domain says “Point will only be awarded for roles completed by the time of uploading of evidence for verification”, so a role only counts once it’s complete. Regular monthly teaching needs six months, so it’s too late to start for this round. If you’d like to teach on our Teach the Teacher course, we’re always looking for teachers, and helping to organise NMERC could count from next year’s round if you’re keen to help. NMERC and Erudical roles may qualify. See the NMERC and Erudical websites and contact us for details.

Before you claim: three rules that change the total

The 1-point research descriptor only covers work that is “Not recognised elsewhere in application i.e. not yet presented or published”, so presenting your only completed research project moves the point rather than adding one. Publications are checked on PubMed, and “If a publication is not retrievable on PubMed it will not score.” In the 2026 round, evidence had to go up as a single PDF per domain, and “Applications with multiple PDFs uploaded for each domain will not be scored and excluded from the application process.”

Worked example: an FY2 on 11 of 59

This hypothetical FY2 won one first prize at medical school and did a three-week cardiothoracic attachment at their own medical school’s centre. They have MRCS Part A, a substantive role in a completed research project that hasn’t been presented or published, and they led one registered audit through audit and re-audit. Their signed logbook shows 4 sternotomy openings, 5 closures and 3 saphenous vein harvests as primary surgeon. They’ve given departmental presentations, are co-author on one PubMed paper, act as rota master and have taught medical students monthly for 8 months. On the 2026 descriptors:

  • Academic prizes: one first prize, 1.
  • Electives and attachments: one own-institution attachment of more than 2 weeks, 1.
  • Higher degrees: none, 0.
  • Postgraduate exams: MRCS Part A, 2.
  • PG Cert and PG Dip: none, 0.
  • Research: substantive role in a completed, unpresented project, 1.
  • QI and audit: led one registered cycle with re-audit, 1.
  • Postgraduate awards: none, 0.
  • Incisions, closures and whole procedures: 0 to 5 cases in each, 1 each, so 3.
  • Presentations: departmental only, 0.
  • Publications: co-author on one PubMed paper, 1.
  • Leadership: rota master, 0.
  • Teaching: monthly for 8 months, 1.
  • Achievements outside medicine: none, 0.

That’s 11. A teach the teacher course would add nothing. An NMERC oral of the audit, delivered by this doctor on 14 November, takes Presentations from 0 to 2, so the total becomes 13, a gain of 2; a poster instead would make it 12. The audit point stays, because the QI descriptor already expects a led project to be presented. Watch the trap here: if they presented the research project instead, the research point would no longer apply, because that work would then be “presented”, and the net gain would fall to 1.

The calculator scores each of the 16 domains on the 2026 descriptors, gives your total out of 59 and shows what an NMERC talk or a few more logged cases would add. We’ll show your result and email you a copy.

Go to the Cardiothoracic ST1 calculator at the top of this page

If you’d like all 16 domains on a printable sheet, with a note when the 2027 criteria appear, we can email it to you.

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Does a teach the teacher course count for Cardiothoracic ST1?

No, a teach the teacher course isn’t accepted anywhere in the Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 self-assessment. The Teaching domain only scores teaching you deliver, from “Evidence of regular teaching commitment to clinical professionals” at 1 point up to a contracted teaching post at 3 or 4, and none of its descriptors covers a course you attend. The only route for a teaching qualification is a university award in the PG Cert and PG Dip domain, where “1 or 2 postgraduate certificate(s) awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery. (Include PG Cert in Education)” scores 1. A Master in Education counts under Higher Degrees at 2, the same as any degree not directly related to cardiothoracic surgery. A CPD course with its own certificate is neither, so it scores 0. You can see how other specialties treat teaching courses in our specialty-by-specialty teaching points table.

What an NMERC talk or prize could add

NMERC takes place online on Saturday 14 November 2026, the Saturday before the Wessex deadline, and presenters receive their evidence letter and the abstract book by 16 November. Any doctor or medical student can send an abstract at nmerc.org/submit, and presenting costs nothing. The Presentations domain scores “Poster presentations at national or international meetings” at 1 and “Personally delivered 1 to 2 oral presentation(s) as the podium presenter at a national or international society involving a major personal commitment” at 2, so if you’re at 0 the gain is 1 for a poster or 2 for an oral you deliver yourself. Present your audit or another project rather than your only unpresented research, or you’ll trade the research point for the presentation. There’s also a possible extra that can’t be planned: a prize won at NMERC, documented by the organiser before 4pm on 19 November, would be claimed under Postgraduate Awards and Prizes as “National award(s) reflecting outstanding achievement in medicine or surgery”, which scores 2, and “There needs to be clear documentation of any award from the awarding body.” More about the meeting is on the NMERC page.

Cardiothoracic ST1 scoring questions

How is the Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1 self-assessment scored?

You score yourself across 16 domains on Oriel, out of a published maximum of 59. In 2026, applicants above a cut-off, and anyone within 6 points below it, then uploaded evidence, and a panel of three assessors (training programme directors, SAC members and consultants) verified it. The verified score carries into your final score after interview, although its weighting isn’t published. Interviews are on 22 and 23 February 2027.

What is a national poster or oral worth for Cardiothoracic ST1?

A national or international poster scores 1. One or two orals you personally delivered as podium presenter at a national or international society score 2, and three or more distinct orals score 3. Departmental talks score 0 and there’s no regional descriptor. The talk has to be given before you submit, which means before 4pm on 19 November 2026.

Do operative cases count for an ST1 application?

Yes, and they carry 10 of the 59 points. Openings and closures of a laparotomy, thoracotomy or sternotomy as primary surgeon score 1 for up to 5 cases, 2 for 6 to 10 and 3 for 11 or more. Whole procedures as primary surgeon, such as an appendicectomy or saphenous vein harvest, go up to 4 for 16 or more. Every case must be in a consolidated logbook broken down by type and signed and dated by a consultant.

How competitive is Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1?

In 2025 there were 737 applications for 10 posts, a competition ratio of 73.70, according to the NHS England Medical Hub.