NHS scientist training programme

To all who would be applying for the 2021 cohort

I have applied twice before and twice have been rejected at the psychometric testing stages.

I am heavily numerically dyslexic and really struggle to do mathematics. I'm okay with the basics but i have struggled all my life with it.

I have a 2:1 degree already in podiatric medicine and practice this currently within the NHS at band 7 level. However I am looking to change careers as i have feel I have done all I can within this area and there is really no other opportunities to move upward unless your pursue surgical training.

My question is to would be STP trainees is has anyone else applied before and fell at the first hurdle ? I thought the math questions on the online test were exceptionally difficult and If i apply again I'll just fall victim to the same problem. I also though the practice questions were deceptively easy and the real thing does not reflect the standard the least bit accurately which at the time I was quite enraged about.

I suppose I'm just getting very frustrated to lose out on a potential opportunity when I already practice at an advanced level in a medical research and evidence based medical sub speciality .

Any advice on where to practice math questions like the ones on the test would be greatly appreciated and would be good to hear of others successes and or failures relating to applications for the STP programme.

Cheers

Liam

Hi Liam,


I haven't had exactly the same experience as you with difficulty with the psychometric tests. I would say they can be very difficult even for those of us who don't have your dyslexia! How did your results come back? Did they say that the psychometric tests were what you had failed on? I believe they only act as a filter before people start looking at your application details. I.e. they are pass/fail.

In addition, which specialism are you applying for? I presume from your post that you're working at a band 7 level in something related to podiatry? If you are currently working in a department that has clinical scientists practicing within it then they may commonly offer training posts or "route 2" posts towards clinical scientist registration where you spend a few years as a band six, completing a portfolio. This may be worth asking your department about considering if you're really determined to switch careers.

Equally working at a band 7 level should afford you many opportunities to begin a portfolio of competencies which can be submitted to the NSHCS without even an official training post. https://curriculum.nshcs.org.uk/programmes/stp This is a link to the curriculum for all the STP specialties where you could begin to "tick off" those things in which you already have experience, and could then tailor your CPD & potentially external development towards picking up the remaining competencies you would need for your portfolio.

There are many routes to registration that don't require squeezing through the 400:1 competition ratios of the STP. Which could be very easy for someone whom is already a band 7.



David

Hi Liam, as you appear to qualify, do you apply under the Disability Confident scheme? The programme will make an reasonable adjustments to accommodate your disability. This could simply be to extend the test duration.

For the other respondents, it depends on your specialism whether there is an available position at the end of the three years. Many positions long term are not viable unless you broaden your skillset. Something to consider.

Agree david, there's just too much competition in the STP. This is the problem people and graduates struggle to just get into a training vacancy. Apart from that I hardly see any qualified clinical scientist jobs pop up in London where I live. I applied for the cardiac sciences specialism and have not yet come across a qualified clinical scientist role in that specislism unless you get the job in the hospital you trained in. Also trainee biomed jobs are scarce to.

Liam did you see if there is any benefits they can give you for the test due to your dyslexia? I past the aptitude tests but got put on the reserve list. There's people out there who applied for years and not gotten in and some who get lucky and get a place after graduation.

Why me I've had enough with this field and started doing a course in finances. Much more benefits in it plus so much more demand and vacancies in this field youll hopefully have so much fewer competition compared to 100 people competing for 1 vacancy in the STP.

Hi Zain

I don't blame you for switching, I have been contemplating with it myself I just don't know how to transition away from something that Ive been doing for years that's so niche. I have a lot of other transferable skills but I've always worked in the medical field which is why the STP stood out as a viable way to re train and still earn a wage for doing it.

In terms of special adjustments they only gave me an extra 15 to 20 seconds extra. I'm afraid the standard tested in numeracy is just to high a fence for me to jump which is extremely frustrating as its just a tool to whittle down the applicant numbers and probably bares zero relevancy to the program unless your go on to study bioinformatics or clinical engineering.

Thanks for your reply