F2 Stand-alone: Situational Judgement Test (SJT) FAQs

Practice scenarios for F2 Stand-alone can be found here. The practice scenarios will help you to understand the format of the test.

NDA (untimed)

A non-disclosure agreement which you must accept in order to progress to the actual test.

Tutorial (10 mins)

An optional tutorial to help you understand the basic functionality of the computer-based test and how to navigate through it and select your responses.

SJT section (45 mins)

20 scenarios each with several questions to respond to (rating).

Survey (5 mins)

An optional survey to enable you to give feedback.

The scenarios are based on the presumption that the candidate is a doctor. You should answer based on what you think you should do in that scenario.

Longlisted applicants are required to sit the Situational Judgement Test. There are no exceptions or exemptions to this requirement. Your application will not progress any further if you fail to sit the SJT.

Your SJT outcome will be valid for the entirety of the year in which it was undertaken. If you sit the SJT in one recruitment year and you choose to re-apply in a subsequent year, you will be required to re-sit the SJT.

If you have sat the SJT previously for a different recruitment round your scores from the previous test cannot not be used. You are required to sit it again.

The SJT is not a pass/fail exam. Instead, SJT scores will be used to shortlist applicants. Recruitment for F2 Stand-alone Programmes is an extremely competitive process, meaning that only the applicants who achieve the highest SJT scores will be invited to attend an interview.

You will be required to log into your Pearson VUE account and use the self-service functionality to book a test at a location, date, and time of your choosing, subject to availability.

If you have approved Reasonable Adjustments (for anything other than extra time only), you will be required to telephone Pearson VUE to make your booking. When making a booking via telephone, please notify the Pearson VUE agent that you wish to book an exam for the UK Foundation Programme F2 SJT.

Applicants with approved extra time only can book their appointment through the self-service functionality. Some approved Reasonable Adjustments (for example, extra time) can be accommodated at both a test centre and through online remote proctoring. Some approved Reasonable Adjustments (for example, separate room, reader/recorder) can only be accommodated at a test centre. See the full Situational Judgement Test (SJT) Guidance for details.

Once the booking window opens, you will need to book a test time and location of your preference. Please refer to the full Situational Judgement Test (SJT) Guidance for details of the booking window.

If you already have a Pearson VUE online account, or you create your Pearson VUE online account before the booking window opens, your account will state that you do not have any pre-approved exams at this time. This is correct as you will not be able to book an appointment before the booking window opens.

Applicants are strongly recommended to book their SJT appointment during the specified booking window. Whilst it will still be possible to book (or reschedule, subject to rescheduling conditions outlined in Section 10 below) an appointment after the booking window has closed, availability of test appointments will be significantly reduced. The UKFPO and/or Pearson VUE cannot be held responsible for any applicant not being able to find an appointment of their choice.

The Situational Judgement Test is delivered globally in many Pearson VUE Computer Testing Centres. You can find your nearest Pearson VUE test centre by visiting https://pearsonvue.com/ukfp. Capacity at each centre may vary and you may need to travel to the nearest location with availability if there are no slots at your preferred location.

If you will be living/working in the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) during the testing window, you will be expected to sit your SJT in the UK, either at a UK test centre or via OnVUE. If you will be outside of the UK during the testing window, you can sit the SJT outside of the UK at a Pearson VUE test centre (subject to availability) or take the test remotely at home or in an office, via the OnVUE delivery method.

More than 48 hours before my scheduled booking: Yes, you can.

Less than 48 hours before my scheduled booking: No, you can’t. Please check to see if the Extenuating Circumstances Policy applies.

Re-schedule Policy: If you wish to change the location, date, and/or time of your test, you can reschedule your appointment via the Pearson VUE website or by contacting Pearson VUE customer service, up to 48 hours before the scheduled start time of your existing booking.

Please be aware that alternative test centre slots are subject to availability; and, once the designated booking period has ended, availability in test centres may be very limited.

If you plan on using the same delivery method (a test centre or OnVUE) you will be able to view and browse other available appointments before you amend your current booking.

If you decide to change delivery method (e.g., change from a test centre appointment to a remote delivery via OnVUE) you will first have to cancel your existing booking and then book a new appointment choosing the preferred delivery method.

Instructions for rescheduling: To make changes to your appointment, you will need to sign in at www.pearsonvue.com/ukfp, select your upcoming appointment and choose Reschedule. 

If you had Reasonable Adjustments applied to your booking (for anything other than extra time), you will not be able to make changes to your appointment via the website, and must instead call Pearson VUE Customer Services within the published operating hours.

For further information or support, contact Pearson VUE Customer Services in the first instance.

Reasonable Adjustments must be requested via your application form, during the application window. You will have the option to apply for Reasonable Adjustments within the Oriel application form. There is no separate form required. Evidence is not required at the time of application, but the UKFPO may request evidence to support your request as needed. The application form allows you to select the adjustment(s) you need.

Please see the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) Guidance for more information.

Pearson VUE lists several medicines, medical and mobility devices as comfort aids which do not require pre-approval as a Reasonable Adjustment by the UKFPO. Comfort aid items are listed on the Pearson VUE website in the test accommodations section.

The items listed will be allowed in the testing room upon visual inspection by test centre staff. Visual inspection will be done by examining the item without directly touching it (or the applicant) and without asking the applicant to remove the item, unless otherwise stated in Pearson VUE’s comfort aid list.

Helpful resources on how to plan and prepare for your SJT can be found on our dedicated SJT pages.

There is also a test tutorial available on the Pearson VUE website to help familiarise yourself with the test format.

Further information about the SJT and a practice scenario is on our dedicated SJT pages.

View the ID policies:

Test centre appointments

OnVUE appointments (then select ‘View ID requirements’)

The test will take 45 minutes.

There are no audio-visual components of the SJT, so headphones are not required. If you are taking the test via OnVUE, you will not be allowed to use headphones of any type.

Test centres: You should arrive at the test centre 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This will give adequate time to complete the necessary sign-in procedures.

OnVUE: You may start the OnVUE check in process up to 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time.

It is essential that you arrive/check-in in plenty time as you may not be admitted to sit the test if you are late.

You may be able to apply for Extenuating Circumstances.

Please refer to the Extenuating Circumstances Policy for full details.

In this situation, applicants should refer to the extenuating circumstances guidance. All applicants should ensure they are familiar with SJT guidance and also complete a system check prior to booking their test to be sure their device and test enviroment meets the requirements. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they have fully read the guidance and have undertaken a system check with Pearson VUE prior to booking the SJT. In the event that your SJT fails, there will be no opportunity to re-schedule unless it can be proven that the test failed due to circumstances beyond your control (for example, Pearson VUE’s system failing). Test failures resulting from incorrect system requirements, lack of access to admin rights, test environment etc will result in you being unable to re-take the SJT and you will therefore be withdrawn from the application process.

No. Textbooks or notes cannot be referred to, and you must not have a notepad or paper on your desk while you sit the test. If you are taking the text remotely, you must ensure that your test environment is clear of any written material(text books/notes/paper) and you will be able to scan your room. However, a “whiteboard” feature is available for OnVUE Online proctored only. It is a feature that candidates can use while taking the online proctored exam. It gives candidates the option to work through items visually by entering notes or drawing shapes. If you are taking the test in a test centre, you will be able to use a physical whiteboard which will be wiped clear once you have finished.

There is no scheduled break for the SJT.

Test centre appointments: You may take an unscheduled break at any time, but the test timer will continue to run, and no additional time will be granted. If you wish to leave the room, you must ask the invigilator. You will not be allowed to eat whilst in the test centre (you are not allowed to take food and drink into the test room unless it is part of a pre-approved Reasonable Adjustment).

OnVUE appointments: If you choose to sit the test by remote proctoring, you will not be permitted to leave the room or move away from their screen at any time during the test. This is to ensure that test conditions are adhered to at all times. If you move out of the view of the webcam for any reason for any duration of time, your test will be revoked by the proctor.

No, there is no appeals process. The outcome is final and cannot be reviewed, re-marked, or disputed.