Asking what qualities a good doctor needs is one of the most common personal reflection questions at medical school interviews. Applicants have reported it at seven schools in this wording, and in some form ("what is the most important quality for a doctor?", "which qualities do you have?") at more than twenty. It looks easy, but most candidates can name empathy, communication and teamwork, so naming them is not where the marks are. This article goes through what the marking criteria reward, how to structure an answer that does score, and the variants to prepare for.
Why medical schools ask it
Medicine demands more than academic ability. Doctors must recognise their own limitations, cope with pressure, learn from mistakes, and maintain their wellbeing over a long career. Personal reflection questions reveal whether you have the self-awareness and emotional maturity the profession requires.
This question in particular tests two things: whether you understand what the job actually asks of a person, and whether you can look honestly at yourself against that. Interviewers are also testing honesty. Candidates who present themselves as already having every quality often appear either unaware or dishonest, and neither is reassuring in a future doctor. Several schools score a whole domain on this: UCL lists "core qualities" among its marking criteria, and Aberdeen scores "professional attitudes and values" such as integrity, empathy, honesty and compassion.
What the marking criteria reward
The marking sheet for this station has four content points, plus the usual mark for how clearly you communicate:
- Picks 3-4 high impact qualities
- Justifies the importance of each quality for a doctor
- Provides examples of qualities being shown either by candidate or someone else
- Reflects on own qualities, comments on developing them further
Naming three or four qualities earns the first point only. The marks come from the next three: explaining why each quality matters for a doctor, giving an example of it being shown, and reflecting on how far you have it yourself and how you are developing it.
How to structure your answer
When asked about key qualities, choose two or three, define each briefly, explain why it matters in clinical practice, and provide evidence of how you've demonstrated it. Five qualities consistently appear in medical school guidance and professional standards:
- Empathy :
- Understanding and sharing another person's feelings while maintaining professional boundaries. Empathy builds trust, improves communication, and helps doctors recognise early signs of distress.
- Communication :
- Explaining diagnoses clearly, listening actively, coordinating within teams. Poor communication is a common cause of medical error; strong communication protects patient safety.
- Integrity and professionalism :
- Doing what's right even when difficult. Honesty, accountability, confidentiality, and the duty of candour. Trust depends on integrity.
- Teamwork and collaboration :
- Modern medicine depends on multidisciplinary teams. Good teamwork requires humility, reliability, respect for others' roles, and conflict resolution skills.
- Resilience and self-awareness :
- Performing under pressure, managing setbacks, recognising limits, seeking help early. Resilience prevents burnout; self-awareness ensures continual development.
For each quality you choose, the pattern is the same: say what it is, say why a doctor needs it, give an example of it being shown by you or by someone you observed, and say how you are developing it. Always conclude by reflecting on how you plan to continue developing these qualities throughout medical training.
Example answer
The model answer below picks empathy, teamwork and resilience and runs each through that pattern. It is about two minutes spoken, which is at the long end; in an MMI you would give the shorter version and let the follow-ups draw out the rest.
I think several qualities are essential for doctors, but the three I see as most important are empathy, teamwork, and resilience.
Empathy
Empathy is crucial because doctors need to understand not just a patient’s symptoms but the emotional context behind them. This builds trust and helps patients feel heard, which ultimately improves adherence to treatment.
I saw this during my hospital volunteering placement: a junior doctor took an extra minute to sit at eye level with an elderly patient who was confused and frightened. That simple act of empathy completely changed the patient’s willingness to engage.
I try to demonstrate empathy myself. For example, when mentoring younger pupils at school, I always make sure to listen carefully and acknowledge their feelings before offering advice. Going forward, I want to continue developing this by exposing myself to more patient-facing environments where emotional communication is essential.
Teamwork
Teamwork is vital because modern healthcare is multidisciplinary. No doctor works in isolation, and patient safety depends on clear communication with nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
During my time on a group biology research project, I learned how important it was to communicate clearly, delegate tasks, and respect everyone’s expertise. I believe these skills translate well to medicine.
That said, I am still working on being more confident when speaking up in group settings, so I have joined my school’s debate society to practise articulating ideas under pressure.
Resilience
Resilience is key because medicine can be emotionally and mentally demanding. Doctors face long hours, complex cases, and sometimes poor outcomes.
I developed resilience through balancing my A-levels with my part-time job and caring responsibilities at home. There were moments when things felt overwhelming, but I learned to stay organised, seek help when needed, and reflect on challenges rather than avoid them.
I know that in medicine resilience is not just about "pushing through" - it is about healthy coping strategies. I am working on this by keeping a reflective journal and making time for activities like running to maintain balance.
Overall Reflection
Overall, I believe I have a strong foundation in these qualities, but I also recognise that they require constant development. I am motivated to keep improving because I think these qualities are fundamental to becoming a safe, compassionate, and effective doctor.
Practise this question out loud
Try answering it with the AI interviewer: it asks the question, follows up on what you say, and marks you against the points above.
Common follow-up questions
This question has more variants than almost any other in the bank. Most of them are the same answer with a different emphasis: pick fewer qualities, or make the evidence about yourself rather than someone you observed.
What is the most important quality for a doctor?
Asked at Leicester, Manchester and Belfast. Pick one, justify it, and be ready to defend it against the interviewer's alternative.
What qualities do you have that would make you a good doctor?
Asked at Bristol, Exeter, King's and UCL. The same structure, but every example must be your own.
Which qualities do you currently lack that a good doctor should have?
Asked at Bristol. Pick a realistic, low-risk trait and spend most of the answer on what you are doing about it.
What personal qualities should a good healthcare professional have, and when have you shown them?
King's wording. Note it says healthcare professional, not doctor, so examples from any caring role count.
What sets apart an average doctor from an excellent doctor?
Asked at Bristol. The honest answer is usually about the qualities, not the knowledge.
What are your biggest weaknesses?
Often paired with this question. Avoid "I'm a perfectionist"; pick something real and show what you do about it.
Common pitfalls
Things to avoid when answering the question:
- Listing qualities without evidence :
- Naming empathy, communication, and teamwork isn't enough. Provide personal examples to show how you've demonstrated them.
- Too many qualities :
- Three qualities with an example each beats six with none. The marking sheet asks for three or four.
- Trying to appear flawless :
- The goal isn't perfection. It's to show awareness, humility, and willingness to grow, so say what you are still working on.
- Only talking about yourself :
- An example of a doctor or nurse showing the quality on your placement is just as valid as one of your own, and shows you were paying attention.
- No link to medicine :
- Each quality needs a sentence on why a doctor specifically needs it. "Communication is important" is true of every job.
Which schools ask it
Applicants have reported this wording at the schools below, and one of the variants above at most others. Each link opens the school's interview page with its format and what else it asks.
- Glasgow. Also asked as "what qualities does a good doctor require, and when have you displayed them?"
- UCL. "Core qualities" is a named marking domain alongside motivation, critical thinking, teamwork and professionalism.
Also reported at Barts, Leicester, Newcastle, St Andrews and City St George's.
Frequently asked questions
How many qualities should I talk about?
Three. Two if the station is short, four at most. Each one needs a definition, a reason it matters, an example and a line on how you are developing it, so more than that runs out of time.
Can my examples be about other people?
Yes. The marking sheet explicitly allows examples of the quality being shown by the candidate or by someone else. A mix works well: one quality you saw a clinician show on placement, two you have shown yourself.
Should I mention a quality I don't have yet?
Briefly, yes. Saying you have a strong foundation but recognise that these qualities need constant development is exactly what the last marking point rewards. Keep it to a sentence or two at the end.