C — Clinical: Lead with your clinical experience. State your current role, where you’re working, and the key clinical skills you’ve developed. Mention relevant rotations, specialties you’ve worked in, and any particular clinical interests. Be specific: “I have completed two years of post-foundation training in acute medicine and elderly care, with particular experience in managing acutely unwell patients on the medical assessment unit” is far stronger than “I’ve worked in medicine for a few years.” Keep this section to 60–90 seconds.
A — Academic: Cover your qualifications and academic achievements. This includes postgraduate exams (MRCP, PLAB 2, MRCS), relevant courses (ALS, ATLS, ILS), teaching experience (both formal and informal), research involvement (publications, posters, presentations), and any academic positions held. If you have instructor potential or train-the-trainer qualifications, mention them here. For IMG candidates, this is where you briefly reference your overseas qualifications and how they map to UK equivalents. Keep this to 30–60 seconds.
M — Management: Demonstrate that you understand the broader responsibilities of being a doctor beyond direct patient care. Discuss any audits you’ve completed (state the topic, findings, and changes implemented), quality improvement projects, committee involvement, rota coordination, leadership roles, or contributions to departmental governance. Even small examples count: “I led a ward-level audit on VTE prophylaxis documentation which resulted in a new checklist being implemented.” This section shows you are not just a clinician but someone who contributes to improving the service. Keep this to 30–45 seconds.
P — Personal: End with a brief personal touch that makes you memorable and human. This might be a hobby that demonstrates resilience or teamwork (sport, music), community involvement (volunteering, mentoring), or something that reflects your character. Keep it genuine and brief — 15–20 seconds. The panel remembers “the candidate who runs ultramarathons” or “the one who volunteers with refugee healthcare.”
Timing & Delivery
Your total CAMP answer should be 2–3 minutes maximum. Most panels will stop you at 3 minutes, so front-load your strongest points. Practise with a timer. Record yourself and listen back — you will almost certainly be surprised by how long or short your answer actually is compared to how it felt.
Pro tip from real interviews: Memorise a few direct quotes from your Training Assessment Board (TAB) feedback or your Personal Supervisor’s Report (PSG). Being able to say “My educational supervisor described me as ‘a safe and reliable doctor who communicates effectively with the whole team’” is powerful evidence and shows portfolio engagement.
- Worked example: Full model CAMP answer with timing annotations (provided in downloadable PDF).
- Exercise: Write your own CAMP answer, time it, and trim to under 3 minutes.
- Resource: CAMP Answer Builder Worksheet (fill-in-the-blank template).