Core Surgical Training does not give your portfolio a points total. Instead, your evidence is assessed at a dedicated station within the online interview — not at shortlisting — and each domain is graded from A (best) to E. Three administrative rules can zero you regardless of how strong the content is: the index page is mandatory, only the first item of evidence uploaded per domain is assessed, and any evidence that needs a supervisor's GMC number is rejected without it. Patient identifiable data scores zero and can be reported.
What the sections are
- Surgical Experience — graded A to E. The top grade looks like: "Surgical elective (4+ weeks) with supervisor letter, or Surgical taster week (5+ days) with supervisor letter."
- Operative Experience (eLogbook) — graded A to E. The top grade looks like: "40+ cases verified on eLogbook."
- Quality Improvement / Audit — graded A to E. The top grade looks like: "Led ALL aspects of a surgically-themed audit/QIP, closed loop, with demonstrated change."
- Audit Presentation — graded A to E. The top grade looks like: "Both cycles of the audit presented."
- Teaching Experience — graded A to E. The top grade looks like: "Designed and organised a face-to-face teaching programme (4+ sessions) AND personally delivered 4+ sessions."
- Presentations & Publications — graded A to E. The top grade looks like: "Won top prize for oral presentation at national/international meeting after selection, or First author of a PubMed-cited publication, NOT case report or editorial letter."
What costs people marks
- Only the first item of evidence uploaded per domain is assessed — a strong second upload is invisible, so choose your single best item for each domain.
- The index page is mandatory, and evidence needing a supervisor GMC number is rejected without it. These are zero-regardless-of-content rules.
- Patient identifiable data scores zero and can be reported.
- Publications need a valid PubMed ID: without one they score zero. And you cannot claim the same project under both quality improvement and presentations & publications.
- All teaching claims need formal feedback: your consultant must review it and mention it in their letter.
Check the official document
This page is a plain-English summary of the framework as Docrr models it — it is not the framework itself. Before you rely on any number here, check the official source: HEE core surgical training portfolio guidance.
Scoring frameworks change annually, sometimes substantially, and the version that matters is the one attached to the round you are applying in. Last checked against the source on 2026-08-17.