Independent practice, not affiliated with NHS England or the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS).
NHS Scientist Training Programme · situational judgement test · practice
NHS STP SJT Practice Test
The STP situational judgement test gives you 25 healthcare-science scenarios in 50 minutes. You rate each response from 1, Very Appropriate, to 5, Very Inappropriate, and NSHCS marks each rating by how close it is to the answer key. This practice test gives you 1 full mock in that format today: 25 original scenarios set in the life sciences, with a 50-minute clock, part marks for a near miss under our scoring, and the reason behind every rating. Mocks 2 and 3, set in the physiological sciences and in the physical sciences, clinical engineering and bioinformatics, are added on 9 November 2026 for every buyer, at no extra cost. Start with the free sample: 4 responses to rate, available once.
Mock 1: 25 questions, 50 min
one payment, no subscription
The mocks
Mock 1: 25 questions, 50 minutes
Each question is one response to a scenario: rate it from 1 (Very Appropriate) to 5 (Very Inappropriate). A rating that matches our key earns 1 mark, one step away 0.75, two steps 0.5, three steps 0.25, four steps 0. No negative marking.
Double-checked questions Real exam pattern Free · 4 responses to rate
Try before you buy free, no payment
Full tests 1 test
One payment unlocks the full test
- 1 full mock of 25 original scenarios today, 2 more on 9 November
- Rated 1 to 5, marked by closeness to the key
- A 50-minute timer per mock
- The reason behind every rating
- Your results by attribute
₹1,299·no subscription
Every test: instant score, answer review and a breakdown of topics to work on
NHS STP SJT Practice Test · Mock 1
Included in the full set
The STP SJT, from the NSHCS pages
- Format: 25 hypothetical scenarios relevant to someone working in healthcare science, each with 4 to 8 responses that you rate from 1 = Very Appropriate to 5 = Very Inappropriate.
- Time: 50 minutes, with the timer visible from the first question. The only reasonable adjustment offered is 25% extra time, requested on the application form with evidence.
- Marking: NSHCS says marks are given by how close an answer is to the correct answer, and there is no negative marking, so attempt every question.
- What it measures: empathy and compassion, professional integrity, team collaboration and adaptability, mapped to the person specification for an STP trainee.
- How you take it: online on the Pearson website, in a set test window after the application closing date. You accept a non-disclosure agreement first, and Pearson offers a sample test beforehand.
- What it decides: you must score above the required threshold to be longlisted, and at shortlisting, when required, NSHCS uses the SJT score as a tie breaker where scores are the same.
Checked on 8 November 2026 on the NSHCS page on longlisting and the SJT and its page on applying for a direct entry post.
Before you buy
What do I get?
Today, 1 full mock of 25 original scenarios, each scenario with 4 to 8 responses to rate from 1 to 5, and a 50-minute clock. Mocks 2 and 3 are added on 9 November 2026 for every buyer, at no extra cost. Each rating is marked by closeness to our key, following the NSHCS principle for the real test, and every rating comes with the reason behind it. Your result shows your score, your results by attribute (our grouping of the scenarios, not an official NSHCS diagnostic) and your time per question. Resit any mock as often as you like.
Are these real STP SJT questions?
No. The real test is confidential and every applicant accepts a non-disclosure agreement, so we would never use or rebuild its questions. Every scenario here is our own, written to the NSHCS description of the format and the four attributes. NSHCS has not written or endorsed them.
Should I still do the official sample test?
Yes. NSHCS says the official guidance and sample questions are only on its website and the Pearson platform, and Pearson gives you a sample test before the real one. Do it: it familiarises you with the real format, navigation and question types. Use ours for more scenarios to practise on, in the same rating format.
How is it marked?
Each response is one question. A rating that matches our key earns 1 mark, one step away 0.75, two steps 0.5, three steps 0.25 and four steps 0, with no negative marking. The NSHCS pages do not give the points per step, so this split is ours. It follows the NSHCS principle that marks depend on how close a rating is to the correct answer.
When will I use this?
NSHCS says applications generally open in January for a September start, and the SJT has its own window after the application closing date. Practise before you apply so you are ready when the SJT window opens.
How do I pay and get access?
One payment, handled by our payment provider, in your local currency where we can. Access opens on this device straight after payment. Sign in afterwards to keep it on your account. Access does not expire.
Independent practice, not affiliated with NHS England or the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS). Every scenario is our own and written for practice: none is taken from or rebuilt from the confidential STP SJT. Our answer keys are our own judgement against the NSHCS rating descriptions. Purchase policy.