How many Ophthalmology ST1 points will you score, and is it enough?

Degrees separate from your primary medical degree. Intercalated degrees, MRCP and MRCS score nothing. An MD or MPhil needs at least two years of full-time study and research beyond the primary degree, and a PhD or DPhil full-time original research, each confirmed in a supervisor's letter.

• MSc, BSc or PGCert, eight months or more full time, Optometry degrees included1 point
• MD or MPhil3 points
• PhD or DPhil4 points

A degree prize counts only for a first in the final year of a non-intercalated degree, and any other national exam prize needs over 400 entrants. A presentation prize needs you as first author, and being highly commended scores nothing.

• Crombie Medal, first in FRCOphth Part 13 points
• National undergraduate exam prize, first place3 points
• National undergraduate exam prize, top 10%2 points
• National undergraduate exam prize, top 20%1 point
• A first in the final year of a degree, where fewer than 15% of the year achieved it2 points
• A first in any other year0 points
• Research grant as lead applicant, leading to a publication1 point
• Best presentation or poster prize at a national or international meeting1 point, up to 2

Two points or none, with at least 5 GP or 7 hospital respondents. Multi-source feedback must fall within 18 months of the interview date if you have been in clinical posts for that period. Out of a clinical post with none in that window, include the feedback from your most recent clinical post.

• Satisfactory scores with positive comments2 points
• None, negative or unsatisfactory0 points

Only your best project scores, and it must fall within three years of the interview. If you were not clearly its lead, it scores 1 at most, and 4 or 5 points need the data showing the improvement.

• Took part, with no clear role1 point
• Initiated and designed it2 points
• Initiated, designed and wrote it up in full3 points
• As above, and implemented the change or closed the loop4 points
• Published in a peer-reviewed journal, or implemented supra-regionally with clear impact5 points

Original work only. A local hospital or university meeting scores nothing, and a project counts once however many meetings it went to. An accepted presentation scores before you give it, and an abstract scores only if it links to a full article. A meeting outside the UK scores as national or regional unless you show it was international.

• International, oral3 points
• National, oral2 points
• Regional, oral1 point
• International, poster or video1.5 points
• National, poster or video1 point
• Regional, poster or video0.5 points
• Second author or lower, international oral you gave1.5 points
• Second author or lower, national oral you gave1 point
• Second author or lower, regional oral you gave0.5 points
• Second author or lower, poster or video0 points

Peer-reviewed original research or systematic reviews only. Fifth author or lower scores nothing, and on a paper with more than eight authors only the first author scores. One of three or more joint first authors scores as a second author, and where there are more than six joint first authors the paper scores nothing.

• First or joint first author3 points
• Second, third or fourth author1 point

Formal teaching sessions, a teaching qualification, a book chapter and a book score once each, and a duplicate experience scores nothing. A job title such as teaching fellow scores nothing on its own.

• Helped run an educational course0.5 points
• Helped run mock OSCEs0.5 points
• Designed an e-learning tool0.5 points
• Wrote an e-book0.5 points
• Completed a teaching the teachers course0.5 points
• Formal undergraduate examining0.5 points
• Three or more formal teaching sessions on different subjects, over three months or more, with feedback1 point
• Higher teaching qualification, 60 credits or eight months full time, not also claimed under Qualifications2 points
• Chapter in a postgraduate academic book2 points
• Author of a postgraduate academic book3 points

• All half-point items togethercapped at 2

Papers here must be first author and not claimed under Publications, and a meeting you presented at cannot be claimed again as attended.

• FRCOphth Part 1, passed3 points
• FRCOphth Part 1, attempted1 point
• Refraction certificate, or qualified optometrist1 point
• RCOphth Essay Prize for Foundation Doctors, first place1 point
• Peer-reviewed Ophthalmology paper1 point
• Ophthalmology letter, case report or non-peer-reviewed paper0.5 points
• Ophthalmology elective of two weeks or more, or undergraduate project1 point
• Taster week or Foundation attachment in Ophthalmology1 point
• Ten or more clinic or theatre sessions outside your posts, over more than three months1 point
• Simulation activity of four hours or more, or a whole-day course1 point
• National or international meeting attended1 point
• Regional meeting attended0.5 points
• Other evidence of commitment, not sitting the Duke Elder, a surgical logbook or workplace-based assessments1 point, up to 2

• Papers, letters and case reportscapped at 2
• Electives and projectscapped at 2
• Simulationcapped at 2
• Meetings attendedcapped at 3
• Regional meetings within thatcapped at 1

The guidance says only that “how the portfolio is presented in layout and organisation will be assessed”, and publishes no ladder for it. It has no row on the self-assessment form.