Introduction
Teaching is one of the most important — and often misunderstood — parts of the IMT portfolio.
Many doctors assume: “I’ve done some teaching — that should be enough”
But in reality:
- It’s not just about doing teaching
- It’s about proving it properly
This guide explains exactly how teaching experience is scored in IMT, and how to maximise your points.
How Many Points Can You Get for Teaching in IMT?
Teaching experience can contribute up to: 5 points in your portfolio
🏆 Teaching Experience Scoring Breakdown
🥇 5 Points (Highest Score)
You:
- Organised a teaching programme
- Worked with local tutors
- Delivered regular teaching
- Over approximately 3 months or longer
AND you have:
- Formal feedback
- Evidence of programme (timetable/content)
- Letter confirming your role
🥈 3 Points
You:
- Delivered regular teaching
- As part of a structured programme
- Over approximately 3 months or longer
Examples:
- Bedside teaching
- Classroom sessions
- Mentoring
AND:
- Formal feedback is required
🥉 1 Point
You:
- Taught occasionally
- At least 3 sessions
AND:
❌ 0 Points
- No structured teaching
- No feedback
- No evidence
Does Teaching Need to Be 3 Months Long?
There is no strict rule.
However: Higher scoring categories typically require consistent teaching over ~3 months or more.
If your programme was shorter:
- You can still include it
- But you must demonstrate meaningful involvement
Feedback Requirements (CRITICAL)
This is where many applicants lose points. You MUST have formal feedback
This includes:
- Feedback forms from participants
- OR senior observation (e.g. Teaching Observation forms)
- Ideally a summary of feedback
⚠️ Without feedback: You will struggle to score in this section
Evidence You Need
To score well, you should have:
✔️ Feedback forms
✔️ Teaching log
✔️ Programme/timetable
✔️ Letter confirming your role
Letters should be:
- On official headed paper
- From your tutor or organisation
Common Mistakes
- Doing teaching without collecting feedback
- Not documenting sessions
- No structured programme
- Assuming informal teaching will score
How to Maximise Your Teaching Points
- Start early (aim for ≥3 months if possible)
- Teach regularly
- Collect feedback every time
- Keep records of sessions
- Get formal recognition
AND: Consider completing a teaching course to strengthen your application.
Important: Training in Teaching
In addition to teaching experience:
You can gain 1 extra point through a teaching course (full guide here → link to Blog 1)
❓ FAQ’s
1. How do you get teaching points for IMT?
By combining structured teaching, feedback, and documented evidence.
2. Does bedside teaching count?
Yes — if it is regular and supported by feedback.
3. What is the easiest way to improve your score?
Start teaching early, document everything, and complete formal training.
Final Thoughts
Teaching is not just about doing it… It’s about demonstrating:
- consistency
- structure
- evidence
The difference between informal teaching VS structured, documented teaching can be the difference between 0 and 5 points
If you’re building your teaching portfolio, The Clinician’s Campus offers a structured Full 2-day LIVE Teach the Teacher course (Clinicians Who Teach) to help you gain formal training and develop the skills required to strengthen your teaching portfolio for IMT applications.
Many applicants underestimate how simple it is to gain this point — but when done properly, it can make a meaningful difference in competitive rounds.
References
This article is based on official IMT recruitment guidance:
- IMT Recruitment – Application Scoring Criteria (2026): https://www.imtrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/applying/application-scoring
