SJT Band Scores and Improvement

This final lesson focuses on understanding SJT band scoring, what each band means for your medical school application, and — most importantly — how to improve your band from 3 to 2, or from 2 to 1. It also covers common mistakes, the review process, and how to approach mock SJT practice for maximum benefit.

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Understanding Band Scores

The Four Bands

Band	Meaning	Percentage of candidates (approximate)
Band 1	Consistently demonstrated awareness of the most appropriate course of action	~25–30%
Band 2	Generally demonstrated good judgement with occasional discrepancies from ideal responses	~35–40%
Band 3	Showed some awareness of appropriate responses but with notable gaps	~20–25%
Band 4	Frequently demonstrated responses at odds with professional expectations	~5–10%

How Bands Are Calculated

Your total marks across all 69 questions (with partial credit) are converted into a band using cut-off scores that are determined each year through a standard-setting process. The exact cut-offs vary annually, so there is no fixed "score" for each band.