Band 6 Radiographer Interview Questions (with model answers)
Band 6 interviews are won on the person spec — not on charm. NHS panels score every answer against a structured framework, so the candidates who get through are the ones who deliberately map their answers to the trust's essential and desirable criteria. This guide walks through the 20 questions you're most likely to be asked, what the panel is really scoring, and how to structure your answer using STAR.
How NHS Band 6 panels actually score you
Most NHS imaging departments use a structured shortlisting and interview scoring grid that maps directly to the person specification. Each question is mapped to one or more essential or desirable criteria, and each criterion is scored independently — usually on a 0–3 or 0–5 scale.
The big consequence: a brilliant answer to one question won't lift your score on a different criterion. You need to evidence each one explicitly. That's why STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) works — it forces concrete evidence, not opinions.
Clinical & technical questions
1. Walk us through how you would justify, perform and report on a non-trauma CT head request out of hours.
2. Describe your understanding of IR(ME)R 2017 and your responsibilities as an Operator.
3. A junior radiographer images the wrong patient. Talk us through what you do in the next 60 minutes.
4. How do you ensure ALARP in paediatric imaging?
5. Tell us about a time you had to challenge a clinician about a request.
Leadership, governance & MDT questions
6. How would you support a Band 5 who is struggling with confidence on out-of-hours shifts?
7. Describe a clinical governance issue you've raised. What changed?
8. Give an example of leading a service improvement.
9. How do you handle conflict in an MDT meeting?
10. Tell us about a time you delivered difficult feedback to a peer.
STAR template that scores well
Situation: one sentence of context (where, when, your role).
Task: what you specifically had to achieve, with the standard or policy in play.
Action: 3–4 bullets of what YOU did — verbs, decisions, escalations.
Result: measurable outcome (time saved, complaint avoided, audit improved) + the reflection or change you embedded afterwards.
Common reasons strong candidates score low
Speaking in 'we' rather than 'I' — panels can only score what YOU did.
Skipping the Result — without it, the answer reads as activity, not impact.
Missing the governance angle (IR(ME)R, Duty of Candour, safeguarding, IPC).
No reflection — Band 6 expects you to learn and embed change, not just react.
Practise NHS interview questions live
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Start a practice interviewFrequently asked questions
How long should a Band 6 interview answer be?
Aim for 90 seconds to 2 minutes per question. Long enough to cover full STAR, short enough that the panel can score it without losing track.
Do I need a portfolio for a Band 6 radiographer interview?
Most trusts don't require one, but bringing 2–3 short case reflections (anonymised) and CPD evidence signals readiness for the band and gives concrete material for your answers.
What's the pass mark for a Band 6 radiographer interview?
Trusts vary, but most use a structured scoring grid where you need to meet a minimum on every essential criterion. Missing one essential — even with a perfect score elsewhere — usually disqualifies you.