How many minutes of an MMI should you spend answering the question?

[Reader88]

If a station is 7 minutes, how many minutes should you shoot to talk for? I understand in some situations the interviewer may interrupt to ask questions throughout, but if it is a station where they just let you talk before they ask questions, what should the goal be?

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[hmug]

I've only done one, but I just spoke until I covered what I wanted to cover. Sometimes that took 4-5 minutes, once it only took 1 minute (sort of the nature of that prompt). The school told us there was no penalty for interviewers asking us supplemental questions, so I didn't worry about it. That's my n=1 anyway.

 

[Reader88]

I've only done one, but I just spoke until I covered what I wanted to cover. Sometimes that took 4-5 minutes, once it only took 1 minute (sort of the nature of that prompt). The school told us there was no penalty for interviewers asking us supplemental questions, so I didn't worry about it. That's my n=1 anyway.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Goro]

If a station is 7 minutes, how many minutes should you shoot to talk for? I understand in some situations the interviewer may interrupt to ask questions throughout, but if it is a station where they just let you talk before they ask questions, what should the goal be?

Just answer the question!

 

[esob]

I personally keep speaking until they have to get security to remove me....then I leave my business card so that the interviewer and I can finish the convo later 😀

 

[f4reignbeauty]

I'm sure a lot has changed since I interviewed back in 2014, BUT a rough outline I followed (assuming the encounter was 7 minutes):

30 secs-1 min: restating the prompt to ensure that I understood it correctly.
3-4 min: answering the prompt
remaining 1-2 min: answering supplemental questions that were asked

 

[DrDr]

If a station is 7 minutes, how many minutes should you shoot to talk for? I understand in some situations the interviewer may interrupt to ask questions throughout, but if it is a station where they just let you talk before they ask questions, what should the goal be?

Speaking as an MMI rater for my institution, please don't try to unnecessarily fill time. Make your case clearly and thoughtfully, then stop. Your rater will have follow-up questions for you, and often those interactions provide an even better opportunity to assess you as a candidate than your original response.

 

[Reader88]

Speaking as an MMI rater for my institution, please don't try to unnecessarily fill time. Make your case clearly and thoughtfully, then stop. Your rater will have follow-up questions for you, and often those interactions provide an even better opportunity to assess you as a candidate than your original response.

Thanks, I really appreciate this!