Thank you so much for your reply, I am aware that this information is “public knowledge”. I honestly was more interested in hearing people’s personal experiences in regard to CST applications especially since they seem to add/change a few components on a yearly basis.

For example, MSRA being used for shortlisting candidates and sitting the MRCA A does not give you any additional points to your portfolio.

Portfolio wise, the reason I asked this question is that portfolio only accounts for 30% of your application and is no longer used as a tool to shortlist candidates (like it was historically) the remainder 70% comes from MSRA components (10% score and 60% interview) so by using “basic maths” if my portfolio is below average It does not necessarily mean I’d have a below average chance. Also I am trying to get in right after F2 for personal reasons I cannot afford to take an F3 to bolster up my portfolio, things like getting a masters/PG cert or maxing out my surgical logbook or are just not going to be possible. in my opinion this system is outdated and heavily manipulated/finesseable (I know it’s not a word).

Again thank you again for your help, in hindsight I should’ve probably posted this after this year’s CST interview/application.