Tactical Empathy: Situational Judgement and the Design of Ethics

The Hardest Soft Skill

In the world of medical admissions, the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is often the most misunderstood. It measures “soft skills”—empathy, teamwork, and integrity. Many students think these can’t be taught. 99 Formed disagrees. They believe that ethics can be “designed” through a process they call Tactical Empathy.

Tactical Empathy involves creating a structured framework for making ethical decisions. Instead of relying on a “gut feeling,” which can be biased or inconsistent, 99 Formed teaches students to apply the “Four Pillars of Medical Ethics” (Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, and Justice) as design constraints. When a student is presented with a difficult scenario, they use these pillars to “build” the most ethical response.

Designing for the “GMC Blueprints”

The UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) provides clear “blueprints” for how a doctor should behave. 99 Formed has deconstructed these blueprints to create a training system that feels less like a lecture and more like a simulation. Students are put through “Decision Sprints” where they must resolve conflicts between staff members or manage patient confidentiality breaches in real-time.

This training has a dual purpose. It helps students achieve “Band 1” (the highest score) in the UCAT SJT, but it also prepares them for the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) that come later in the application process. By the time a 99 Formed student reaches their interview, they aren’t just reciting answers; they are demonstrating a “Formed” ethical identity.

A Global Standard for Integrity

Because 99 Formed works with international students, they are acutely aware of the cultural nuances of ethics. Their “Global Ethics” module 99formed.com helps students from different backgrounds understand the specific professional expectations of Western medical systems. This cross-cultural bridge-building is essential for international applicants who are trying to navigate the complex social landscape of UK or Australian healthcare.

The result is a student who is not only a high-scorer but a high-integrity individual. 99 Formed believes that by “designing” better medical applicants, they are ultimately designing a better, more empathetic global healthcare system.