As part of the nine month Option Appraisal, the Project Group commissioned three academic literature reviews on international good practice in high stakes selection in medicine, which were reviewed by an International Panel of Experts who advised the Project Group on a short-list of preferred selection tools.

There was also extensive consultation with key stakeholders and members of the Project Group met with medical students, employers, medical school staff, Foundation School managers and directors, clinical teachers, HR professionals and postgraduate deans. An online survey also generated 1,810 responses. The BMA Medical Students Committee independently held 24 workshops with 343 medical students.

Academic evidence, expert advice and stakeholder feedback informed an independent Cost Benefit Analysis of the short-list of six possible selection options.