Acuity does not publish the early-phase MMI prompts, so no page can list the real ones. What is published is what Ottawa says it evaluates: critical thinking, decision making, communication, interpersonal skills, compassion and teamwork. The prompts below are original practice prompts from the ExperienceMED team, written to exercise those qualities. They are not Acuity questions.
Ethical and decision-making prompts
A friend on your volunteer team tells you in confidence that they have been rounding up the hours they log. The hours determine a small stipend for the whole team. What do you do?
This tests decision making and honesty under loyalty pressure. Name the harm, then the order of your steps: speak to your friend first, then escalate if nothing changes.
Interpersonal and teamwork prompts
You and a partner are told to present together. Your partner has done almost none of the work and the deadline is tomorrow. Describe how you handle the next 24 hours.
This tests communication and teamwork. Show a conversation, not a complaint.
Compassion prompts
A neighbour you barely know asks you to drive them to a clinic, and you have an exam in two hours. What goes through your mind and what do you decide?
Self-knowledge prompts
Describe a decision you made that you would make differently today.
Arvin Ardakani looks for specifics here: what you did, what you would change, what it cost someone else.
How to practise them
Record each one against a clock. How long is the early-phase MMI? covers the format, and How to prepare for the early-phase MMI in one week gives a plan. For how Ottawa uses the result, see Ottawa medicine interview format.
What happens after the early-phase MMI?
The early-phase MMI for 2027 entry ran on 16, 18 and 19 October 2026, and Acuity has not posted dates for the next cycle. At Ottawa, interview invitations come from a rank-order list built from CGPA, early-phase MMI score and Autobiographical Sketch score, and interviews are typically held between February and March: a semi-structured panel interview of about 40 minutes. For that stage, read the Ottawa medicine interview format and see the Interview program. Applying next cycle? Everything on this page still applies: applicants are contacted in early October, shortly after the OMSAS deadline.
Related: Ottawa medicine interview format, How to prepare for the early-phase MMI in one week, How is the early-phase MMI scored?. Arvin Ardakani marks recorded answers personally and mentors applicants at every step through ExperienceMED, with direct WhatsApp access: book an interview session.