WEEK 1
Read the source
Read the current GMC ENT specialty guidance in full. Note the applicable curriculum, evidence currency, referee requirements and any questions to clarify.
Useful outcome: A private list of requirements and uncertainties.
ENT · FREE PLANNING TOOL
12-week action plan
Turn one evidence gap into a sequence of manageable actions. Twelve weeks is a review cycle, not a promised route to application readiness.
CHOOSE A PRIORITY · WORK WEEK BY WEEK
Build evidence deliberately
Start with the ENT evidence map if you have not identified a priority. Check each task when it is genuinely done; you can take longer than a week or repeat any stage.
Use this as the focus for weeks 3–8. You can change it at any time.
0 of 12weeks marked complete
Next: Week 1 — Read the source
Weeks 1–3Orient and prioritise
WEEK 2
Map what exists
Compare your current material with the guidance. Separate primary evidence, supporting material, older items and areas with no evidence.
Useful outcome: A gap list, not a document dump.
WEEK 3
Choose one priority
Select one evidence gap that is important and feasible to address in your current role. Discuss it with a suitable supervisor or mentor.
Apply this to: Outpatient clinic.
Useful outcome: One agreed priority and a realistic opportunity.
Weeks 4–6Gather and test
WEEK 4
Plan the opportunity
Arrange a real clinical, operative, assessment or professional activity relevant to your priority. Agree who will observe or verify it and what feedback is useful.
Apply this to: Outpatient clinic.
Useful outcome: A scheduled opportunity with an appropriate assessor or reviewer.
WEEK 5
Do and reflect
Complete the activity as part of normal practice. Record your own decision-making and feedback in the appropriate secure system, following local information-governance rules.
Apply this to: Outpatient clinic.
Useful outcome: A contemporaneous, appropriately recorded activity.
WEEK 6
Check the evidence
Ask whether the material actually demonstrates the intended capability or outcome, and whether it is recent, attributable and sufficiently specific.
Apply this to: Outpatient clinic.
Useful outcome: A clear decision: keep, improve or replace.
Weeks 7–9Add breadth and feedback
WEEK 7
Broaden the view
Check whether the same gap appears in another setting or level of complexity. Plan a complementary opportunity rather than repeating a near-identical example.
Apply this to: Outpatient clinic.
Useful outcome: A breadth gap identified or a second opportunity planned.
WEEK 8
Seek external feedback
Discuss your evidence and performance with a suitable supervisor, assessor or mentor. Record feedback and a change you will make where appropriate.
Apply this to: Outpatient clinic.
Useful outcome: Feedback linked to an action.
WEEK 9
Review supporting domains
Recheck workplace assessments, reports, teaching, quality improvement, research, leadership and CPD against the current guidance.
Useful outcome: A refreshed supporting-evidence gap list.
Weeks 10–12Review and renew
WEEK 10
Check the whole map
Return to all five ENT capabilities. Look for thin areas, old material, missing verification and claims that your evidence cannot yet support.
Useful outcome: A more honest portfolio map.
WEEK 11
Clarify uncertainties
Use the GMC's current material and ask the appropriate GMC or JCST team about requirements you still cannot interpret. Avoid relying on informal assumptions.
Useful outcome: Questions resolved or clearly logged for follow-up.
WEEK 12
Plan the next cycle
Review what changed over these 12 weeks. Choose the next priority and agree opportunities and review dates; do not treat the end of this cycle as an application-readiness verdict.
Useful outcome: A specific next-cycle plan.
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ENT Portfolio Pathway: 12-week action plan
First priority: Outpatient clinic
Twelve weeks is a review cycle, not an application-readiness assessment. Check the current GMC specialty-specific guidance in full.
- Week 1: Read the sourceRead the current GMC ENT specialty guidance in full. Note the applicable curriculum, evidence currency, referee requirements and any questions to clarify.Useful outcome: A private list of requirements and uncertainties.To do
- Week 2: Map what existsCompare your current material with the guidance. Separate primary evidence, supporting material, older items and areas with no evidence.Useful outcome: A gap list, not a document dump.To do
- Week 3: Choose one prioritySelect one evidence gap that is important and feasible to address in your current role. Discuss it with a suitable supervisor or mentor.Useful outcome: One agreed priority and a realistic opportunity.To do
- Week 4: Plan the opportunityArrange a real clinical, operative, assessment or professional activity relevant to your priority. Agree who will observe or verify it and what feedback is useful.Useful outcome: A scheduled opportunity with an appropriate assessor or reviewer.To do
- Week 5: Do and reflectComplete the activity as part of normal practice. Record your own decision-making and feedback in the appropriate secure system, following local information-governance rules.Useful outcome: A contemporaneous, appropriately recorded activity.To do
- Week 6: Check the evidenceAsk whether the material actually demonstrates the intended capability or outcome, and whether it is recent, attributable and sufficiently specific.Useful outcome: A clear decision: keep, improve or replace.To do
- Week 7: Broaden the viewCheck whether the same gap appears in another setting or level of complexity. Plan a complementary opportunity rather than repeating a near-identical example.Useful outcome: A breadth gap identified or a second opportunity planned.To do
- Week 8: Seek external feedbackDiscuss your evidence and performance with a suitable supervisor, assessor or mentor. Record feedback and a change you will make where appropriate.Useful outcome: Feedback linked to an action.To do
- Week 9: Review supporting domainsRecheck workplace assessments, reports, teaching, quality improvement, research, leadership and CPD against the current guidance.Useful outcome: A refreshed supporting-evidence gap list.To do
- Week 10: Check the whole mapReturn to all five ENT capabilities. Look for thin areas, old material, missing verification and claims that your evidence cannot yet support.Useful outcome: A more honest portfolio map.To do
- Week 11: Clarify uncertaintiesUse the GMC's current material and ask the appropriate GMC or JCST team about requirements you still cannot interpret. Avoid relying on informal assumptions.Useful outcome: Questions resolved or clearly logged for follow-up.To do
- Week 12: Plan the next cycleReview what changed over these 12 weeks. Choose the next priority and agree opportunities and review dates; do not treat the end of this cycle as an application-readiness verdict.Useful outcome: A specific next-cycle plan.To do
Current GMC guidance: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/specialty-specific-guidance