According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals who wish to become doctors should have certain personality traits. For example, these professionals should be self-motivated, emotionally stable and able to work well under stress.

However, officials from various medical schools in the U.S. and Canada believe that future physicians should also be able to work well with other people and demonstrate exceptional communication skills. Therefore, these institutions are using a type of personality test to ensure that applicants possess these traits, The New York Times reports.

Currently, about eight U.S. medical schools and 13 Canadian institutions use a series of nine short interviews in order to gauge the personality of prospective students.

When officials from Virginia Tech Carilion use this system, applicants are asked to read a piece of paper that describes an ethical dilemma. Then, each person enters a room where they must quickly discuss the situation with an interviewer. After two minutes, the participants read another scenario sheet and enter another room.

Officials from the Virginia medical school said they use this oral personality test to determine how well a student can think under pressure and work with other individuals.