Hi readers, my name is Rachit and I’ve been recently granted full GMC registration through the PLAB route. If you’re reading this blog, you are likely going to appear in your PLAB 2 exam soon.
First and foremost, let me congratulate you for getting one step closer to making your UK dream a reality. Secondly, if you have passed your PLAB 1, this exam will be a cakewalk for most of you. That being said, there are a few things you must consider while preparing for this exam which I am gonna discuss in this blog as this exam is a bit more complex than PLAB 1.
What is the main purpose of this exam?
Yep. This should be the first thought that should pop into your head when you start preparing for this exam. What exactly GMC wants to assess in this exam?
You already have been assessed for your clinical knowledge in the first part. You aced it and nobody can deny that. PLAB 2, however, is an OSCE intended to evaluate not just the clinical bit but also the practical and communication part in an ideal patient-doctor situation.
I would advise you to go through the ‘PLAB 2 guide’ section which is available on the GMC’s official website before you start anything. If possible have a look at ‘Examiner top tips on how to avoid common errors in the Part 2 exam’ document as well on the GMC website.
The three most important domains
While preparing for this exam you’ll come across the three most important areas which make the core of any PLAB 2 station. If you’ve gone through the GMC resources I told you about earlier, you already know I am referring to Data gathering, technical and assessment skills; Clinical management skills and the most crucial one, Interpersonal skills.
Keep in mind, every domain weighs equally. If you keep your focus just on one or two domains, chances are, you won’t score high or the worst case scenario which is a nightmare for every one of us. Start your preparation by equally distributing your preparation time to all three domains. Try to find out in which area you’re lagging and start working on it from day 1 of your preparation. The more you delay it, the more it’s going to slow down your progress.
Mocks are important!
If you have a restricted timeline, I would highly suggest you take a face-to-face mock before your exam. Find a mock test where they give you detailed feedback. Don’t bother about the mock results but work on the feedback you receive. I wouldn’t advise taking an online mock as it doesn’t reflect the candidate’s performance as a whole.
An ideal time for taking a mock, in my opinion, would be at least one week before your real exam then you’ll have enough time to analyse your mistakes and work on them. It’s better to book two mocks if your preparation time allows so that you can see how much you have progressed from the first mock to the second mock.
Practice, practice and practice
I believe most of you would have already sorted by now the academy you want to join or the courses you want to attend and even if you want to appear in this exam without taking any course or academy, it’s absolutely fine. I know few people who passed their exams without joining any academy. Told you it’s an easy exam. But the one thing that was constant throughout their preparation was PRACTICE.
It’ll save a lot of your time than reading scripts again & again and trying to memorise every single phrase or management. My advice would be to practice with as many people as you can, especially if your exam is not that far, try to experiment with the structures/scripts you already have to see which approach suits you the most, don’t stick to just one practice group, be natural, and please don’t stop practising even if you think you know everything. There are endless ways to approach the same station, you just need to find the right one.
Believe in yourself
Finally, to end on a positive note, recent pass rates for PLAB 2 exam are usually more than 60% and most candidates pass this exam on their first attempt. You just need to be confident and have a positive mindset while preparing for this exam.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
If you have any questions regarding PLAB 2 exam, I would be happy to answer them at TrewLink website. You can register using this link https://trewlink.com? referrer=rac813548. Find me as an Ambassador and Follow my profile- Rachit Sharma - to receive regular support and advice.
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