Uptodate In Medical Videos, Medical Books pdfs, Question Banks and Many More: How to Prepare Best For The PLAB 2 Exam 2023

This blog is intended for those who are getting ready to take the GMC PLAB 2 examination.

The following topics are discussed in this blog:

- Could you explain the PLAB 2 exam to me?
- PLAB 2 exam dates
– What are the grades for PLAB 2?
– What are some effective ways to get ready for the PLAB 2?
– My encounters with the PLAB 2 examination – The materials that we have available for the PLAB 2 – Concluding on a positive note
How can one take the PLAB 2 exam?

After demonstrating competence in the PLAB 1 examination, candidates move on to the second and final stage of the PLAB (Professional and Linguistics Assessment Board) assessment, which is administered by the General Medical Council (GMC) in the United Kingdom. A physician who wants to practice in the UK must first get their PLAB clearance. Click this link for a comprehensive introduction of PLAB in general. Click this link for an explanation of what the PLAB 1 exam is all about.

The PLAB 2 is a standardized clinical examination (OSCE) that is typically administered at the GMC building in Manchester. It is possible to take it at a variety of different times throughout the year.

Changes to the Exam since the COVID Version:

a total of sixteen stations in all.
The time spent at each station is eight minutes.
- A gap of one minute and ninety seconds between each station.
- There are two rest stops included.
- The exam will take approximately three hours.

In the same way as the PLAB 1 exam, this one evaluates your ability to solve some of the problems that may be encountered by a UK-trained physician who is preparing to begin their Foundation Year 2 program.

The PLAB 2 exam is not focused on facts, recitals, or memorization; rather, it operates under the assumption that you have reached specified levels of knowledge after passing the PLAB 1 exam.

In the PLAB 2 exam, you will be tested on how well you can apply the knowledge you have gained to a variety of scenarios that you would encounter while working as a doctor in the UK. These scenarios could include a simulated patient consultation or an incident that occurred on the ward.

When studying for PLAB 2 or practicing role plays and situation situations, it is essential to keep in mind that your performance will be evaluated in comparison to the best practices currently in use in the UK. Keep this in mind at all times.
What kind of mark is it given?

Recently, there was a modification made to the PLAB 2 marking system, and I have investigated both the old system and the new system. At the moment, each case is flagged in three different areas:

1) Capabilities in data collection, technological analysis, and evaluation
2) Clinical management capabilities.
3) Interpersonal skills.

A passing score is determined for each scenario and then put together to determine the overall score. This, along with one standard error of measurement, forms the pass mark for the day; consequently, the pass mark varies from one day to the next and from one assessment center to the next; in order to pass PLAB 2, you must achieve the pass mark for that day in addition to passing at least 10 stations.

Domain 1: Capabilities in data collection, technological analysis, and evaluation

This section of the exam evaluates your abilities in areas such as taking a patient's medical history, performing physical examinations, following standard operating procedures, and conducting any investigations that you might consider. In other words, it evaluates how you gather information in order to try to determine what a possible diagnosis might be or which problems may be present in a given scenario.

The taking of a history might involve gathering information regarding fundamental medical requirements, such as a patient's drug history, previous medical history, and warning signs, as well as information regarding other topics that link with a patient's presentation, such as psychosocial history and ICE (ideas, concerns and expectations).

The examination can be performed on real-life actors, on anatomical models, or as part of an electronic simulated mannequin. All three methods are valid. Common everyday examinations, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, abdominal, and various joint examinations, as well as model assessments, are included among the areas checked (such as breast examination, eye examination, rectal examination).

Things like measuring blood pressure, drawing blood, urinary catheterization, inserting cannulas, suturing, and calculating common drug doses are examples of the kinds of practical procedures that might be tested. A typical ward in the UK might be the setting in which you are observed performing these procedures.

It is important to take the time to read through the PLAB blueprint because it contains a more comprehensive list of tests and processes.

The clinical management domain (Domain 2)

This section evaluates your ability to manage the problem, both from a clinical and a non-clinical perspective. For instance, assuming you've arrived at the accurate diagnosis, how would you go about explaining that to the patient at this point? How exactly do you involve the patient in a management plan that is correct, safe, and appropriate?

When dealing with the matter, are you utilizing the current best practice in the UK? When it comes down to it, now that you've finished the first half of the task and obtained the data, how are you handling it, and is it appropriate for working as a junior doctor in the UK?

Domain 3: Interpersonal skills

In this part of the exam, you will be evaluated on how well you can integrate the collection of data and clinical treatment in a manner that is focussed on the patient.

To give one example, how frequently do you consult with the patient? How would you describe the relationship that you have with the patient? Are you utilizing open and closed questions to their full potential?

Are you considering morality right now? Your capability to deal with difficult circumstances, such as receiving upsetting news, as well as your ability to give consent may be included.

It is able to evaluate how you handle the matter from the perspective of a patient or perhaps a relative, as well as whether or not you do so in a professional manner. This can help determine whether or not you should be promoted.

Our PLAB 2 Resources cover all three subject areas necessary to achieve a good score and pass. These include our live course, our online course, audiobooks, and mock exams, among other things.
PLAB 2 Exam dates?

PLAB 2 is ongoing and takes place throughout the year. After successfully completing PLAB 1, you will be able to schedule a date for the PLAB 2 exam.

In the 'My Tests' section of your GMC online account, you will see the option to make a booking. Because there is a high level of demand for PLAB 2 dates, candidates may be need to wait for available dates.

However, if you have an offer of employment from the UK National Health Service or possess refugee status in the UK, you should get in touch with the GMC team because they may be able to assist you in securing a place in the PLAB 2 exam.
How should one get ready for the PLAB 2?

The preparation for the PLAB 2 exam is substantially different from the preparation for the PLAB 1. You can study on your own for the PLAB 1 by reading through the questions and reading the study guide, or you can just learn the subject. The PLAB 2 exam focuses on routine practice, and there are a variety of ways that medical professionals can be ready for it.

You can get ready for the test by reading the following 11 helpful hints: 11 High-Yield Tips to Help You Succeed on the PLAB 2 Exam

Learn how Dr. Sunandan Banerjee studied for and successfully passed the PLAB 2 exam by reading the following: My Strategy for Passing the PLAB 2 Exam: Dr Sunandan Banerjee

1) Create a study group for yourself.

Find other individuals who are going to be taking the test, and then practice different scenarios by consulting the PLAB 2 blueprint and making use of practice material.

2) Enroll at a School of Art

This is by far the most prevalent method, but enrolling in a school is not required in order to pass the PLAB 2 exam. The United Kingdom and other countries throughout the world are home to a number of different academies, each of which comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. We do not run our own (simply because I do not have room in the calendar for this), but we do do our intensive Communication Skills Course that is specifically designed for the PLAB 2 exam.

The purpose of academies is to guide students through many sorts of common scenarios, ensure that students comprehend the underlying concepts of various scenarios, and teach students how to adjust in order to give their best performance on competition day. Although it is not the only way to pass the PLAB 2 exam, it is one of the greatest ways to get some practice under your belt before taking the real test.

3) Instructional Videos and Audio Files Online

When you are on your own, it is helpful to get started and to prepare. There are many online and digital learning materials available for the PLAB 2 exam. Although we offer our own online and audio courses, there are of course many others available as well. These can be a useful supplement to practicing with colleagues, allowing you to study at your own pace while providing you with the ability to understand essential concepts and listen to or see examples.

4) Mock Exams

This is helpful if you want to get a sense of the "pressure" of the exam before it actually takes place. These can help you have a better sense of what it's like to go through three hours of rigorous roleplay consultation practice, which is probably not something you've done very frequently in the past. They are also helpful for determining what you should be concentrating on in the final few weeks of the project. The information on our PLAB 2 Mock Exams may be found here.