Preparing for the PLAB 2 exam can be a challenging and intimidating experience, especially because you are in a new country and navigating everything independently. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone in this journey. With a well-thought-out plan and a focus on achieving your goals, success can be within your reach. As I look back at my PLAB 2 preparation journey, I can't help but feel proud of the progress I made. It was a unique experience to prepare for a medical licensing exam abroad, but it was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Before you leave for the UK, there are a few things you can do to prepare. You can read my previous blog for tips on how to do that (Scored Your PLAB 1? Here's What's Next! (doctorsplaylist.com). When I decided to take the PLAB 2 exam, I knew that preparation would be crucial. I had already read up on some tips for preparing before going to the UK, which helped me feel a bit more confident as I planned my trip.
When I arrived in the UK about 5 weeks before my PLAB 2 exam, I had a lot of things on my plate. Before I could fully focus on studying, I had to take care of some logistical tasks. First, I needed to find my accommodation for the duration of my stay. Fortunately, I had booked the academy accommodation in advance, which turned out to be only a 2-3 minute walk from my academy. This made settling in much easier and allowed me to focus on my studies instead of worrying about long commutes.
Next on my list was to purchase groceries. I found that there are numerous options available in the UK, including Tesco, ASDA, Iceland, and local supermarkets. Another essential task was to get a local sim card. I found that every local convenience store had sim card options available from different providers. This allowed me to make calls, send texts, and access the internet without incurring international roaming charges.
Finally, I took some time to explore the area around my academy. This helped me get familiar with my surroundings, which was especially helpful when it came to commuting to and from my academy.
Exam preparation at the academy:
On my first day at the academy, I was given my notes and a list of stations that I needed to practice. The environment was overwhelming, with so many people practicing in different rooms and a lot of simman and mannequins everywhere. I initially felt like I would never be able to do it, but I reminded myself of why I was there and the effort I had put to reach here.
Upon my arrival in the UK to prepare for my PLAB 2 exam, my original intention was to attend a later batch to allow myself some time to settle in. However, the academy manager recommended that I attend the ongoing batch immediately and make up any missed classes later. Thankfully, I had already viewed recorded videos, providing me with a reasonable understanding of the exam's workings.
As a result, I began attending classes right away and even made an effort to reset my sleep schedule. On my first day, I attended the second half of the Simman class and felt slightly overwhelmed. Nonetheless, I remained confident in my ability to catch up. Fortunately, my online practice partner turned out to be my flat mate, who was also attending the same batch. She, along with an additional classmate, assisted me in catching up on any missed material, thereby removing the need to attend missed classes. To my delight, significant classes like Simman, mannequins, prescriptions, psychiatry, and others occurred after I arrived in the UK, which felt like a significant victory.
My classes continued for another 7-8 days, with limited time for practice, only 1-1.5 hours per day after classes. The schedule, which ran from 9 am to 6 pm/7 pm, proved to be somewhat challenging, especially during my first week in the UK, as I needed to figure everything out by myself. Nevertheless, my flat mates provided excellent support, helping me with anything I required.
Once our classes concluded, we took a day off to explore the city. At first, I was hesitant, fearing that I had come to take an exam and not to have fun. Still, in retrospect, I am ecstatic that we did it! Having fun is critical to avoiding burnout, which I have experienced previously. We visited Manchester's main attractions, and it was a delightful experience!
Practicing for the exam:
Upon completing my PLAB 2 preparation classes, I realized that there was a lot of ground to cover before the exam. With only 30 days left, I felt overwhelmed and anxious, especially considering that many of my fellow colleagues had started preparing two to three months before me. However, I knew that I had to focus on my own journey and not let external factors dictate my approach.
To begin my PLAB 2 preparation, I started practicing every day with a group of three. We decided to start with the stations that we had learned in our classes, beginning with a 7-minute timer (Using the PLAB 2 app - I can still hear it say 'Move on the next station' :p). Starting with a shorter timer allowed us to manage our time better and get a sense of how much time we had to complete each station. Once we had a good grasp of the timing, we increased it to 8 minutes per station.
One thing that I learned early on was that practicing with a small group was more effective than practicing with a large one. A big group can be distracting, and it's easy to lose focus. By practicing with only two others, we were able to pay attention to each other's techniques and provide feedback to help improve our skills. In our practice sessions, one person would act as the doctor, one as the patient, and the third would observe. This allowed all of us to be actively engaged in the preparation process, and we could take turns playing different roles. I found that this approach was a great way to practice and learn from each other.
Throughout the process, I realized that it's crucial to have your own unique style and approach to the exam. By being confident in your abilities and focusing on your own journey, you can prepare effectively and increase your chances of success.
In about a week, we had completed all the cases that we had learned in our classes, totaling around 20-25 cases per day. We also spent time reading and reviewing material outside of our practice sessions. However, we still had a few things that we needed to work on, including mannequins, simman, and prescription. To supplement our preparation, we took our academy's simman class, which helped us improve our skills and confidence in these areas.
Setting up a routine:
I established a well-structured routine that allowed me to efficiently utilize my time and maintain my mental and physical well-being. I prioritized a balanced approach to my day-to-day schedule and ensured that I had time for adequate rest, exercise, and leisure activities.
7 am: I woke up and spent some time freshening up and getting ready for the day.
8 am to 10 am: Breakfast, meditation, taking a quick glance through the stations we planned on practicing for the day and practicing prescription writing. (2 stations)
10 am to 1 pm: We went to the academy and practiced simman and mannequins. With 2-3 simman and mannequins stations per person, we practiced a total of 12-18 stations.
1 pm to 3 pm: We took a lunch break and rest which gave us a chance to recharge and refocus.
3 pm to 6 pm: We went back to the academy to practice history, ethics, counselling stations, and other relevant scenarios, amounting to approximately 4-5 stations per person, and a total of 15 stations.
6 pm to 7 pm: I took a coffee break and indulged in some physical activity, such as walking or grocery shopping, which helped me to stay refreshed and motivated.
7 pm to 9 pm: My roommate and I practiced a few stations together, picked a subject, and discussed the management part of the stations from the big booklet containing all the cases and whatever wasn’t taught in class. This exercise proved to be useful in identifying gaps in our knowledge and skillset.
9 pm onwards: Dinner, and sometimes after dinner, we discussed some stations or relaxed by watching movies or series.
My study partners and I followed this schedule for around 10-12 days. We also made sure to take a break every 5 or 6 days to explore the city and try out new food places around us. We completed our simman and mannequin practice along with the stations. However, we soon realized that practicing the combined stations (history + examination + management) posed a challenge in terms of time management, which led us to focus more on mannequins. We practiced mannequins multiple times (around 3-4 times) before our exam.
Mock exams:
In addition to the regular practice sessions, we also took two mock tests, which were crucial for assessing our progress and identifying areas that required improvement. Although my first mock wasn’t great and I felt underconfident, I managed to pass it, and with time and practice, I did much better in my second mock.
More practice sessions:
However, we soon understood the importance of taking a break and slowing down our practice as we were experiencing burnout. Therefore, we decided to explore Manchester, visiting the exam center (Hardmann street and square) and exploring the Christmas market and other food places around the city. This break not only helped us in relieving anxiety but also in rejuvenating ourselves for the upcoming exam.
We eventually started practicing stations randomly, testing ourselves as if it was our exam, and it was going well. We felt so much more confident than when we started our practice, and we could see the improvement.
In the latter stages of my preparation, I devised a comprehensive list of potential differential diagnoses for all significant symptoms, along with a corresponding set of questions to be asked. I made a habit of reviewing this list each night, which helped streamline my thought process and enabled me to ask relevant questions with ease. Thanks to this approach, I was able to avoid wasting valuable time pondering what to ask.
Time passed quickly while I was studying and enjoying myself in Manchester for a month. Despite the difficulties of fending for ourselves, including meal preparation, laundry, and studying, I gained invaluable knowledge and emerged from the experience as a more self-assured individual. It is crucial to make friends and have people around you because it can get lonely at times, and you can't afford that when you have an exam coming up.
Everyone says that PLAB 2 is a communication exam, but it's equally important to have sound knowledge of medicine and be a safe doctor with good interpersonal skills. Strive for originality in all facets and keep honing your skills through regular study and practice. Passing the exam is a feasible task that can be accomplished easily. Also, the exam is stressful, and you may end up messing up the first few stations, but once you're in the zone, keep it together, and you will be fine. It's essential to focus on the next station instead of worrying about the previous one. Practice will make you confident, so trust yourself and keep pushing forward.
Whenever I used to feel anxious about the exam, my friend from back home always told me, "Remember, you don't have to be perfect, and you don't need a 16/16, you only need to pass a set number of stations to pass the exam, they are not looking for a perfect doctor, they are looking for a good doctor."
And always keep in mind that passing the exam is not just about acquiring a license to practice medicine in the UK, but also about fulfilling your dreams of making a positive impact on the lives of patients. So, take a deep breath, stay motivated, and go crush that exam!
Reading through this made me remember my time in UK😊
Love how you're helping so many people with such genuine advice and your actually life experiences!
This is so insightful, detailed and helpful. Love it. Thanks!!!