PLAB 2 Blog
Guides, OSCE technique and honest advice to help international medical graduates pass PLAB 2.
Your first NHS job after PLAB: what to expect
Registration done — now the real adventure begins. Here is what to expect from your first NHS post as an IMG, and how to settle in well.
OET vs IELTS for IMGs: which English test should you take?
Both OET and IELTS are accepted by the GMC. Here is how they differ and how to choose the one that plays to your strengths.
GMC registration after PLAB: a step-by-step guide
Passing PLAB 2 is not the finish line — GMC registration is. Here is a step-by-step overview of applying for registration with a licence to practise as an IMG.
Shared decision-making in PLAB 2
Examiners reward making decisions with patients, not for them. Here is what shared decision-making looks like in practice and how to demonstrate it.
SBAR and clinical handover in PLAB 2
SBAR turns a rushed, rambling handover into a safe, structured one. Here is how to use it in PLAB 2 colleague and telephone stations.
The Calgary-Cambridge model for PLAB 2 consultations
A single consultation structure you can fall back on in almost any PLAB 2 station. The Calgary-Cambridge model turns a ten-minute consultation into something you can navigate calmly.
PLAB 2 ethical dilemma stations: a complete guide
Ethics stations test principled reasoning and communication, not just knowing the rules. Here is how to navigate capacity, confidentiality and competing duties safely.
PLAB 2 handling complaints stations: a complete guide
Complaint stations are about communication under pressure, not winning an argument. Here is how to listen, apologise and de-escalate while staying professional.
PLAB 2 consent stations: a complete guide
A consent station is about helping a patient make a genuine decision, not collecting a signature. Here is how to take valid, informed consent within the ten-minute clock.
PLAB 2 breaking bad news stations: a complete guide
Breaking bad news is one of the most demanding PLAB 2 stations. The SPIKES framework lets empathy and structure work together so you stay calm and patient-centred.
PLAB 2 teaching stations: a complete guide
Teaching stations reward structure, not lecturing. Here is how to teach a skill or concept to a student in ten minutes, pitched to their level.
PLAB 2 communication with colleagues stations: a complete guide
Colleague stations test whether you can communicate safely with the wider team — handover, escalation, and raising concerns. A structured tool like SBAR keeps you focused.
PLAB 2 communication with relatives stations: a complete guide
Talking to a frightened relative is its own skill. Here is how to update families honestly and empathetically while respecting confidentiality, within the ten-minute station.
PLAB 2 clinical explanation stations: a complete guide
Explanation stations reward clarity and empathy, not encyclopaedic knowledge. Here is a reliable framework for explaining anything to a patient within the ten-minute clock.
PLAB 2 history-taking stations: a complete guide
History-taking stations reward a calm, repeatable structure. Here is a complete framework for gathering a focused, safe history within the ten-minute PLAB 2 clock.
The SPIKES protocol for breaking bad news in PLAB 2
Breaking bad news is one of the most demanding PLAB 2 stations. The SPIKES protocol gives you a calm, structured framework so empathy and clarity come together.
Safety-netting in PLAB 2: how to close a consultation safely
Failing to safety-net is one of the most common ways to lose Clinical Management marks. Here is what safety-netting means and a structure you can use every time.
Ideas, concerns and expectations (ICE) in PLAB 2
Exploring a patient’s ideas, concerns and expectations is one of the highest-yield habits in PLAB 2. Here is what ICE means and how to weave it in naturally.
PLAB 2 results and resits: what happens next
Waiting for PLAB 2 results is stressful, and a resit feels daunting. Here is how results and feedback work, and how to turn a near miss into a confident pass.
PLAB 2 dates, fees and booking: how to plan
PLAB 2 dates are limited and popular slots fill fast. Here is how booking works, what to budget for, and how to plan your exam date around your preparation.
PLAB 2 exam day: a step-by-step walkthrough
Knowing exactly how exam day unfolds removes a surprising amount of anxiety. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough of PLAB 2 day at the Clinical Assessment Centre.
The IMG route to UK practice: from PLAB to your first NHS job
A step-by-step roadmap of the IMG journey to working as a doctor in the UK — the English requirement, PLAB 1 and 2, GMC registration, and finding your first NHS post.
The complete guide to PLAB 2
Everything an international medical graduate needs to know about PLAB 2 in one place: eligibility, booking and fees, the OSCE format, how marking works, results, and resits.
10 common PLAB 2 mistakes and how to avoid them
Most PLAB 2 marks are lost to a handful of avoidable habits. Recognise these ten common mistakes early and you can train them out well before exam day.
PLAB 2 preparation for IMGs on a budget
Traditional PLAB 2 courses are costly and often require travel to the UK. Here is how to prepare to a high standard affordably, from wherever you are.
PLAB 2 marking explained: the three domains
PLAB 2 is scored across three domains. Understanding what each one rewards is the fastest way to lift your performance across the whole circuit.
PLAB 2 mock exams: how to simulate exam day
A realistic PLAB 2 mock exam builds the stamina and composure that single-station practice cannot. Here is how to run one properly and learn from it.
How to pass PLAB 2: a structured 8-week study plan
A realistic eight-week plan to take you from first station to exam-day confidence, with weekly focus areas and a simple rule for how much to practise.
PLAB 2 OSCE stations: the complete guide
Everything you need to understand the PLAB 2 OSCE: the 16-station circuit, the station types you will face, how each is marked, and how to build realistic practice into your preparation.
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