PLAB 2 Personal Experience
Hello Everyone!
I wanted to share my thoughts about the exam.
I’ve given my Plab 2 for the second time on Nov 8th, and cleared 14 stations out of 15 (one of the stations got canceled as there was an error and we had mailed gmc about it)
After my first attempt, I was extremely broken, had lost all self confidence & started to doubt myself. I’ve never failed any exam in my life and failing plab 2 came as a shock. Just sharing my two cents on PLAB 2 so that nobody else goes through this ordeal. (At least as many as I can help)
Plab 2 is very different from what the most of us are used to, OSCE is a whole another ball game.
All of us have the materials, know the academies but this exam really requires something extra apart from the perfect clarity about the NHS and the guidelines. Something about your personality, something that can’t be found in books.
Let’s talk about the study aspect first:
- None of the academies are good overall, everyone has only about one or two good things going for them.
- I had taken Samson, solely for their mocks, the classes were painful and average, some wrong concepts were taught which I didn’t know in my first attempt, only later I took it upon myself to read the guidelines when my mentor (Dr. Lovaan) mentioned them and indeed, it was absolutely misleading.
- I’ve spoken to many of my friends from other academies as well, there’s nothing good out there, however they have the facilities, the study rooms, the mocks and mannequins and simman, hence we’re helpless.
- For actual study material: DR LOVAAN’S MASTERCLASS. I cannot recommend it enough, every word he says is golden, every line of his is valuable. Honestly the only plab classes worth listening to are his, his classes run for 3-4 days and are a little painful but one must persevere and take notes. Write down every line he says, every dialogue, highlight unmissable lines, basically give it your all for those days. Trust me there’s no way a person can fail the exam if he makes good notes from the masterclass.
- More about the masterclass: he covers only around 200-250 cases which are more than enough to pass 16 stations, smart work is needed here.
- His structures are absolutely brilliant and trust me, during exam we feel paralysed or the mind goes blank, even if you know everything, that’s when the structures kick in, everything that needs to be covered is covered in his structures.
- His structures should be written and pasted on the wall for frequent revisions. I’ll post his masterclass banner down below, this isn’t an ad
it’s coming from someone who felt so lost and almost sinking. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. - Masterclass will cover 80% of your study needs, however, simman and prescriptions aren’t discussed. Although there are pinned messages on his telegram group for prescriptions and simmans are discussed in the group, there’s no outright teaching for it.
- Your masterclass notes should be everything, you need to eat, sleep and breathe them. Every single line, every single word. Apart from this, RECALLS, starting from 1 month before your exam, vigilantly chase the recalls and finish them on a daily basis, you might know 80% of them, here and there what you don’t know or aren’t covered in the masterclass is discussed on the group, make full use out of it. Masterclass and recalls are all you need.
- Mocks: Take whatever mocks you want, I personally chose Samson because of the setup of the exam hall (similar to the rooms in street/square) the simulation was good and if the mocks are taken seriously, the real exam will feel just like another mock.
Now about the extra stuff apart from the studies.
- You genuinely have to be a nice and kind person
- Make small talk with the locals
- Engage with the community outside from yours, make friends with people from different cultures.
- If possible, do a clinical attachment before the exam, it’ll help you understand the system better
- For exam day: wear good clothes, please don’t wear black and white, 70% of the people wear black and white, almost as if it’s a uniform, be well groomed and look presentable.
- Feel free to giggle in the non serious stations and one question or a comment (if you can manage the time) which isn’t medical won’t hurt, we all make mistakes despite our prep, but if you’re likeable, they’ll pass you with a good score.
- When you enter the room or exit, close the door softly.
- Demeanour should be confident yet approachable.
Thanks.
This was a longgggg post I admit but with good prep and etiquettes, this exam is extremely doable.
All the best!
God bless.
He refresh the importance cases and help you unlearn-relearn wrong habits.
