How to Plan for PLAB 2

Perhaps you are shaking as you wait for the PLAB 1 results to be released in a few days, or perhaps you have received that wonderful email confirming your PLAB 1 success (a month or so after the test), in which case you are floating on a cloud. Return to reality in both instances. The next crucial stage is to consider enrolling in a PLAB 2 academy or course.

When do I take PLAB 2?
What are the available dates for PLAB 2?
When do I attend PLAB 2 course?
Do I need “IELTS / OET ” for PLAB 2 or PLAB 2 Visa?

The first and most important item is now Book PLAB 2.

Do I have to go to the PLAB 2 Academy or courses?

Everyone stated that enrollment in a PLAB 2 course or academy was required when we first started planning for PLAB 2. We believe it is not at all necessary after passing PLAB 2 and working in the UK for a few years. At this stage of your career, there is nothing that a course or academy can teach you that you can't acquire on your own.

You only need to be aware of your duties as a junior doctor in the NHS, comprehend various organizational structures, adhere to national and GMC good medical practice standards, and prepare using the GMC PLAB Blueprint.

Dates available for PLAB 2

This exam, unlike PLAB 1, CANNOT be taken outside of the UK, and it is offered all year long. As a result, almost monthly PLAB 2 exam dates are available (less around the August and late December). Only after passing PLAB 1 can you access your GMC Online account to view the available dates for PLAB 2.

The only location for PLAB 2 is Manchester. Therefore, as soon as you learn that you passed PLAB 1, you must take the following actions:

In the "My Tests" section of your GMC Online account, you can find the available dates for scheduling PLAB 2. (You can only do that after passing PLAB 1). Pick a date that works best for you before making a payment or booking. This date guides all of your subsequent actions.
Booking a PLAB 2 training program is the next step. There have been instances where individuals have passed without taking a course, but if you don't feel confident enough, I will advise that you do so

Which PLAB 2 course/academy should I choose?

People choose a particular course or academy for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they have found better lodging close by, or perhaps their friends are travelling there. So many factors are at play when selecting a course. However, in my opinion, the following factors should be taken into account at all times when planning the course:

dates for the course that coincide with your PLAB 2 exam date. It is important that the course's start and end dates are selected so that you have at least 3–4 weeks of practise time after the course and before the exam. Below are some more details.
Try to locate at least one trustworthy source who can give you a report on the most recent events at the academy. Facebook reviews from students who took the course in the past are not very helpful.
You might have to rely on what you find online if you don't personally know anyone who recently took the course. However, keep in mind that anyone can type anything online.
Make sure your course instructors are GMC-registered currently or have been in the past as a precaution. This is significant because it indicates that they have already travelled this path, are aware of your starting point and your goals, and have successfully passed exams of this nature in the past. Do you agree that having tutors for a test they themselves failed wouldn't make much sense?
On the GMC website, you can perform a search for any physician to learn more about their current registry status. Whether they have quit, had their GMC registration cancelled, or lost their right to practise. If a doctor has EVER held a GMC registration, regardless of other variations that are not mentioned here, their name will be in the register. You can search the GMC Register here.

In general, PLAB 2 courses last 12 to 18 days, which includes review sessions and practice exams. Therefore, if you sign up for a course during the second week of March, you will have nearly 4 weeks or more between the end of the course and the exam on April 25. I can't stress enough how important it is to plan ahead for this. You will need that time on your own to review the material and practice before the course is over.

Getting ready and applying for your PLAB 2 UK visa. It's a big deal. The entire procedure, including how to approach the online application, collect the required supporting documents, and make final preparations for applying for a visa, has been covered in three distinct posts.

An example of how to plan for PLAB 2

So allow me to explain your sequential actions using an example.

Choosing a PLAB 2 date

Suppose you decide to take PLAB 2 on April 25, 2019. (Supposing you received your test results for November 2018 in December.)

Deciding on a PLAB 2 course

To find out if there are any courses offered in March 2019 at your preferred preparatory course academy, try reaching out to them.

Book the PLAB 2 exam from GMC Online

Once your course has received the all-clear, you proceed to book BOTH the course and PLAB 2 (you'll receive a PLAB 2 booking confirmation email, which is a crucial document, after paying through the portal like PLAB 1 in the GMC online account).

Start preparing for your UK Visit visa

The LAST THING is that you start getting ready for your PLAB 2 visa by this point, which should be ending in December 2018. After spending about a week gathering all the required paperwork, you should apply for the UK visa by mid-January 2019. The ideal time frame for a visa decision is 15 days. Do not assume that you have been rejected if it takes longer or less than this time frame. I've observed response times ranging from 10 to 21 days.

Summary of the plan for PLAB 2

November 2019 PLAB 1 test passed in December 2019
[Select a date for PLAB 2 in late April 2020]
[Check with an academy for early- to mid-March 2019 course availability]
Book for PLAB 2 and PLAB 2 course by December 2019.
Apply for a Standard Business Visitor Visa by January 2020.
February 2020 - Mental and financial planning and shopping.
Visit the UK in March 2020.
Register for the PLAB 2 exam in April 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PLAB 2 challenging?

Any OSCE exam, including PLAB 2, is unquestionably difficult. Your clinical expertise is just one of many variables at play here. Therefore, the PLAB 2 exam is never a walk in the park, to put it simply. However, if you practise, prepare thoroughly, adhere to Good Medical Practice, and act as a safe doctor, you will succeed.

How much time is spent getting ready for PLAB 2?

You should devote at least two months to PLAB 2 preparation, including time spent in the academy or course and on your own practise. Long preparation times can lead to problems. Instead of performing in the station, you begin to memorise. Take your time to learn the PLAB 2 exam's format, the fundamental guidelines to follow, the updated clinical procedures, and practise with your friends and colleagues. You're prepared!

What occurs if you don't pass PLAB 2?

Within two years of passing PLAB 1, you must pass PLAB 2. On the other hand, if you want to complete your GMC registration with just one IELTS or OET, you must pass PLAB 2 within two years of doing so in order to qualify for GMC registration. If you don't pass, you can immediately schedule a new exam through your GMC online account, pending availability. If you are taking it again, kindly think about your strategy.

Can I apply for a visitor visa without making a PLAB 2 reservation or payment?

Simple response: No. Long answer; it depends on the purpose for which you are applying for a visit visa. If you are requesting a visit visa and indicating that taking the PLAB exam is your primary reason for travelling, then you already have a scheduled date.

IELTS for UKVI is required for PLAB 2 or a PLAB 2 visa.

No. You won't need to retake any IELTS exams in order to appear in PLAB 2 or apply for a Standard Visitor Visa.

Check our Article on Expectations for the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2