What Is The PLAB Exam
Any Doctor Looking To Practise Medicine In The United Kingdom (UK) Would First Need To Register With The General Medical Council (GMC) And Obtain A Licence To Practise Through This Body. Doctors Who Obtained Their Medical Degrees Outside The UK, European Economic Area (EEA) And Switzerland, Would Need To Pass The Professional And Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Exams, To Register And Obtain A Licence To Practice With The GMC (GMC, 2022). The PLAB Exams Comprise Two Standardised Examinations (The First Theoretical And Second Practical) That Foreign Doctors Would Need To Pass, Thereby Demonstrating An Equivalent Level Of Theoretical And Practical Competence When Compared To UK-Qualified Doctors Upon Completion Of Year 1 Foundation Programme Training (GMC, 2022).
The PLAB Exam: Make-Up And Marking Scheme
The PLAB 1 Exam Is A 3-Hour Multiple Choice Exam. The Exam Primarily Assesses The Application Of Knowledge Of Common Acute And Long-Term Conditions. The Exam Will Cover A Broad Range Of Topics, In Keeping With The Expected Knowledge And Skills Of A UK-Trained Doctor Having Completed Their First Year Of The Foundation Programme, Thus As A Non-Specialist Junior Doctor. The GMC Website Offers A PLAB 1 Blueprint, Describing The Scope Of The Exam (GMC, 2022). The Exam Comprises 180 Questions (Primarily Scenarios That Would Test Practical Knowledge Application), And The Correct Answer Would Need To Be Selected From Five Options. The Exam Can Be Booked Throughout The Year And Can Be Sat In London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburg, Manchester, Sheffield, Or Newcastle. The British Council Further Offers A Variety Of International Locations For Sitting The PLAB 1 Exam (GMC, 2022).
The PLAB 2 Exam Is A 3-Hour Practical Exam Consisting Of 16 Stations (And Two Rest Stations) Lasting 8 Minutes Each (GMC, 2022). This Exam Again Expects Clinical And Practical Skills To Be At The Level Of A UK Doctor Entering Their Second Year Of The Foundation Programme. The Stations Will Comprise Of Simulated Scenarios With Actors And Clinical Skills Assessments On Mannequins, Such As Cannulation, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Suturing And Drug Dosage Calculations (GMC, 2022). Marking Will Assess Practical Skills (Including Data Gathering, Technical Competence And Assessment Ability), Clinical Management Skills, And Interpersonal Skills. The PLAB 2 Exam Can Only Be Booked Once PLAB 1 Has Been Passed. This Exam Can Be Booked Throughout The Year, But Only Takes Place In Two GMC Venues In Manchester.
Which Countries Can You Sit The PLAB In?
PLAB 1 Can Be Sat In The UK In Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburg, London, Manchester, Sheffield, Or Newcastle (GMC, 2022). The British Council Further Offers The PLAB 1 To Be Sat In Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, And The UAE (GMC, 2022).
How Can I Book The PLAB Exam And Open A GMC Online Account?
As A Prerequisite To Booking The PLAB 1 Exam, Prospective Candidates Would Need To Set Up A GMC Online Account And Demonstrate An Adequate Level Of Competence In English. The Most Common Route To Demonstrate Competence In English Is By Obtaining International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Certification (IELTS, 2022). However, An Occupation English Test (OET) May Offer A Less Common Alternative If You Are Following A Sponsorship Route (GMC, 2022). Finally, Candidates’ Primary Medical Qualifications Need To Be Eligible To Book PLAB 1. This Will Be Verified In The Process Of Setting Up A GMC Online Account.
GMC Online Account
In Order To Book To Sit PLAB 1, You Will Need To Open A GMC Online Account. This Can Be Done Via The GMC Website (GMC, 2022). Once You Have Set Up Your GMC Account, You Will Be Given A GMC Reference Number, Which Will Remain An Essential Form Of Identification When Practising In The UK. Prior To Having A GMC Reference Number, A GMC Online Account Can Be Set Up By Going Through The “Application Route Finder” On The GMC Website. This Pathway Will Offer Guidance On The Most Suitable Next Steps (GMC, 2022).
IELTS
The IELTS Is A Standardised English Testing Service. Adequate Proficiency In English Is Deemed Essential To Ensure Safe Clinical Practise For Doctors In The UK. The PLAB 1 Exam May Only Be Booked Upon Evidence Of An IELTS Certificate (Make Sure To Book The Academic Test) With A Minimum Score Of 7.0 In Each Domain (Listening, Reading, Writing, And Speaking) And An Overall Minimum Score Of 7.5 (GMC, 2022). The PLAB 1 Exam Can Be Booked Within 2 Years Of Obtaining The IELTS Certificate, After Which Its Validity Will Expire. The IELTS Exam Can Be Sat In A Variety Of Countries.
How Many Times Can I Sit The PLAB Exams?
Doctors Are Allowed Four Attempts At Either PLAB 1 Or PLAB 2. Following The Fourth Failed Attempt, At Least 12 Months Should Pass Before A New Test May Be Booked. During This Time, The Prospective Candidate Should Demonstrate Efforts To Enhance Knowledge And/Or Clinical Skills. This May Include 12 Months Of Clinical Practise, Or Postgraduate Study. Evidence Of Acquired Clinical/Theoretical Skills Should Be Submitted (GMC, 2022). If More Than Four Failed Attempts Have Been Made At Either PLAB 1 Or PLAB 2, Prospective Candidates Will Not Be Allowed Any Further Sittings (GMC, 2022).
How Much Does The PLAB Cost?
The Cost Of Booking PLAB 1 Will Increase From £247 To £255 As Of 1 April 2023. Additionally, The Fee For PLAB 2 Will Increase From £906 To £934 From 1 April 2023. Upon Completion Of PLAB 2, The Cost Of Obtaining Full Registration With A Licence To Practice With The GMC Will Increase From £161 To £166 As Of 1 April 2023.
Please Note That Doctors Who Have Refugee Status In The UK Will Be Allowed Two Free Attempts At PLAB 1 And Will Receive A 50% Discount For The First Two Attempts At PLAB 2 (GMC, 2022).
How Many PLAB Sittings Are There Every Year?
There Are Four Opportunities Each Year To Sit PLAB 1. The UK Dates For 2023 Are 16 February 2023, 25 May 2023, 10 August 2023, And 2 November 2023 (GMC, 2022). PLAB 2 May Be Booked More Frequently, With Numerous Dates Throughout The Year (GMC, 2022).
When Should I Start Preparing For The PLAB?
The PLAB Exams Expect Doctors To Have The Theoretical And Clinical Expertise Of A UK Doctor Entering The Second Year Of Their Foundation Programme (GMC, 2022). The Exams Have A Practical Approach, Primarily Testing On Common Acute And Long-Term Conditions At A Non-Specialist Level. Prospective Candidates’ Personal Career Stages And Experiences May Dictate The Challenges Posed By These Generalised Exams. It Is Recommended That Prospective Candidates Consult The PLAB Blueprint As Found On The GMC Website (GMC, 2022) And Allow Sufficient Time To Cover All Topics And Systems In Preparation Of The PLAB Exams.
What Are The PLAB Pass Rates?
In 2021, The PLAB 1 Pass Rate Was 74.1%, With 7 728 Of The 10 431 Candidates Who Sat The Exams Passing. In 2021, The PLAB 2 Pass Rate Was 69.6%, With 6 043 Of The 8 648 Candidates Who Sat The Exam Passing PLAB 2 (GMC, 2022).
Resources
PLAB (Professional And Linguistic Assessments Board) – GMC (Gmc-Uk.Org) (Accessed: December 2022). Take IELTS In The UK | Take IELTS (Britishcouncil.Org) (Accessed: December 2022).
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