Understanding UK Healthcare
As an IMG, understanding the UK healthcare system is essential for PLAB 2. The exam assesses whether you can practise safely in an NHS context. Here's what you need to know:
- NHS structure: primary care (GP), secondary care (hospitals), tertiary care (specialist centres)
- GMC registration pathway: PLAB 1 (written) → PLAB 2 (OSCE) → full registration
- PLAB 2 format: 16 clinical stations plus 2 rest stations, 8 minutes each, covering history, counselling, acute/emergency, ethics, and teaching
PLAB 2 Exam Format
16 stations
+ 2 rest stations, 8 min each
Grading domains
Data gathering, clinical management, interpersonal skills
Station types
History taking
Structured consultation with presenting complaint
Counselling
Explaining diagnosis, treatment, or lifestyle advice
Acute/Emergency
Time-pressured scenarios requiring quick assessment
Ethics
Professional dilemmas, consent, confidentiality
Teaching
Explaining to patient or colleague
What to Expect on Exam Day
Practical tips to help you feel confident and prepared:
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow for registration
- Bring valid photo ID (passport) and your GMC booking confirmation
- Each station has a reading time before you enter — use it wisely
- A bell signals when to move to the next station — don't rush or linger
- Stay calm between stations; use rest periods to reset
UK Clinical Differences
Things IMGs need to know to perform well in UK-style OSCEs:
NICE guidelines
UK uses NICE for evidence-based management — familiarise yourself with common pathways
BNF drug names
UK uses British Approved Names (e.g. paracetamol, not acetaminophen)
NHS pathways
Understand referral routes, GP gatekeeping, and secondary care access
Safety netting culture
Always tell patients when to return, red flags to watch for, and what to do if worse
ICE model
Ideas, Concerns, Expectations — central to UK consultation style
Cost Comparison
Preparing for PLAB 2 can add up. Here's how different options compare:
| Preparation option | Cost |
|---|---|
| PLAB 2 (CPSA) exam fee | £1,036 |
| 10-day OSCE course | $500–800 |
| Single mock session | $100–200 |
| 1-to-1 OSCE tutor (per hour) | $40–80 |
| OSCE Revisions (3 months) | $99 |