Doctors’ path to working in the UK
- By Anna
While overseas qualified doctors have to pass the IELTS exam with a minimum score of 7.5, the English proficiency test is not the only stop on their path to working as a practicing doctor in the United Kingdom. After they have passed the IELTS with a sufficient score, they have to go through the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board).
The PLAB exam consists of two parts. The first part is made of 200 single best answer questions (SBAs). It is a multiple choice exam, also known as ‘best of five’ or ‘one of five’. Each question starts with a short scenario, followed by a question e.g. ‘What is the most likely diagnosis in this scenario?’
This part is designed to test your ability to apply knowledge to the care of patients. The questions relate to current best practice in the UK and you’ll need to answer having in mind only published evidence. The exam covers the most common and important conditions.
The second part is an objective structural clinical examination (OSCE) and comprises 18 different scenarios, each lasting around 8 minutes. You’ll be tested in settings such as a mock consultation or an acute ward. In this part, a doctor is marked in three areas: data gathering, technical and assessment skills; clinical management skills and interpersonal skills.
Did you know that at IELTS Medical we offer preparation courses for PLAB? Except for covering the practical skills, e.g. mannequin teaching or clinical examinations, we also focus on communication and ethics skills. Our tutors are practicing doctors who have significant UK working experience, so their input during the PLAB preparation course is priceless.You can check some of our previous customers’ testimonials: “Firstly, let me thank you and everyone at IELTS medical for their support and guidance. Yes I am applying for PLAB exam now and I am representing India in the IELTS medical world cup.”
“Whatever the results I will get, I want to thank you for your help, your professionalism, your fresh personality and your beautiful smile! You have been very supportive, very helpful and creative with the yoga session!!”
For 2018 course dates, visit our PLAB website for more information.
Qualify as a doctor with us… Call 02036376722!
