PLAB 2 is the second and final part of the PLAB test for international doctors seeking registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). Unlike PLAB 1, it is a practical exam that tests how you apply your knowledge to real patients in a UK setting.
PLAB 2 at a glance
- Format: an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) of 16 stations, each lasting eight minutes.
- Where: the GMC's clinical assessment centre in Manchester.
- Before you book: you must have passed PLAB 1.
Check the GMC's PLAB 2 pages for current fees, dates and the time limit for passing PLAB 2 after PLAB 1.
What do the stations test?
- History taking with simulated patients.
- Clinical examination on manikins or simulated patients.
- Communication – explaining diagnoses, breaking bad news, dealing with concerns and complaints.
- Practical skills and acute management, for example a deteriorating patient using an ABCDE approach.
- Prescribing and ethics – safe prescribing, consent, capacity and confidentiality.
Each station is marked on data gathering, clinical management and interpersonal skills.
How to prepare
Practise out loud: rehearse stations with a study partner and a timer – eight minutes passes quickly.
Use a structure: introduce yourself, confirm identity and consent, gather information systematically, summarise and agree a plan with the patient.
Learn UK practice: know when to involve senior colleagues, safeguarding, and how to safety-net.
Focus on communication: many candidates know the medicine but lose marks on empathy, checking understanding and avoiding jargon.
Prepare with License Medical
Our PLAB 2 preparation course helps you practise for the exam with a focus on UK clinical practice. See all our PLAB courses.