The PLAB is organised by the GMC (General Medical Council) and tests core clinical knowledge, skills, and attitudes to assess doctors’ ability to work safely in a first appointment as senior house officer in a British hospital. Doctors for overseas who are not exempt from the test must have passed the PLAB test before they can be considered for registration with the GMC.

The PLAB test consists of two parts:

· Part 1 is a written paper consisting of extended matching questions. It can be taken in various counties including Pakistan, India, Sir Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria etc and costs £145. This was introduced in July 2000 and stemmed from the simple question of what a doctor working in the UK ought to know, and the standard is set for what would be expected form a senior house officer on his or her first day in the post.

· Part 2 is an OSCE (Observed Structured Clinical Examination) and can only be taken in Britain and costs £430. This was introduced in April 1998. This test both clinical and communication skills. Candidates may not enter Part 2 until they have passed Part 1 and must take Part 2 within two years of having passed Part 1.

The IELTS (International Language Testing System) is run by the British Council and tests basic language skills. It is a perquisite to sitting the PLAB test. It can be taken in 105 countries and is often a British university entrance requirement for students of any subject whose first language is not English. Candidates must have an overall score of at least 7 in order to proceed to the PLAB test. IELTS certificates are valid for a maximum of two years.

The most important elements of preparing for the test is how to cope in an new setting where disease patterns may be completely different to those seen in your own country.

There is no pre-set pass rate. If you are good enough, you pass; and if you are not, you don’t, regardless of other candidates’ performance. Test is based solely on reaching a certain standard and is not competitive.

Exam markers also use Angoff method for marking (fully explained in the GMC website – www.gmc-uk.org for each individual question in order to reach a consensus on what should be accepted as a pass and what should not be.

There are not any past papers available. Themes for the questions can be found at the GMC’s website.

Many believe that passing the PLAB test will automatically mean that they will be considered for posts in Britain and are disappointed to find that this is clearly not the case. There are fewer vacancies in some specialties than others.

For further information on limited registration without taking PLAB test (exemption) please visit the GMC website – www.gmc-uk.org/register/noplab/htm

Further Information

A guide to candidates for both part 1 and part 2 of the PLAB test can either be downloaded form the GMC website (www.gmc-uk.org) or requested by writing to: The PLAB Test Section, GMC, 178 Great Portland Street, London W1N 6JE (tel: 00 (44) 207 580 7625).

For information on IELTS and the sponsorship schemes contact:

The British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SWA 2BN (tel: 00(44) 207 930 8466). E-mail: generalenquiries@britiscouncil.org or website www.britishcouncil.org

The website (www.britishcouncil.org/health/nacpme/index.htm) contains a range of information sheets covering all aspects of overseas doctors’ training and has links to other sources of information.

For further guidance please contact: guidance@kemc.org.uk