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PLAB, the acronym for Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board, is a highly coveted exam conducted by the General Medical Council (GMC) of the UK for medical professionals seeking to practice in the UK. All international medical graduates (IMGs) who have graduated from medical schools outside the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) are required to clear this exam to obtain a license to practice in the UK. Here we will go into detail the key differences and similarities between two parts of the PLAB exam, PLAB 1 and PLAB 2.

PLAB 1

PLAB Part 1 is the first of two exams required to gain the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board certification. This written multiple-choice exam consists of 180 single best answer questions. The exam primarily assesses an aspirant’s theoretical knowledge in medicine, ensuring you are well-versed in essential medical principles.

Mode of Examination: Paper-based examination

Exam Pattern: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

Question Format: Single best answer (SBA)

Number of Questions: 180 questions

Marking Pattern: One mark for the correct answer

Exam Duration: 3 hours

 PLAB 2

 PLAB 2 is the final stage of the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board exam. It is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) held only in the UK. This exam is designed to assess the practical skills and clinical competence of aspirants, ensuring they have the required ability to apply medical knowledge in real-world clinical scenarios.

Mode of Exam: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Number of Stations: 16

Domain Areas: Clinical skills, patient safety, communication, information gathering, applied clinical knowledge

 PLAB 1 Vs PLAB 2; Key Commonalities

The main similarity between both parts of PLAB exams is that both parts are highly interdependent. The concepts you are learning for PLAB 1 is your foundation stone for PLAB 2. . Both exams certify that aspirants possess the knowledge and skills required to adapt to the UK healthcare system and safely manage cases effectively.

PLAB 1 Vs PLAB 2; Key Differences

The most upfront difference between PLAB 1 and PLAB is in the exam format. While PLAB 1 is a written theoretical examination with questions to answer, PLAB 2 is an objective structured clinical exam with stations that mimic the real hospital scenarios.

PLAB 1 mainly assesses aspirants knowledge in medicine, while PLAB 2 analyses the history-taking, communication, and interpersonal skills of the aspirants.

If you are preparing for PLAB 1 or PLAB 2, remember, you need to ensure you are fully familiar with the basic concepts and confident to practice in UK healthcare.

At StudyPLAB, our team is here to support you in any step of the way. Connect with us to know more.

                                                                                                                                                                    Authored By: Mariya P J