Y.B. Education Systems Ltd. is registered in the UK as well as in India as a limited company. PLAB is perhaps one of the most dreaded examinations a doctor may face in his or her life. Information about it is lacking and preparation for the examination is often sketchy and improper. Candidates often find results surprising and unpredictable, but we think that is often due to unfocussed preparation. PLABMASTER is aimed at preparing the candidate thoroughly for PLAB in a scientific manner so as to improve confidence, performance and success. PLAB-MASTER is mentioned in the “information to candidates” sent by the GMC, as well as the list of UK courses published by NACPDME. We have trained more doctors for PLAB than any other institution, since our very first year! In 1996 and 1997 we trained more than 400 doctors and by 1999 and 2000 the number had gone upto 1000 and in 2002-3 we trained more than 3000 doctors! Perhaps 25% are spouses or relatives of old students. We do not advertise in the BMJ or any other professional journal (we rely entirely on word of mouth) yet we train more doctors simply because of the quality of our training and the informal, friendly nature of our lecturers and organizers. We regard ourselves as a growing family and are open for giving advice or further career help to our students, even after passing PLAB. Y B Education Systems Ltd has been helping students from East Ham prepare for their PLAB for a long time. Our revision sessions are held in East Ham. Unlike some other courses, PLABMASTER is organized and conducted by doctors. Most of our lecturers have themselves studied for PLAB, that certainly helps.

We organize independent courses for both the components of the PLAB examination, theory and OSCE. Both these courses are conducted and charged independently, allowing you to concentrate on each component while it is the topmost in your mind. PLAB-MASTER-I course concentrates on the theory component while PLAB-MASTER- OSCE is aimed at the OSCE component.

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Thinking of UK?

"PLAB THINKER - with apologies to Rodin"

After M.B.B.S what's next? This is the question, which comes to everybody who is in the final year of M.B.B.S. Funny enough; the same question applies to those after post- graduation! Reminds me of the famous quote, "your problems don't finish with entry into the medical college, they just begin!"

So then there are many options. Selecting any special field. Going abroad for further studies as well as work. If you are interested in studying or working in United Kingdom (UK), then You have to clear PLAB Test. Or less commonly, you should try and get an exemption from PLAB.

What is PLAB?

PLAB:-
Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board Test, conducted by GMC (General Medical Council, UK). It is specifically designed to assess doctor's ability to work safely in a first appointment as a trainee (HO, SHO and Registrar) in a UK hospital in the National Health Services (NHS).

General information about PLAB test The PLAB test is relevant for overseas qualified doctors. For those wishing to take up a period of limited registration and work there as SHO (senior house officer).

So if you want to do MRCP, MRCS, FRCS, MRCOG, etc and want to be trained in UK for these exams, than this is the test for you. Remember, you don't have to work in the UK for getting MRCS, or MRCOG or MRCP, however, most of us would be happy to get the UK experience (and money) as well as the degree!

PLAB TEST consists of two parts :

Part I :
This exam is based on EMQ's i.e. Extending Matching Questions. You will be given altogether 200 Questions divided in 40 themes. The passing score changes each time, but generally it is around 130 (maximum 135, on 2 occasions in the past). There are no negative marks for wrong answers.

Part II (OSCE):
This exam is based on clinical assessment in form of OSCE, i.e. Objective structured clinical examination. In an examination room, you will find a series of 14 booths known as stations. Each station requires you to undertake a particular task, some task will involve talking to or examining the patient, and some will involve demonstrating a procedure on an anatomical model for e g suturing the wound or giving cardiac massage to the patient (dummy). The examiner will be closely observing you doing the tasks. Each task lasts for 5 minutes exactly, with 1 minute between stations.

This test is to test your clinical and communication skills. It is designed in such a way that examine can observe you putting these skills into practice.

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Eligibility for PLAB

There are two basic requirements for this exam.

1. The person should be a qualified medical graduate i.e. cleared M.B.B.S. The college for this degree should be approved by the GMC. This you check by telling them the name of the college. Most WHO approved colleges are OK. He should pass the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test, with a suitable score.

   
   IELTS:
   International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test is a test of English language conducted by the British Council all over the world. The test has 4 parts speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Each part has a max score of 9. IELTS is not a test of your medical English, just English.
   To be eligible to appear in PLAB part 1 one must achieve at least 7.0 as an overall score and a minimum of 7 in speaking and minimum of 6.0 in listening, reading and writing section.
   After passing your IELTS you should give your PLAB (part I) exam within 2 years.

2. The person should also have 12 months postgraduate clinical experience from the teaching hospitals and other hospitals approved by the medical registration authorities otherwise the person passing both parts of PLAB has to obtain this 12 months experience there in UK. It is possible for newly qualified doctors to take the test without this experience but he will only work as a junior house office rather than senior house officer, for that 1 year period.
   You can give your PLAB I as soon as you finish you exam for final year. Then complete your 12 months of internship or house post and appear for PLAB II. Which will be of great help while giving PLAB II.
   Candidates may not enter PLAB II until they have passed PLAB I and must take PLAB II within two years of having passed PLAB I.
   After PLAB The candidates passing PLAB I & II can apply for limited registration and work there as an SHO. The registration begins only after your job begins.

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Validity:

This question is important for those who are contemplating doing their post-graduation in their home country before returning to the UK for a UK career.

Your IELTS score is valid for 2 years, before the completion of which, you must attempt the part I which you pass.

Part I is valid for a period of 2 years from the time you pass, until the OSCE attempt which you pass.

After passing OSCE you have 5 years in which you commence your job.

You are best advised to check with the GMC about any recent changes before you make a career decision on the above information. Most of our PLAB candidates will get everything as early as possible.

Recommended Books:

1. This is a small list of books commonly used for the PLAB examination.
2. OHCM Oxford handbook of Clinical Specialities
3. OHCS (covers orthopaedics and paediatrics well)
4. Kumar and Clarke/Davidson is used for more detailed topics in medicine
5. Lecture notes in Surgery, by Harold Ellis
6. 10 teachers in Gynaecology & Obstetrics

EMQ Books :

1. Atish Pratap Mathur Praveen Babu
2. Una Coales

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