How I passed 15 of 16 PLAB 2 stations with no academy – Dr Sarita
If you are a doctor preparing for your GMC UKMLA PLAB 2 exam, this this blog is a must to help you pass. We are lucky to have Dr Sarita – an IMG (International Medical Graduate) doctor who recently passed her PLAB 2 exam – passing 15 out of 16 stations and scoring 136 – share her experience of how she prepared and passed first time.
– Join National PLAB 2 WhatsApp Teaching Group here
– Get PLAB 2 Updates and Teaching Emails here
– Register for next Free PLAB 2 Webinar here
– Pass with PLAB 2 Academy+ here
Introduction
Hi I’m Sarita. I graduated quite a while ago from an English program in Poland. I went into a career in clinical research for quite some time after that, however, I always wanted to be in clinical medicine and currently I am in my first year of NHS foundation training.
PLAB Exams
To be honest I didn’t know where to start when I decided that I wanted to get back into clinical medicine as I had a gap. After emailing the GMC about my situation, I was told the Foundation Year pathway would be best for me as I had not done an internship anywhere. I started on the UKFPO program website and realised that I needed to take the PLAB exams. I had only heard of PLAB in brief before but even though I am not social media savvy at all I have to say taking these exams have allowed to me to reach people from across the world who have helped me in my journey.
Like many others, getting PLAB slots was a task. I was however able to take my PLAB 1 exam in September and cleared it in the first attempt. I took my PLAB 2 exam in April (this was my one and only available attempt as it was one month before the deadline of the program requirements – so let’s just say pressure was on!). I was very relieved to find out I passed 15/16 stations with a score of 136 (96 being the pass score).
How I prepared for PLAB
Being off cycle, I initially heavily relied on YouTube and chat groups to learn the process of passing the PLAB exams.
Early on I came across Dr. Arora’s videos and free webinars during my PLAB 1 preparation. I joined some live sessions too and his method of teaching was something that didn’t just give me the “right answer” but reinforced it and it helped me retain things better – to the point that I even remember them during ward rounds now. I also took the Arora UKMLA PLAB 1 package and that definitely helped me understand some key concepts, NICE guidelines and pharmacology. For our most comprehensive UKMLA PLAB 1 Ultimate Package, click here.
With PLAB 1 being an MCQ exam I felt at least I had some control, but PLAB 2 was a whole different beast and I had to start from scratch.
After having a great experience with the PLAB 1 material I fully put my trust in the comprehensive Arora UKMLA PLAB 2 Gold package as I chose not to join a full academy – because at the start of preparation I had no idea what ICE even was and I knew I needed a lot of help!
Right after I signed up I started using the flashcards – I first went through all of these for about 2-3 weeks – these helped me see what the test is like and things we might have to discuss with patients (both clinical and non-clinical). Following this I watched the online course videos (several scenarios per day) and then went over them with the appropriate cards. I did this process two times over. I also used the audios and the cases multiples times.
If you ARE looking for a UKMLA PLAB 2 Academy, then our Academy+ page has all the relevant details.
How the Arora Gold Package benefited me in the real exam
The Gold Package is where all the preparation came together for me for the following reasons:
1. Your quickly realise there are a lot of things happening at a time in a single case, a mix of psychosocial and clinical/medical, this wasn’t something I was able to see in other “mock videos”.
2. I understood what Dr. Arora meant about “issues on the table” which came up in my real exam where more than the medical issue, safety netting was more important.
3. I tend to dwell on things and from the first station after the live course I remembered that I can’t do anything about what is already done – I learned to let go and I treated the next station as a fresh start.
4. I also liked that Dr. Arora reinforced how everyone has their own style and there is not one way to handle a station. If you take care of the patient or situation as a whole, you don’t need to memorise a certain order for all stations. I did follow his advice and talked to the patient like I would in a clinic or hospital. For me this was crucial as most times when the conversation flowed naturally, important things like red flags, social issues and ICE (ideas/concerns/expectations) came flowing out of the patient.
5. It was helpful that Dr. Arora is good at acting for the clinical scenarios and you felt the pressure or resistance from the patient – equally in the exam it wasn’t always rosy.
6.I felt very supported and felt like I could ask questions on email/Instagram at any point – especially when those last-minute thoughts and doubts come into your mind close to the exam.
With my experience with both PLAB 1 and PLAB 2, I would hands down take a future course with Dr. Arora as I am very impressed with the generosity of free material that he is always providing – and from his sessions I definitely see his passion wanting to teach us any way that he can!
Good luck to anyone taking their exam soon! Wish you all the best.
If you ARE looking for a UKMLA PLAB 2 Academy, then our Academy+ Package page has all the relevant details
How Arora Medical Education Can Support You
Clear Teaching Built for Busy Doctors.
If you want a guided path, our PLAB 2 resources help you build confidence at each step. Everything is created by senior UK NHS clinicians and previous PLAB 2 examiners with experience in the exam and in teaching.
You can choose:
– PLAB 2 Academy+ – a full PLAB 2 preparation system with live teaching course, case banks, videos, audios and flashcards.
– PLAB 2 Gold Package – all Arora digital resources in one package – case banks, videos, audios and flashcards.
– Individual resources such as mocks, audios, videos, case banks or mocks.
Each option follows a clear plan that helps you stay organised and focused. Explore these more here.
Also:
– Join National PLAB 2 WhatsApp Teaching Group here
– Get PLAB 2 Updates and Teaching Emails here.
– Register for next Free PLAB 2 Webinar here.
Lead PLAB 2 Tutor - Dr Aman Arora
Hi! I’m Dr. Aman Arora, a Portfolio GP with over a decade of clinical and teaching experience, dedicated to helping doctors achieve their goals with confidence. Having had the privilege of supporting more than 50,000 doctors worldwide across exams such as MRCGP AKT, SCA, MSRA, PLAB 2 and PLAB 1, I understand the challenges you face and the strategies needed to overcome them. Through personalised face-to-face sessions, engaging online courses, mocks, audio and a vibrant social media community, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Whether you’re looking to pass crucial exams or take the next big step in your medical career, we’re here to help you succeed. Feel free to get in touch with any thoughts, questions, or ideas — I look forward to working with you and being part of your journey.
Senior PLAB 2 Tutor - Dr Pooja Arora
Dr Pooja Arora is a GP with a background in Medical Politics, where she passionately focuses on improving the opportunities and working conditions for junior doctors. She is proud to hold FRCGP (Fellow of Royal College of General Practitioners).
You can find out more about Pooja’s previous roles and qualifications here.
