How I passed PLAB 2 with an Online Academy – Dr Anjana Vijayan
If you are a doctor preparing for your GMC UKMLA PLAB 2 exam and are considering an online or livestream academy – then this blog is a must to help you pass. We are lucky to have Dr Anjana Vijayan – an IMG (International Medical Graduate) doctor who recently passed her PLAB 2 exam – share her own experience of how she prepared with our online Academy+ programme 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 Anjana – an IMG from India and I passed my PLAB 2 exam in December. I graduated in 2022 and I worked in a private hospital in India for a few months. I am currently awaiting my GMC registration and aim to join my first job in the NHS soon.
My PLAB journey
In May 2022 I passed the OET assessment, but due to the pandemic delay I could only secure a PLAB 1 slot the following year. My results were announced in July and I was very lucky to secure a November slot for my PLAB 2 exam.
Following my PLAB 2 exam (and after 4 nerve-racking weeks!), I finally received my results and found out that I had passed! It was an immense relief and I’m incredibly grateful for reaching this point.
How I prepared for PLAB 2
Managing a consultation around the patient is a key aspect of the NHS. Since my knowledge and experience about patient-centred consultations were limited, I knew I had to join an academy for appropriate teaching.
I began my research on PLAB 2 academies in August and I talked to friends who were enrolled in different academies. It was around the same time I came across Dr Arora’s UKMLA PLAB 2 videos on YouTube. I had read the guidance on the GMC website and the examiners’ top tips on passing PLAB 2 and I understood that they are primarily looking for safe FY2-level doctors who can manage consultations holistically. Dr Arora’s videos made a lot of sense since he focused a lot on interpersonal skills and all issues faced by the patient – not just the medical issues.
At that point I decided to join the full Arora Academy+ package. Due to some Visa processing issues I had to join the academy online through livestream. Initially I was apprehensive about attending the full course online as I had heard a lot of my friends mention that we had to attend academies in person for best results. However looking back, I’m so glad that I proceeded with my plan nonetheless.
Before the live teaching started I had already gone through a lot of the package material. Dr Arora had also sent a ‘pre academy’ programme to everyone highlighting certain areas of the material to go through in advance – which got me ready to make full value of the live sessions.
In particular I watched the main online video course which gave me a general idea of the approach to multiple different case types. They were very detailed and I could watch them multiple times. I also went through the audio courses – especially focusing on the ones that explained different medical conditions to patients. This helped me gauge exactly how to communicate with patients. The flashcards helped a lot for retaining all the information and were incredibly beneficial for last minute revision!
The live academy course commenced in September, with me still having concerns about not being able to attend the last part in person. Dr Arora and Dr Pooja however always kept us on track throughout the online days, constantly asking us questions through the live class chat and always ensuring that any queries were clarified. We could all also ask any doubts regarding the different role-plays that were running – and these were answered by all tutors on the team.
Even the ‘special’ scenarios were thought of for online learning – for example there was a half day prescribing session as part of the academy programme and all online attendees were sent PDFs for various drug charts to print in advance and use during the case scenarios.
We were all part of the batch WhatsApp group as well which helped us feel part of a larger group family.
I could not take part in the in-person practical days, however I attended these online and arranged some practice sessions at the Academy, close to my exam once I travelled to the UK.
Post Academy
I began to practice regularly online with some friends that I found through the Academy. This helped me put into practice some of the Arora principles that we learned in the live days – such as the Arora 3 Bubbles and Arora 3 steps of management.
After I reached the UK, I went to the Arora academy for mannikin practice with some of the other batch attendees. There was always a tutor around from the Arora team to help us during these practice sessions; we could ask them our doubts regarding all the different procedures and examinations. Dr Arora would also talk to us before and at the end of every session; he always encouraged us and this was very motivating.
I was also able to attend the in-person SimMan session with the following batch (Dr Arora kindly allowed this) so that I would have an idea on what to expect during the exam.
I took two mock sessions after the live classes. I decided to give these mocks early so that I had time to make the required changes. My first mock was online – I had issues with time management and feedback on that was extremely valuable. For my actual exam I certainly noticed how I had improved – and even finished a couple of stations early! My second mock was two weeks before my exam. The feedback made me aware of small details that would enhance the consultation. Both of my tutors were very sweet and kind, and that gave me good confidence to face the exam.
Academy Experience
Something that I really liked about this academy is that we could personally contact Dr Arora regarding any of our doubts and he would get back to us as soon as he could – often in the middle of the night! This made it seem that the course was personalised for us (even though I was not physically present) and I deeply appreciate it.
Dr Arora stresses on not losing our individual consultation styles – something that I have heard you can lose in some academies – this was very important for my confidence. I also feel that my interpersonal skills have improved significantly since the course. Both of these did not only help me ace my exam but have definitely made me a better doctor as well.
Things I learnt from my preparation
– I cannot stress how important it is to practice! I was lucky to have friends who had the exam close to my exam date and so they were there with me throughout the prep. They made sure that I studied every day and also helped during anxiety-stricken moments! Practicing regularly and going through multiple scenarios definitely improved my communication skills.
– Scripts can help to get a general idea of a particular case, but do not rely on them completely (Arora Academy do not use any scripts!). Most of the time, there could be another issue and not just a medical issue affecting the patient. For management, putting the ‘issues on the table’ as taught at the academy gives a better structure and improves IPS.
– During the exam, we may get stressed and go blank. Dr Arora always says that we need to have a plan when this happens. The 3 Arora bubbles can be used to guide us back to the consultation – and can be useful as a safeguard for when you go blank. The 3 Arora R’s of the bubbles – reasoning for red flags, relevance for psychosocial and reflection for ICE – always make the consultation more natural and certainly boosted my IPS.
– Try to be up to date with the NICE guidelines – it helps a lot in the management of the consultation. The Arora guideline flashcards proved to be very helpful for this, particularly for last minute review.
– Be kind to the patient – even though this is a role play. The GMC wants you to be a safe and kind FY2 doctor. Always remember to be nice to the patient, even when they may not be very cooperative, since this is something that may be part of the test.
– Time management is key for the examination and prescription stations. Practice going through the BNF and writing the prescriptions, because this will help in managing time during the exam.
– Try not to dwell on the stations that you think you didn’t perform well; forget that case and move on to the next. Remember that PLAB 2 has 16 stations so don’t worry too much if one or two stations didn’t go so well.
Overall experience
No matter what anyone says, it does not matter if you attend the academy online or in person. Remember that organised preparation is key and consistent, focused practice will help you ace this exam!
I would highly recommend Arora PLAB 2 Academy+ package to anyone preparing for PLAB 2 and I hope this blog helped you clear any doubts you may have had about attending the academy online.
Wish you all the very best for this exam!
Anjana
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.
– 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.
Other blogs that may be helpful
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.
