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My journey to prepare for IELTS and PLAB1&2

A short eBook with tips for overseas doctors who want to Introduction……..2
work in the UK IELTS……………3
PLAB1…………..6
PLAB2…………..8
General Tips….…10
Contact Info…….11

Dr Milena Dare
Brazil

April/2019

INTRODUCTION
My name is Milena, I'm a doctor graduated in Brazil in
December 2017. After my graduation, I moved permanently to the
UK, to join my spouse that is settled here, and since then I've been
on my journey to practice medicine in the UK. I've recently finished
with the exams to be able to work in the UK, all three parts, IELTS,
PLAB 1 and 2, cleared in my first attempts.
This eBook aims to give you tips on how to study, if you’re
an overseas doctor who is planning on taking the exams to work in
the UK. I’ll be writing about my journey, my preparation, and
sharing tips that helped me clearing my exams, for example, which
books and websites are useful, how much time to study should I take
for each exam, and also some tips on how to know when you're
prepared to take the exam, based on my personal experience.
The GMC (General Medical Council), the official body that
is responsible for the registration of doctors in the UK, asks for 3
exams to be cleared for a doctor that graduated abroad to be able to
obtain the registration. These exams are IELTS and PLAB 1 and 2.
I'll be talking about each one in detail.
Before talking about the exams and starting your preparation,
I would advise you to read the following links:
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• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-
register/before-you-apply/acceptable-overseas-qualifications
• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-
register/plab
• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-
register/registration-applications/application-guides/full-
registration-for-international-medical-graduates
• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-
licensing/employers-medical-schools-and-colleges/the-plab-
test
• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-
register/registration-applications/application-registration
In this ebook I'll be talking about the books, websites and the
English teacher that helped me, but I would like to let you know that
I'm not getting sponsored by anyone. It's only suggestions, since it
was materials and a great teacher that were of a huge help for me to
be able to clear all the exams in my very first attempt.

IELTS
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
is one of the exams required by the GMC to prove your English
language skills. Recently the OET (English Language Test for
Healthcare Professionals) test was added on the GMC list. Since
IELTS was the exam I took, I'll be talking about it only. (You can
read about the OET requirements on this link: https://www.gmc-
uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/before-you-
apply/evidence-of-your-knowledge-of-english/using-your-oet-
certificate).
The IELTS exam consists of four parts: listening, reading,
speaking and writing. The GMC asks for a minimum score of 7 in
each area and a total average of 7.5. The total average is calculated
by adding the scores from each part and dividing it by four. The
result of this calculation needs to be 7.5 or above for the doctor to be
eligible to apply for PLAB 1.
There are a few different types of IELTS exam. For us,
doctors from abroad, the type needed is the IELTS Academic. If
you're not settled in the UK and are applying for a VISA, you'll be
needing the IELTS Academic for UKVI (UK Visa Immigration), so
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you can use the same IELTS exam for your VISA application to
come to the UK and also your PLAB and registration application.
The average of 7.5 is a very high score to get on the IELTS
Academic exam, specially the minimum score of 7 on the writing
part. So it requires a very focused and dedicated preparation. The
secret for the IELTS exam is to know the structure of the exam and
manage your time well.
I started my IELTS studying by buying the book ''The
Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS for Academic and General
Training''. This guide explains in detail the general structure of the
IELTS exam, and it comes with a CD with examples of speaking
tests and listening audios. It also comes with essays examples that
show what is expected from you in the writing exam. I found this
book guide essential for me to be able to get the pass mark,
especially in the writing exam. My score was 7 in listening, 8 in
speaking, 7 in writing and 8.5 in reading. I read and did all the
exercises provided in the book. Although a few exercises in the book
seem very simple, it was very important for me to study all of it.
There are mocks at the end of the book also, but I found the mocks
concerning the reading and listening parts easier than in the exam
itself.

I believe the most important section of the ''The Official
Cambridge Guide to IELTS for Academic and General Training''
book is the writing section, because it shows examples of essays
with their respective scores and the reason why that mark was given,
which was very useful for comparing with my mock essays. In
addition, the speaking section is also very important, by showing
candidate's performances with marks, and the reason why that
specific mark was given.
The best mock exams for the reading and listening parts are
on the ''Cambridge IELTS 9 Academic with Answers'' book, due to
the fact that the level of the mocks in this book is very similar to the
level of the actual IELTS exam. So, after finishing the first book, I
moved on to doing mocks from the book ''Cambridge IELTS 9
Academic with Answers''. I believe this book is at their 13 volume
nowadays.
By the last month of my preparation, I would try and do as
many mocks as I could, doing the listening, reading and writing
parts together, like it is on the exam day, always paying attention at
the time management. The speaking test is usually held on a
different date, so be aware of it when booking your exam. Mine
was on the day before of the rest of the test.
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My preparation for the IELTS test took 2 months, studying 2
hours every day during the week, usually in the night, after coming
back from medical school. Saturdays I used to study for 3 hours
during the day, and complement it by having English teaching with
a professional teacher. Sundays were off from IELTS studying, as I
needed to keep up with the medical school work as well, and also
spend time with family and friends.
My main concern during my IELTS preparation was the
writing part. I would sincerely advise you, especially in my case that
English is my second language and medicine in Brazil is thought in
Portuguese, to hire an English teacher, a professional, to at least
correct your mock essays, and if possible, also help you with the
other parts of the IELTS test. Of course it's understandable that
English lectures can be a bit expensive, when added up with the
exam prices and the stay in the UK for the exams, so it's
understandable that money can be a bit tight. But if you can afford
it, I would sincerely advise you to do it. IELTS is an expensive
exam, so I think it's worth investing a bit more money and having
higher chances of clearing it in your first attempt.
I had my essays corrected and also practiced the other parts
of the IELTS test with an English teacher specialized on the TOEFL
and IELTS exam, Dejan Tomic. My lectures were once a week for

around 2 months. If you’re interested, you can like Dejan’s page on
Facebook and get in touch with him through the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/DejanProfIngles
My main strategy to study for the writing exam was to do as
many mock essays as I could, with special attention given at the
time management. I used to do the essay mocks from the IELTS
Cambridge Guide book and always compare it with the example
essay offered, and try to improve and get as closer to the example
essay with the higher marks as possible (not as a copy of the essay,
but with a similar structure).
Still concerning the writing test, here are two tips that helped
me to improve the quality of my essays: 1) learn some connective
terms like ''in addition'', ''on the other hand'', ''although'', ''also'',
because those terms give fluency to your essay, and 2) when writing
your essay, try your best to complete your statements with
examples.
Concerning the speaking test, one way of studying for it it’s
recording yourself doing the task with a camera and comparing it
with the example speaking tests given in the CD of the IELTS
Cambridge Guide book, and go for the exam when you're close to
the structure given. A very important tip for the speaking test is to
try your best not to finish talking too long before the time given.
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You should be able to talk and conclude your task within the time
given, not before and not after. Silence gaps on the speaking test can
really compromise your grade, so focus on your time management
and task completion here. If you can practice with a study partner,
that will also help.
How to be sure that you're ready for the exam?
Unfortunately, you can't be 100% sure you'll clear the exam when
you sit for it. But I would advise you to sit for the exam when you're
getting at least a 7 on your mocks (the guide book also explains how
to count your marking) for the writing (which means that you're
close to the example essay given on the guide book that scored 7 or
above) and at least an 8 on the listening and reading mocks (these
are parts of the exam considered "easier", so it's important to get a
very high score here to improve your average and you'll end up
needing a 7 on your writing test, and no more than that).
I only booked my IELTS test when I was getting the grades
mentioned above on my mocks, and, very important, when I felt
very confident for the exam. I knew the IELTS test structure and
what to expect, so I felt that I had very good chances of getting the
GMC pass mark.

PLAB1
The PLAB abbreviation stands for Professional and
Linguistic Assessment Board. I took my Plab1 test in June 2018,
which was the first test that included 180 multiple choice questions
(MCQs) instead of 200, as it used to be before. So, today, the Plab1
test consists of 180 MCQs to be completed in 3 hours. Those 2
hours are already including the time for you to fill in the marking
sheet, which means no extra time for the marking sheet. To
summarise, you have one minute per question to read it, answer it
and fill in the sheet with your answer.
The strategy I used during the PLAB1 test was to answer one
question and fill the answer in straight away on the marking sheet,
before moving on to the next question. In this type of exam, that you
have one minute only per question, you cannot be unsure. You have
to pick one answer and move on to the next question. If you don't
know or are not sure, pick the one you think is the most likely to be
the correct answer and move on, do not waste your time.
In the exam room, there is a clock. So one way you could
manage your time is: by one hour of the exam, you should have
finished at least 60 questions. By the second hour, 120 questions, to
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make sure you will be finishing the exam on time and without
rushing through the end.
I took 4 months to prepare for the exam, with an average of 4
hours of studying per day. Again, Sundays were usually off. I was a
newly graduate doctor when I took the PLAB1 test, so if you have
worked for a few years, you’ll be more experienced, so you'll
probably need less time to prepare.
The Plab1 test is all based on clinical scenarios. Sample
questions and the PLAB blueprint can be found on the following
links:
• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-
register/plab/plab-1-guide/sample-questions
• https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-
register/plab/plab-test-blueprint
The main resources I used for PLAB1 preparation was the
Passmedicine website textbook and MCQs, together with the MCQs
from the PLABABLE website. The Passmedicine is a website that
you sign up for an account and obtain online access to MCQs and a
textbook. It costs 12 pounds for 4 months of access. I found the
textbook extremely useful and up to date. The PLABABLE website
also has MCQS, and it costs 20 pounds for 3 months to gain online

access to the question bank. The following are the links for the
websites:
• https://www.passmedicine.com/plab/index.php
• https://plabable.com/Account/register
I conducted my revision by answering the MCQs in less than
one minute, then proceeding to check the correct answer, on both
Passmedicine and PLABABLE websites. If my answer was
incorrect or correct, but I was still unsure about the topic that the
question was related to, I used to read the following topic on the
Passmedicine textbook, and also check NICE guidelines. Once
again, the secret for this exam is time management.
On the last month before my exam, I was mainly focused on
doing the PLABABLE mock tests, on answering the 180 questions
before 3 hours. My aim was to answer all 180 questions in 2h30min
or less, considering that on the exam day I would have to mark the
answers on the official marking sheet. And again, I would always
check the correct answers at the end and conduct a revision for the
answers I got wrong or got right, but was not sure about the topic
related to the question.
To have an idea if you’re ready for your PLAB1 test, I was
getting an average score of 80% and above, on the PLABABLE
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mocks, one the month before the test. I believe if you're getting
scores like this on your PLABABLE mocks, it's very likely that
you'll pass the PLAB1 test. My score on the test was 132/180. I'm
not sure how the pass mark is set for the PLAB1 test; in June/2018,
the pass mark was 114/180.
Again, when I sat for the PLAB1 test I felt very confident. I
knew the structure of the exam and I had a strategy for completing
all the questions in time. When I started my preparation, I had a
study plan, which was completing the MCQs from both websites,
with the following revision, like I described in this section, and I felt
good that I completed my plan in time for the exam. Consequently, I
felt that I had very good chances of clearing the exam when I sat for
it. I think it makes a huge difference when you sit for the exam
feeling confident, so I would advise you to book your exam and do
your best to finish your study plan, and also prepare a good strategy
for the exam day.

PLAB2
The PLAB2 test is an OSCES type of exam (Objective
Structured Clinical Examination), which is a type of exam consisted
of practical stations, that simulates a clinical scenario. The PLAB2
test has a total of 20 stations, in which 2 are rest stations, of clinical
cases. There is a task sheet outside the cubicle where the exam is
held that gives details of the station. You have 1.5 minutes to read
the task and 8 minutes to complete it. The following video explains
how the exam is held and what to expect on the exam
day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vELRa9TwSQ
To succeed in an OSCES type of exam, it's important to
practice as many clinical cases as possible, including cases regarding
Ethics and Good Medical Practice (more information on this link:
https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-
doctors/good-medical-practice). The PLAB test blueprint (link on
the PLAB1 section) explains in detail what is expected from you on
your PLAB journey regarding knowledge.
It’s very important, when you’re practicing different clinical
cases, to focus on your communication skills. In an OSCES type of
exam, communication skills are extremely important. Try and
practice how to explain medical conditions and their respective
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management to patients. If you’re not sure regarding your
communication skills and you feel that you could improve it, it’s
okay. We are all coming from different countries, with a different
culture, background, different languages, and we all know that
communication is different on each culture, especially in my case
that my communication with patients in Brazil was in Portuguese.
Communicating in a speaking part of an English test is entirely
different from communicating with patients in a clinical setting, so
it’s okay to feel unsure. So, if this is your case, I would sincerely
advise taking a course or buying an online material to improve your
communication skills. There are a range of courses available,
including online courses and also audiotapes, in different parts of the
UK.
It’s very important to mention that the PLAB test aims to see
if you meet the expectations regarding a doctor in the Foundation
Year 2, which means a junior doctor. So, during your exam, if you
come across something that you're not sure in the consultation, don't
be shy about mentioning your seniors. This is the correct attitude to
have; it’s the safe thing to do. If you put the patient’s life at risk, it’s
definitely a fail on the exam.
During my preparation, I downloaded the BNF (British
National Formulary) app, which has information on medication and

doses. I also watched the Geeky Medics videos on Youtube, which
have a good revision for examination, procedures and also give you
an idea of how doctors communicate with patients in the UK. I also
learnt a lot from the book ‘’Essential Examination: step by step
system based guide to clinical examination with practical tips and
key facts for OSCES’’ by Alasdair K. B. Ruthven.
The following websites were also very useful:
• https://geekymedics.com/category/medicine/
• https://cks.nice.org.uk/#?char=A (this one is
extremely useful!)
On the Geeky Medics website, there are many cases that
could be practiced (and also many tips on communication skills and
history taking). It’s very important to practice as many different
cases as you can, having in mind the Good Medical Practice (link
included on the previous page). It’s also very important to have a
study partner that you can practice the cases with. When practicing,
both partners should be honest on their feedback, so mistakes can be
avoided on the actual exam. In addition to practicing the cases, I
used to conduct a short revision on the practical part of each topic,
for example, important questions to ask regarding that complaint,
examination, differential diagnosis from that specific complaint,
investigations and management.
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Here are a few tips that helped me clearing the PLAB2 test
on my first attempt:
1) On the exam day, try your best to see it as another day at
work, and not an exam. Have it in your mind that you’ll try
your best to help the patients. This thought helped me to stay
calm and confident for the exam.
2) Have a structured consultation: exactly how we learnt in
medical school. History/Examination/Provisional
diagnosis/Investigations/Diagnosis/Management.
3) Be succinct. You only have 8 minutes to complete the task.
4) When it’s time to move on to the next station, completely
forget about the previous one, even if you think you made
mistakes, didn’t do well or even failed. To be honest, you
can’t really know until your results are out. Forget about the
previous station and focus on doing your best on the next
one.
5) Do not be judgemental or condescending. This is bad
medical practice and definitely a fail on the exam.

GENERAL TIPS
• After passing your PLAB1 test, I would advise you to book
PLAB2 as soon as you can, literally just after you check your
results, so the gap between both tests won't be too long, as
the closest dates get booked really soon. I had my PLAB1 in
June/2018 and PLAB2 on January/2019. In one way it
worked, as I had 5-6 months to prepare and managed to clear
it in my first attempt. But if you can avoid a gap that long,
it'll be the best.
• After you pass PLAB1 start working on your EPIC
verification, which is an independent verification of your
final medical diploma done by EPIC (Electronic Portfolio
of International Credentials). I would sincerely advise you on
calling your Medical School and finding out who is
responsible for the verifications, and let them aware that
EPIC will be requesting one for you. This can reduce the
waiting time. Also, if you notice any issues with your
verification, do not hesitate on calling the EPIC team to
answer your questions. You can get further instructions
regarding the verification of your final medical diploma on
this link: https://www.ecfmgepic.org/instructions-gmc.html
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• After passing PLAB2 and while you're waiting for
registration and applying for jobs, I would advise you on
taking a clinical attachment in a hospital in UK. It's
important to get to know the NHS before you officially start
working. You can try emailing the education centre of the
hospital you’re interested in. Be aware that for some
attachments you will have to pay a fee. But there are also
attachments that are free of any charge.
• As soon as you start your PLAB journey, start preparing the
paperwork and the translations, if your documents are not
issued in English, for the GMC. If you’re applying for a full
registration with license to practice, you need a proof of
internship. Make sure that this document has the exact dates
(dd/mm/yy) you started and finished each rotation.
This link has further details: https://www.gmc-
uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-
register/registration-applications/application-guides/full-
registration-for-international-medical-graduates
• Work on your fitness. Since exams can be a very stressful
time, working on my fitness and being active really helped
me to stay calm and focused during the year I was taking
IELTS and PLAB. I found Yoga and jogging very helpful.
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• And, finally, as soon as you land in the UK, get a nice and
warm rain jacket! It rains a lot around here!

I hope you could find this eBook helpful. If you have any
questions, you can follow me on Instagram (@milenadareexams)
and contact me through direct, send me an email
(milenadareexams@gmail.com) or send me a message through my
Facebook page (Milena Dare Exams).
Good luck on your journey to settle in the UK!