The Domains You Will Be Marked Against
When marking against the domains, the examiner will assess your competency across several skill areas.
Data gathering, technical and assessment skills
Clinical management skills
Interpersonal skills
Data gathering, technical and assessment skills
include history taking, physical examination, practical procedures, and investigations leading to a diagnosis.
Clinical management skillsinclude formulating a diagnosis, explaining something to the patient, and formulating a management plan.
Interpersonal skillsinclude how you approach the station: whether you establish a rapport with the patient; how you use open and closed questioning, involve the patient, and demonstrate your professionalism and understanding of ethical principles.
Clinical Examination:
Most of the stations will involve a simulated patient. You should interact with the actor as you would a real patient, including requesting to perform any relevant clinical examinations.
You should begin each station by confirming your name and GMC number. This is important as the examiner may not always be present in the room and will be watching remotely.
In some rooms you will find telephone or video call stations; the call will be connected for you before you enter the room. It is important you do not touch the phone or monitor as this will disconnect your call.
In some stations, you will be assessed on your ability to conduct a physical examination using a model or manikin.
Practical Skills
The examiner will assess you on your ability to perform common practical procedures.
The practical skills may include:
- checking blood pressure
- performing venepuncture
- inserting a cannula into a peripheral vein
- calculating drug dosage
- giving intravenous injections
- mixing and injecting drugs into an intravenous bag
- giving intramuscular and subcutaneous injections
- basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (adult and child)
- suturing
- interpreting an electrocardiogram (ECG), X-rays or results of other investigations
- interpreting basic respiratory function tests
- performing urinary catheterisation
- taking a cervical smear
- Safe disposal of sharps.
IPS
We test these skills by observing the interaction between you and another person, usually a simulated patient or occasionally the examiner. These interactions can take place in person, over the telephone or via a video call. The examiner will assess your approach to the patient throughout the examination, even if they are not present in the room.
This may include:
- explaining diagnosis, investigation and treatment
- involving the patient in the decision-making
- communicating with relatives
- communicating with health care professionals
- breaking bad news
- providing clear, legible written instructions where appropriate (eg. prescribing)
- seeking informed consent/clarification for an invasive procedure or obtaining consent for a post-mortem
- dealing with anxious patients or relatives
- giving instructions on discharge from hospital
- giving advice on lifestyle, health promotion or risk factors.
As we may use an anatomical model in some stations it's important to remember the following:
- Don't speak to the model as you won't gain any marks for doing so.
- Tell the examiner what you are doing and why only if the instructions tell you to.
- Don't perform any actions on an anatomical model that would be unsafe or painful for a real person.
What will you need to demonstrate to pass?
- Take a history of the patient's head pain, including occurrences, location, duration, triggers, associated symptoms.
- Take a medical history of any medication or trauma.
- Find out appropriate lifestyle history (eg alcohol, diet, sex, sleep).
- Identify patient concerns, listen appropriately and display empathy.
- Make a diagnosis of possible migraine.
- Recommend appropriate management.
- Conduct the consultation fluently and professionally
On exam day:
You’ll find some scenarios will have manikins or other equipment. Others will use an actor to play the part of a patient. During each of the exam stations you will be observed by an examiner, either in person, by telephone or via a remote camera. Your exam may be recorded. Examiners will not intervene, except in very limited circumstances.
You’ll have eight minutes to complete each station. Before starting each scenario, you’ll have time to travel to the next room and to read the instructions.
This time will vary based on which venue you take your test, due to the differences in venue size and layout:
3 Hardman Street- 1 minute 45 seconds
3 Hardman Square- 1 minute 30 seconds
identification
Bring proof of identification with you. We accept any one of the following:
- Passport
- Full UK driving licence
- EU identity card
DRESS CODE
It is good practice to be bare to the elbow with no watches, bracelets or rings. We can provide sleeve covers for you to wear if you require them.
Sections 5.3 to 5.6 of the NHS guidance advise on other specific areas such as the wearing of ties, long hair, and any headwear.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, you will be required to wear a mask throughout the exam and in some other areas of the GMC building. For the PLAB 2 examination, you must wear a surgical style, three-layer mask, and we can provide one if you require
