PLAB 1 Advice and Experience (Detailed)

Getting started

Your very first step on the road to PLAB 1 success is organising all the information you have available to you.

Sources of information include:
Facebook page (file section)
One Drive

I would suggest creating a folder on your computer and organising all the information into their respective categories. The benefit of creating folders is that the information appears clearer and, quite frankly, less daunting.

The files you will require are:

1. Samson Notes

• These are notes that are organised subject wise.
• There are 24 notes (each note correlates to the subjects mentioned on the GMC website).
• They give you the basics on each of the subject.
• The notes are completely tailored to the exam and are, in my opinion, very useful.
• They are not always updated to new guidelines.

2. 1700 MCQ

• This is a folder containing 1700 MCQs from past exams.
• Make sure to get the unanswered and the answered files (2 separate files).
• You will be able to solve the questions on your own and then see whether your answers match the answers given.
• The answers (key) given are not always correct. Make sure to always double check.

3. Mocks

• These are files that contain 200 MCQs and are set up just like an exam
• You should aim to do 10 Mocks in total.
• If you are time-limited try to do at least 5-7.
• A lot of the questions given in Mocks are not covered in the 1700 MCQs file; therefore I suggest you really focus a lot on these mocks.

4. Recalls

• These are question the past plabbers were able to recall after completing their exams.
• I cannot stress enough how important it is to go through and answer – If the questions are structured well enough – the questions from recalls.
• A lot of the recalls will be repeated in your exam.
• Make sure to go through the questions covered in at least 3 previous exams. E.g. If you are writing the November exam, look at the recalls from the September, June and March exams.

5. Experiences

• Download and look over past plabbers experiences.
• This will give you a proper understanding of the road ahead.
• It also provides motivation, as you are able to read the experiences of different people who have been in the same situation as you and were able to pass.
• You will be able to read about different people’s studying technique and determine which method suits you.

6. Books

• Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine (OHCM) and Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties (OHCS).
• These books can be found on the one drive folder (see links above).
• You will not need to read these books from cover to cover, so don’t worry about that.
• These books will serve as excellent references when answering MCQs.

The Actual Studying

Once you have organised all the information you need, it’s time to put pen to paper and start the actual process of studying.

In my personal experience, I found that starting with Samson notes helped refresh some of the rusted parts of my brain and provided me with the basic need-to-know-information on each subject being questioned.

The advantage of the notes is that the subjects covered are completely tailored to the exam – nothing more. The disadvantage of these notes is that, in some cases, the information might be incorrect or not updated to match current guidelines. Having said that, I believe the pros out way the cons and reading through these notes is actually quite beneficial.

How to go through the notes

This all depends on your individual study style. I spent an average of a day (sometimes two) on each subject. I chose to start with the topics that are most frequently asked about and then I covered the rest.

PLAB 1 Sample Grid Distribution of MCQs

After completing each subject you can cover the subject wise MCQs by getting a subscription to the Samson online MCQ bank. So for example, if you have completed OBG – go onto Samson online and do the OBG MCQs. I suggest writing notes with the MCQs you cover – that way you can come back to read it on notebook later on.

Samson notes done. Now what?

Now the fun begins. Covering the MCQs is truly where your brain will get challenged and you will feel like you are going in the right direction.

I would suggest beginning with the 1700 MCQ file. I printed out 200 MCQs at a time and wrote notes next to each MCQ. Initially I was only able to cover 100 MCQs a day, but – with time – I was progressively able to cover more.

You might feel like the Samson notes didn’t prepare you for a lot of the questions you encounter in this file, that is a perfectly normal reaction. It is at this moment that you will have the opportunity to meet your new best friends – patient.co.uk and NICE guidelines.

Going through the MCQs

Do not just answer the questions. Dissect them. The perfect way to know if you’re tackling an MCQ correctly is if you are able to understand (and explain) the reason why the answer is the answer and the reason why the others are not.  Always make sure you have a reference to backup your answer. I suggest giving yourself at least 17 days to cover the 1700 MCQ file.

Sources

Patient.co.uk (the professional articles)
NICE Guidelines
British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Oxford Handbook Clinical Medicine (OHCM)
Oxford Handbook Clinical Specialties (OHCS)

Note: Stick to UK websites

Mocks, mocks and more mocks.

At this point you will have the confidence to tackle the infamous Mocks.

“You need to eat, sleep and drink the Mocks.”

I did one Mock a day, I did not want to rush them and I wanted to double-check the answers on the various sources I mentioned above.

This is also the perfect time to learn how to time yourself. I aimed for 2 hours to complete the exam.  I also wasn’t sure how tough the actual exam would be and I wanted to make sure I knew how to go through the questions quickly and efficiently. These Mocks should take about 7 – 10 days.

Do it all over again (if you have the time)

Now it’s time to revise everything once more. At this point you would have been studying for a while, your head is feeling heavy and you’re probably worried that you’re starting to forget things. Most of us go through this, but there’s nothing a quick revision won’t fix.

Total recall

Finally, cover the Recalls. If the recalls are well structured use them as a way to test your knowledge, search for the answers using your sources.

Duration of it all

I took 2 ½ months to cover all of the above. The duration required varies amongst individuals. It is completely up to you to determine how long it’ll take you to complete all the content you need.

• Samson Mocks and Oxford handbook quick read through: 4 weeks
• 1700 MCQ file: 2 ½ weeks
• Mocks: 1 ½ week
• Recalls: 1-2 days
• Revision: 2 weeks

 Facebook

Do not underestimate the power of discussion. Personally I am a lone studier, I have always been that way. I didn’t join a Whatsapp or Skype group, the only discussions I had were on Facebook.  A neat trick is to type part of the question you are having trouble with into the search bar and see previous plabbers discussions on the question.

Unofficial rules of Facebook group/ Forum

1. Always have a reference to backup your answer
2. Respect other’s opinions. There is always going to be others who are more knowledgeable when it comes to certain things. Make sure to be respectful of everyone’s opinion.
3. Try to help out as much as you can. It’s a stressful time for everyone but this group is successful because of the incredible people who have taken the time to try and help people like us.
4. Do not spend a lot of time arguing over one question. This will waste a lot of precious hours of studying. If you are incapable of coming to a conclusion, try to come back to that question at a later date. There are going to be questions that you will not find a conclusion to and that, you should know that, is okay.

Extra tips

Create a Timetable

This changed the entire course of my studying. I – initially – only had a mental timetable, but nothing was solid. I, therefore, spent more time on something then I should have or took unnecessary breaks. Once I created a timetable and printed it out, the course of my studying became a lot more focused and effective. I was able to truly know how many days I had and what I was doing on each and every day.

To Subscribe or Not to Subscribe

This has been a topic of discussion for quite some time. According to the structure of the November 2015 exam it seems that there really isn’t a need for an extra subscriptions other than Samson online. I personally had a subscription to Onexamination and that actually gave me a false fear of impending doom. The questions were longer and would give a lot of unnecessary information. The PLAB questions are straight forward and to the point. I personally believe that extra subscriptions to PassMedicine and Onexamination might not be quite necessary for the PLAB (however, that’s just my opinion).

Summary

Step 1: Organise
Step 2: Samson Notes
Step 3: 1700 MCQs
Step 4: Mocks
Step 5: Revision
Step 6: Recalls

Exam Day Tips

Try to relax as much as you can. Eat a good breakfast. Take stationary with you (pencil, eraser, pen and sharpener). Snacks can be a lifesaver – Water and a chocolate bar will suffice.

The Exam

• 200 MCQs (single best answer questions)
• The questions are a lot clearer than the MCQs you’ve practiced.
• The images (X-rays, ECGs, Lesions) are on a separate paper and the normal values are at the back of your question paper.
• Once you have begun do not take your time. Rush for the finish line while approaching the MCQs with reasoning.
• Never leave an answer blank. Answer the question and put a mark next to it, if you have time go back to it.

Conclusion

Remember, it is completely normal to feel unprepared or doubt your own ability. Make sure not to let that doubt define who you are and definitely don’t let it stop you from trying your absolute best. I wish you the best of luck! In Sha Allah (God willing) you will do great. Try to stay focused, determined and confident. Thank you for reading.