• I. E. L. T. S.
• PLAB - Part 1
• PLAB - Part 2

As you can make out, the first step is for the 'L' part and the last two parts are for the 'P' part of PLAB test. Let's go to the details of each part.

• I. E. L. T. S. : It's full form is actually International English Language Testing System. The form is available from the British Library, Thiruvananthapuram for Rs. 5, 000. The British Library itself supplies some excellent study material for this test at a moderate cost of Rs. 1, 000. I would not suggest everyone to spend that much. Instead go get it from someone who took the exam recently. You could really use that money to get some nice sweaters for your trip to this cold, damp place! For the exam, there are 9 band out of which you have get 7 out of nine. If you do that you clear it and you can jump on to step 2. Learn more about I. E. L. T. S. at this web site
  http://www.ielts.org/what.htm
  
• PLAB - Part 1 : You have to apply for the Part 1 exam. It costs Rs. 10, 000. The test is based on all Clinical Subjects. The questions are basically in the M. C. Q. type. The reference books / study material comprise of just the two text books. Those are the Oxford Hand Books of Medicine and Clinical Specialties. There are some very good question banks available in the market which will liven up your preps. Again, if you clear that you are onto the third and final part.
  
• PLAB - Part 2 : Remember those days during the Medicne posting when Dr. Joy Philp sir tried his level best to get something into our heads with METAMORPHOSIS, FAME and OSCE etc? This is the time when such experiences turn useful. PLAB Part 2 is basically an OSCE exam. The application costs 35 Grand! And you have to travel to the U. K. to give the exam. There are 14 stations, each of 5 minutes each. They include conselling, procedures, C. P. R., history taking etc. Depending on your performance you get qualified. The results are announced after a few days.

Now what do you do after passing Part 2 of PLAB? That's when you hang out in pubs hoping that an attachment in a respectable hospital is not far away. Here, recommendation is of immense value. If you have a relative who's a respectable figure in the medical fraternity in U. K., you can be that much closer to an attachment at a respectable institution.

An attachment is not a job. The only way you can get a job (that's an S. H. O.) is by getting 'attached'. Another advantage with the 'attachment' is that you get accustomed to the medical system in the U. K. Senior House Officer jobs are very difficult to get here. Those even having an M. D. from India are finding it difficult to get an S. H. O. post. So basically it's a waiting game. You will have to wait at least 4 - 5 months before you get your first job. After that, it becomes a little easier.

That's about all that I can think of right now. I hope this little passage of information will be of use to the young aspirants. If anything else comes up in my mind, I'll contribute further. For anything more or for further information about the study materials etc. drop me an e-mail at abhilashparam@yahoo.co.in. Of course, you have to give me and the webmaster the feedback about this article and for that matter, anything else on this site. That's the only way we can improve!

Dr. Abhilash Parameshwaran

(Did this article help you in anyway? Do you need further information on some points? Feel free to write to Abhilash and the webmasters about this article.)

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