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23 - 26 October 2025 | Live Online

Get exam-ready for the November PLAB 1 exam with our intensive 4-day course, or join us if you are starting your revision early and planning for the exam in 2026.

Cover high-yield topics, tricky questions, and exam strategies with experienced NHS lecturers.

Revise smarter, identify knowledge gaps, and boost your confidence.

Limited places available - early registration is advised.

We are really excited to share our brand-new feature called Pair!

It is designed for anyone preparing for PLAB 2 who wants a partner to practise PLAB 2 Gems Stations with.

To use it, just head to Gems once you have subscribed, click on the PLAB 2 tab, and then hit the green Pair button. This will connect you with someone else who is also ready to practise.

The purpose of Pair is simply to help you connect with a study partner. Once matched, you are free to arrange a practice time that works best for both of you.

To make it easier for everyone to find a partner, we recommend joining the pairing pool at the same time each day. 

We suggest 12pm UK time daily as the best time to connect, so that anyone looking for a partner can log in together and be paired more easily.

Hi everyone, we are really excited to share our brand-new feature called “Pair”. It is designed for anyone preparing for PLAB 2 who wants a partner to practise our PLAB 2 Gems with.

To use it, just head to Gems once you have subscribed, click on the PLAB 2 tab, and then hit the green “Pair” button. This will connect you with someone else who is ready to practise the Gems together.

To make it easier to find a partner, we suggest everyone jumps into the pairing pool at the same time. Let’s start off by trying 4pm UK time today.

We are holding a two-day PLAB 2 focused revision course, led by PLAB 2 specialist Dr Baz Bakhtyar Mohammed, on 31st July and 1st August 2025, from 10 AM to 5 PM (UK time).

This interactive course offers structured revision across a range of PLAB 2 station types, including history taking, ethics, and follow-ups. Participants will benefit from guided practice, peer observation, and tailored feedback aimed at improving confidence and performance.

Cost: £15 (includes access to both days, summary sheet, and WhatsApp group).

Spaces are limited to ensure quality interaction - early registration is advised.

The NHS has been under immense pressure in recent years. Resident doctor strikes, ballooning patient waitlists, and ever-tightening budgets have taken a toll on a system once regarded as world-class in both training and service delivery. Morale is not what it used to be. That much is clear. However, one thing remains unchanged: the NHS still heavily relies on international medical graduates (IMGs). In fact, around 40 to 45% of NHS doctors are IMGs. So, while the road may feel more uphill than before, the NHS still needs you.

There is no denying that the job market for IMGs has shifted. Just a few years ago, it was not uncommon for hospitals to offer jobs to candidates immediately after PLAB 2. Today, things are more competitive, particularly for non-training trust grade roles. Many hospitals now prefer candidates with UK experience, especially in high-pressure specialities. For those requiring Tier 2 sponsorship, shortlisting can be more difficult. Nevertheless, the door is far from closed. Many smaller towns and understaffed trusts are actively recruiting IMGs, often with less competition than in larger cities.

It is easy to feel discouraged midway through the PLAB journey, especially with stories circulating about delayed interviews or limited job offers. However, there are still many reasons to remain optimistic. The NHS is facing a serious retention crisis, with many UK-trained doctors choosing to work in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the Middle East. This is evident in the recent resident doctor strikes. That brain drain creates space for newcomers. At the same time, routes such as direct entry into training posts, particularly in General Practice and Psychiatry, remain accessible and offer long-term security. New roles are also emerging. Non-training fellowships, clinical fellow posts and CESR-linked positions are expanding across the UK. IMGs today are entering the system better prepared than ever before.

If you are applying to the NHS, a few strategies may improve your chances. Be open to relocating outside of major cities such as London, Birmingham or Manchester. Begin building your UK network early by attending webinars and arranging clinical attachments during your PLAB 2 visit. Strengthen your CV with research, audits, teaching and quality improvement projects, even if you are still based in your home country.

Yes, getting a job in the NHS is harder than it once was. However, it is far from impossible. Thousands of IMGs secure roles each year. The NHS may be under strain, but it continues to welcome those who arrive with commitment, competence and compassion.

Check out one of our older famous free 1-hour PLAB 1 lectures on YouTube here. It has helped thousands of candidates! Our next date for our course is 17th of July. 

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