How to Structure Any PLAB 2 Station in the First 60 Seconds

You’ve got 90 seconds outside the door to skim the task, but the first 60 seconds inside the room are where you set the tone. Miss this window, and you’ll spend the next seven minutes back-pedalling. The examiners are marking you from the moment you knock, so treat those 60 seconds like a micro-OSCE: read, introduce, signpost. Do it the same way every time, and you’ll walk out of every station knowing you’ve ticked the first three boxes on the mark sheet before you’ve even touched the patient or actor.

Start by reading the task card aloud—yes, aloud—while you’re still standing. It takes five seconds, forces you to process the words, and buys you a few more seconds to compose yourself. Then introduce yourself with name, role, and a single sentence that tells the patient what you’re about to do. Finish with a clear agenda: “I’d like to ask you some questions, examine you, and then we’ll discuss what to do next.” That’s it—three steps, 60 seconds, and you’ve just earned the first three communication marks without breaking a sweat.

The 60-Second Routine in Detail

1. Read the task card aloud (0–5 s) Open the door, step in, and read the card while you’re still standing. Don’t sit until you’ve finished. Example: “You are the doctor in the GP surgery. Mrs Patel has come in because she’s been feeling tired for the past three months.” Reading aloud slows you down and ensures you don’t misread “tired” as “tired and breathless.”

2. Introduce yourself (5–15 s) Walk to the chair, make eye contact, and say: “Good morning, I’m Dr Smith, one of the doctors here. Thank you for coming in today.” Use your real first name—examiners don’t care if it’s not on the GMC register yet. The “thank you” is deliberate; it softens the power imbalance and scores rapport.

3. Set the agenda (15–60 s) Sit down, lean slightly forward, and say: “I’d like to ask you a few questions about how you’ve been feeling, then I’ll examine you, and after that we can talk about what might be going on and what we can do to help.” That’s 20 words, takes 10 seconds, and covers history, examination, and management—everything the examiner wants to hear in the first minute.

Worked Example: Tiredness Station

Task card: You are the doctor in the GP surgery. Mrs Patel, 42, has come in because she’s been feeling tired for the past three months. Please take a history and discuss management.

0–5 s: (standing, reading aloud) “You are the doctor in the GP surgery. Mrs Patel has come in because she’s been feeling tired for the past three months.”

5–15 s: (walking to chair) “Good morning, Mrs Patel. I’m Dr Alex, one of the doctors here. Thank you for coming in today.”

15–60 s: (sitting, leaning forward) “I’d like to ask you a few questions about how you’ve been feeling, then I’ll check your blood pressure and have a quick listen to your heart and lungs. After that, we can talk about what might be going on and what we can do to help.”

Notice what just happened: you’ve told the examiner you’re going to take a history (ICE, red flags, systems review), perform an examination (even if it’s just a focused one), and discuss management (investigations, safety-netting, follow-up). That’s the entire station mapped out in 45 seconds, and you’ve given the actor a clear roadmap so they don’t start throwing curveballs like “But what about my thyroid?” before you’ve even finished your introduction.

Why This Routine Works

Examiners are marking you against a checklist, not a novel. The first three communication criteria are:

• Greets patient appropriately
• Introduces self and role
• Explains purpose of consultation

Tick those in the first 60 seconds, and you’ve already scored 6/18 communication marks—one third of the total—before you’ve asked a single question. The rest of the station is just filling in the blanks. More importantly, a structured opening calms your nerves. When you know exactly what to say in the first minute, the next seven feel less like a high-wire act.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Skipping the agenda Without signposting, the actor will assume you’re jumping straight to management. Example: you say “How can I help?” and they reply “I need sleeping tablets.” Now you’re on the back foot. Fix it by always ending your introduction with “...and then we’ll discuss what to do next.”

Mistake 2: Reading the card silently Silent reading looks like hesitation. The examiner can’t hear you processing the task, so they assume you’re lost. Fix it by reading aloud—it’s a small habit that makes you look more confident.

Mistake 3: Over-explaining the agenda “First I’ll ask about your tiredness, then I’ll explore your sleep, diet, mood, and any other symptoms, and then I’ll examine you, but only if you’re comfortable, and then we’ll talk about blood tests or maybe a referral...” That’s 20 seconds of waffle. Fix it by keeping the agenda to one sentence, max 15 words.

Adapting the Routine for Different Stations

History stations: “I’d like to ask you some questions about [presenting complaint], then we can discuss what might be going on and what we can do next.”

Examination stations: “I’d like to examine your [body part], then we can talk about the findings and what to do next.” Example for a knee examination: “I’d like to have a look at your knee, check your range of movement, and then we’ll discuss what might be causing the pain and how to treat it.”

Breaking bad news: “I’d like to talk to you about the results of your test, then we can discuss what this means and what the next steps might be.” Notice the pattern: history/examination/management, always in that order. The examiner’s mark sheet is structured the same way, so mirroring it makes their job easier—and a happy examiner is more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Telephone stations: “Good morning, this is Dr Smith speaking. I understand you’ve been having [symptom]. I’d like to ask you a few questions, then we can discuss what might be going on and what we should do next.” The routine works even without a physical patient. The key is to replace “examine you” with “ask you some questions” and keep the rest identical.

What to Do If You Blank

You will blank. It happens to everyone. The trick is to have a fallback phrase that buys you five seconds to regroup. Example: “Mrs Patel, before we start, could I just check—you’ve come in today because of [read presenting complaint from task card]?” That’s 10 seconds of breathing space, and it still ticks the “explains purpose” box.

If you forget your name, say “I’m one of the doctors here.” If you forget the agenda, say “I’d like to ask you some questions and then we’ll take it from there.” The examiner doesn’t know what you were planning to say, so keep it simple and move on.

Practice Makes Permanent

This routine is like a golf swing: do it the same way every time, and it becomes muscle memory. The more you practise, the less you’ll have to think about it. Use a timer—60 seconds, no more. Record yourself on your phone and watch it back. Does it sound natural? Does it cover history, examination, and management? If not, tweak it until it does.

For mock practice, OSCEPilot lets you run through stations with timed feedback, so you can drill this routine until it’s second nature. The key is repetition—do it 20 times, and you’ll do it right on the day.

FAQ

Q: Should I shake the patient’s hand? Only if the actor offers theirs first. In PLAB 2, the examiners are marking you on adaptability, not social etiquette. If the actor’s arm is in a sling, don’t offer your hand. If they’re sitting with their hands in their lap, don’t reach for them. A smile and eye contact are enough.

Q: What if the task card says “take a focused history”? Do I still mention examination? Yes. Even if the station is history-only, say “I’d like to ask you some questions, then we can discuss what might be going on and what to do next.” The examiner wants to hear that you’re thinking beyond the history. If you don’t mention management, they’ll assume you’ve forgotten it.

Q: How do I handle the 90 seconds outside the door? Use them to read the task card twice, note the presenting complaint, and decide on your opening agenda. Example: “Tiredness—history, examine for anaemia, discuss bloods.” That’s all you need. Don’t try to plan the entire station; the first 60 seconds inside will guide the rest.