Expenses and Saving Tips for " Road from PLAB2 Preparation to GMC Registration "
These were my expenses for my PLAB2 journey in November 2021 (in the Covid pandemic).
I include some of the tips.
1. Flight
Domestic flight ( East Malaysia to KLIA) = RM46
International flight ( two way) = RM 3057
* If you are on a visitor visa, it is always advisable to have a return flight journey (to avoid any trouble in Immigration Check, UK). Try to find an airline that provides flexible changes without any extra charges. I used Qatar airline as it allow changes of flight tickets without additional cost during the pandemic.
Tips: Avoid travel with unreliable flight companies during the pandemic periods, if you can't afford flight delay or cancellation.
You can always opt for travel insurance.
2. COVID PCR test
In Malaysia: ranging between RM150-RM250
In the UK: ranging between £59 to £ 150 ( I will go for the cheapest one)
- I will recommend using Randox: https://www.randox.com/ as I found it was the cheapest in the market. Do share in the comment if you find another cheaper one.
- If you want to use Randox, please take note of any availability of the Randox drop box in your area ( it is their own mailbox) and take note of their collection time.
- for Malaysia's travel rules and regulations, you can refer to the Facebook group Malaysia Quarantine Support Group (MQSG) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/640550406736604. It is the best supportive group I found in this journey.
- for travel into UK, please check the guideline in https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-abroad-from-england-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
3. Accommodation in the UK in Manchester
- I spend around 10days in Manchester, it cost me around 18 to 20 £/ night in a shared room ( I go for low cost).
- Where you can find the place to stay? Ans: Spare Room, Booking.com, Airbnb, hotel, plab2 accommodation telegram group
- Hotel that I suggest and found near to GMC : Travelodge (clean, big room, comparative cheap), 29 to 32 £
- I will strongly suggest booking one night in a hotel (without been a shared room), the day before your exam. Make yourself a treat. Sometimes, the shared accommodation in PLAB2 can be uncomfortable.
Tips: I think the walking distance between 10-15mins is reasonable, to the academy. Don't forget sometimes you need to walk in cold and rainy weather in the UK. If it is 45mins walking distance, I think it is quite far. You can spend around £5 per trip for Uber.
Tips: Try to book at least two weeks to one months earlier. It goes fully booked quite early. Prices could increase if you book late too.
4. Travelling
- You can use a train (which varies from £50 to 90 two way from London to Manchester) or a bus (around half the price of the train or as low as £16-22 ).
- I stayed at my friend's house in London before departing Manchester.
Tips: Try to buy your ticket earlier, it will save you money.
Apps that you can book your ticket:
Bus: National Express Coach, Megabus, Flexibus
Tips: Uber is cheaper than a taxi.
5. Academy
I spend around £599 to attend an academy in Manchester, which includes a 10days course (around 8hours per day), a 2 days revision course, and 3 face-to-face mocks.
There are online classes or face-to-face classes.
Mo Sobhy ( in Liverpool), Common station (in London), Samson ( in Manchester), Aspire, Swammy, Friend Academy.....and so on
6. Online Private Mock/ Course
I spend around 25 to 30 £ per mock (individual/ group mock) with my online mentor and 150 £ for an online course.
How many mock shall I take? Ans: I will suggest taking earlier than your academy mock. I will suggest doing as many as you can. As you need to identify your mistake as earlier as possible. It is better to spend money on online mock than you fail the exam and resit the exam. It will be more costly if you do so. If you fail the exam, you going to double up the time and cost.
I am a repeater for PLAB2. I was crying for help when I failed my exam. Thus, I am now offering PLAB2 coaching.
This is my telegram group: Link https://t.me/+4TMVGHs9W7Y1MzZl
Or You can contact me via hhpersonalcoaching@gmail.com
PLAB 2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/106186768740151/posts/106217105403784/?d=n
7. Exam fee
Part 2 of the PLAB test:
£879 from 1 April 2021
8. Food
I avoid spending food outside. I used to cook in my hostel (usually PLAB2 accommodation is equipped with all the utensils). This helped me to save some money.
Usually, one meal can cost around £6-8 (set meal). However, one frozen pizza can cost £1-2.
Total spend for 10 days = around £30 ( tight budget)
Tips: A cheaper way to get food supply, options will be: Poundland, Lidl, ALDI, ASDA as compared to Sainsbury, Tesco
9. Phone/ Internet
Most of the places have free Wi-Fi. My friend helps me to get Lebara (cost 5£/ month, with 3GB data, unlimited SMS, 1000mins UK to UK call, 100min UK to International call, unlimited Lebara to Lebara call).
Personally, I think it is good to have a cheap phone plan on hand although it may not be essential for everyone. I met people who attend PLAB2 without a UK phone plan.
You can use it to order food online, order groceries, order for Uber, and open an online UK bank account.
Tips: If you want a phone plan, please get it earlier. Plan it. Delivery time could take 4-10days.
If you want to travel along without an internet plan, you can read my blog: https://helenngjourney.blogspot.com/2022/02/travel-alone-in-uk-first-time-do-i-need.html
----Congratulation. You are applying for GMC registration------------------------------------------------------------------
------ Tips! ---------
Previously I used to travel overseas with a certain amount
of cash.
However, when I was traveling for my PLAB2, I brought less cash.
I strongly recommend having a debit card while you travel. As you can avoid bringing a huge amount of cash which could be difficult to carry and to avoid unnecessary trouble of changing the leftover money back to local currency.
In London, you can't use cash for their buses. Nowadays, only cards are accepted. You can buy an Oyster card online or in a grocery shop. It cost £5 for me to buy in the grocery shop and I need to top up the card.
I use BigPay at the beginning. It is useful for a Malaysian
when traveling abroad.
I found it is cheaper than the money exchange dealers and I
can spend according to the amount that I want.
Later, I found Monzo is good to use locally in the UK.
Monzo is an online UK bank. You need to have a UK Local
address where there will send you a physical card in 2-3days time after you
applied.
You can use Wise to transfer your local money (Ringgit) to the Monzo account (UK account).
What countries that I can send using wise? Link
Here are the links with my referral code:
BigPay: http://bigpay.link/referrals?referralcode=L8UC7XCD2T (free to install, you can get RM10)
Monzo: https://join.monzo.com/c/wxf6s3w (free to install, you can get £5)
Wise: https://wise.com/invite/ih/peyn5 (
Other useful apps for food delivery in the UK with my referral code:
Deliveroo: https://roo.it/helenn-9hgg ( free to install, you get £10 off across your first 4 orders)
Uber: my code at checkout: eats-ps8d3ok89f http://ubr.to/EatsGiveGet ( free to install, £10 off your first Uber Eats order of £30 or more)
I hope this gives an overview of the expenses in the PLAB2 journey for you.
Please comment below if I miss anything.
Good luck with your PLAB2 journey.
Useful link:
Interest to know how much total fee is required for the PLAB journey? https://thesavvyimg.co.uk/how-much-does-gmc-and-plab-fee-cost/
Road to UK: https://roadtouk.com/plab-2-visit/your-first-visit-to-uk/
Here is the table of contents for other topics: https://helenngjourney.blogspot.com/2022/02/table-of-contents.html
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