What PLAB 2 ent stations cover

ENT PLAB 2 stations cover ear, nose and throat complaints such as hearing loss, sore throat, dizziness and nosebleeds. They test focused history-taking, red-flag screening, and simple, reassuring explanation.

Topics you can practise in these stations include:

  • Headache after a cold
  • Recurrent nosebleeds on a blood thinner
  • Ear pain and blocked ear
  • Discharging ear with hearing loss
  • Sore throat and fever
  • Sneezing and nasal symptoms
  • Dizziness in an admitted patient after a fall
  • Febrile toddler tugging her ear
  • One-sided hearing loss
  • Ear pain
  • Blocked, painful ear after a flight
  • Dizziness on turning over in bed
  • Recurrent nosebleeds
  • Persistent hoarse voice

How to approach a ent station

Take a focused ENT history, ask about associated and systemic symptoms, and identify the red flags below before reassuring.

The underlying structure is the same as any PLAB 2 station: greet and confirm identity, explore the patient's ideas, concerns and expectations early, take a focused history, screen for the red flags below, explain your thinking in plain English, and agree a shared plan with clear safety-netting. See the free PLAB 2 preparation guide for the full study plan.

Red flags to screen for in ent stations

Examiners reward candidates who actively screen for what must not be missed. In ent stations, the key red flags include:

  • Persistent unilateral ear or nasal symptoms
  • Hoarseness over three weeks (laryngeal cancer)
  • A new neck lump in an adult
  • Stridor or airway compromise
  • Sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Skills these stations test

The 19 ent stations break down by skill type as:

  • History and management 13
  • History red flags 4
  • Counselling 2

All 19 free ent stations

Every station below is free. Click one to sit it as an eight-minute spoken consultation, then get your mark-scheme breakdown.

History and management 13

History red flags 4

Counselling 2

Practise other PLAB 2 specialties

Frequently asked questions

What PLAB 2 ent stations come up?

Plabity's 19 free PLAB 2 ent stations include presentations such as headache after a cold, recurrent nosebleeds on a blood thinner, ear pain and blocked ear, discharging ear with hearing loss, sore throat and fever, sneezing and nasal symptoms, dizziness in an admitted patient after a fall, febrile toddler tugging her ear, one-sided hearing loss, ear pain, blocked, painful ear after a flight, dizziness on turning over in bed, recurrent nosebleeds, persistent hoarse voice. Each runs as an eight-minute spoken consultation marked to the PLAB rubric.

Are these PLAB 2 ent stations free?

Yes. All 19 are free to practise. You sign up with an email address, with no card required.

How are the stations marked?

Each station is marked across the three PLAB domains: data gathering, clinical management and interpersonal skills. You get a breakdown of every criterion with quoted evidence from your own consultation, in seconds.

See also: free PLAB 2 preparation · the complete PLAB 2 guide · all free stations

Practise ent stations free.

19 spoken ent cubicles, marked to the PLAB rubric. No card, no plan.

Start practising free