GK Notes vs SimsBuddy: An Honest Comparison for PLAB 2 Revision
120 candidates who've used GK Notes, SimsBuddy, or both were asked what actually works and what doesn't.
Choosing where to prepare for PLAB 2 matters, and GK Notes and SimsBuddy are two of the platforms candidates keep coming back to. This comparison comes from SimsBuddy, so it isn't neutral by default, but 120 candidates who've used one or both platforms were interviewed for this piece, and their answers are reported here as given, including where SimsBuddy falls short.
GK Notes
GK Notes is one of the most widely used resources for PLAB 2 preparation. Three large sets of notes are free to access, the website is straightforward to navigate, and it has built up a large, active community around it over time. AI patient simulation has recently been introduced too.
Pro: Three large sets of notes available for free. A website candidates found easy to navigate. A large, established community. AI patient simulation now available.
Cons: The notes run to over 900 cases, which candidates described as extremely comprehensive but a lot to work through for efficient revision rather than exhaustive reading. The AI patient feature is very new, and candidates who tried it said it tends to overshare information and isn't as well trained or tuned yet as SimsBuddy's.
SimsBuddy
SimsBuddy was the first AI patient platform for PLAB 2 to exist in the UK, and candidates consistently pointed to the AI patients themselves as a strength, describing them as responsive and trained to mimic how actors behave in the actual exam. The case bank is extensive, with 550 cases including recalls. SimsBuddy is also affordable, and includes a free foundation course open to everyone.
A note on recalls: Recalls refers to cases built around known exam trends and patterns from past sittings, not exact reproductions of real exam stations. Candidates should treat recalls as a guide to common scenarios and question styles, not as guaranteed exam content.
Pro: The first AI patient platform built for PLAB 2 in the UK, with AI patients candidates described as responsive and closely trained to mimic exam actors. A case bank of 550 cases, including recalls. Affordable pricing. A free foundation course open to everyone.
Cons: No free downloadable PDFs yet, unlike GK Notes. The free foundation course has to be accessed through the website rather than downloaded. The community around SimsBuddy is still small by comparison. There's no physical academy, though SimsBuddy has recently introduced instructors who offer one to one sessions, listening to a candidate's AI simulation recordings and giving personalized feedback.
How they compare at a glance
| GK Notes | SimsBuddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Notes and cases | 900+ cases, free written notes | 550 cases, including recalls |
| AI patients | Recently introduced, still maturing | First to launch in the UK, more refined and trained |
| Free resources | Free downloadable PDF notes | Free foundation course, website access only |
| Community | Large, established | Small, still growing |
| Personalized feedback | Not offered | Recently introduced, one to one instructor sessions |
So which one should you choose
For most of the candidates interviewed, SimsBuddy came out ahead, largely because of the AI patients themselves. Being first to build this for PLAB 2 and having refined it for longer showed in how candidates described the experience, and the price stayed accessible throughout.
That said, GK Notes has real strengths worth weighing. Candidates who want free, extensive written notes and an established, large community around them may prefer GK Notes, particularly while SimsBuddy's own community and feedback options are still growing.
GK Notes offers volume and community that SimsBuddy hasn't matched yet. But for the majority of candidates interviewed, the quality and maturity of SimsBuddy's AI patients, paired with affordable pricing and a free foundation course, made it the platform they'd recommend for PLAB 2 preparation.
This comparison is based on conversations with 120 candidates, not either platform's opinion of itself.