PLAB 1: The Complete Guide to Format, Content and How to Pass

PLAB 1 is the first part of the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test, the route by which many international medical graduates demonstrate they are ready to practise medicine in the UK. It is a written exam sat by tens of thousands of doctors around the world each year, and a strong, structured preparation is the key to passing first time. This guide explains the format, what it tests, who can sit it, how it relates to the UK Medical Licensing Assessment, and how to prepare.

What is PLAB 1?

PLAB 1 is the written, knowledge-based first part of the PLAB test, administered by the General Medical Council. It assesses whether an international medical graduate has knowledge and competencies equivalent to those of a doctor starting the second year of the UK Foundation Programme. Passing PLAB 1 is a prerequisite for sitting PLAB 2, the clinical examination, and the two together form the main route to GMC registration for many international graduates.

PLAB 1 format and structure

PLAB 1 consists of 180 single best answer questions to be completed within three hours. Each question begins with a short clinical scenario followed by a question and five answer options, from which you select the single best answer.

• 180 single best answer questions.
• Three hours to complete the paper.
• Each question is a short clinical scenario with five options.
• Set and administered by the General Medical Council (GMC).

PLAB 1 can be sat in the UK and in many countries around the world, which makes it accessible to candidates preparing from abroad. Because the GMC updates its arrangements over time, confirm the current format, dates and locations through your GMC Online account when you apply.

Who can sit PLAB 1?

PLAB 1 is intended for international medical graduates seeking GMC registration, and eligibility centres on holding an acceptable primary medical qualification and meeting the GMC's requirements, including the English language requirements. Candidates typically sit PLAB 1 after qualifying and gaining some clinical experience. Because the criteria are set by the GMC and can change, confirm the current eligibility requirements and the documents you will need before you apply through your GMC Online account.

What PLAB 1 tests

PLAB 1 is firmly clinical and practical, reflecting the knowledge needed by a doctor at the start of their second foundation year. Questions are scenario-based and management-oriented, often asking for the most appropriate diagnosis, investigation or next step in management for a patient. The content spans the breadth of medicine and surgery and their major specialties, with an emphasis on safe, appropriate management in a UK context. Revising with material aligned to UK practice and guidelines helps you choose the answer the exam is looking for.

PLAB 1 and the UK Medical Licensing Assessment

The UK has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) as the common standard all doctors must meet to practise, and for international medical graduates the PLAB route is how that standard is assessed. In practice this means PLAB is aligned with the MLA and its content map, so the knowledge PLAB 1 tests reflects what a doctor entering UK practice is expected to know. Because this is an evolving area, it is worth confirming the current position and any changes through the GMC when you plan your exam.

A realistic PLAB 1 study plan

Most candidates prepare over roughly two to four months, depending on how recently they have practised across the major specialties.

• Weeks 1 to 4 build coverage across the specialties through daily questions in tutor mode, reading every explanation and noting the UK-specific management points that decide the best answer.
• Weeks 5 to 8 consolidate through mixed question blocks that keep the whole syllabus active, and log weak areas to return to.
• Final weeks sit timed, full-length practice of 180 questions to build pacing and stamina, review your analytics, focus on weak areas, and taper before the exam.

Exam technique and what to expect on the day

With 180 questions in three hours, you have around a minute per question, so a steady pace is essential and stalling is costly. Read each scenario efficiently, identify what is being asked, and commit to the single best answer, which is usually the safest, most appropriate next step for that patient rather than the most elaborate option. Flag anything slow and return to it, and because there is no benefit to blank answers, make sure every question is answered. Rehearsing this rhythm in timed practice makes it automatic on the day.

The best way to revise for PLAB 1

Because PLAB 1 is entirely single best answer, a UK-aligned question bank is the most efficient way to prepare. Work in tutor mode, read the reasoning behind every option, and pay attention to the UK management preferences that mark the best answer. Track your performance across the specialties so you can find and close gaps, and build to full-length timed practice for pacing and stamina. Working through a large volume of well-explained, UK-aligned questions, to genuine understanding, is the most reliable predictor of a first-time pass.

Passmed's PLAB 1 question bank is written by qualified doctors, aligned to UK practice, with detailed explanations and a dashboard that surfaces your weakest specialties as you build toward a confident first-attempt pass. Explore the question bank →

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in PLAB 1?

180 single best answer questions to be completed within three hours, each a short clinical scenario with five options, set by the General Medical Council.

What does PLAB 1 test?

Knowledge and competencies equivalent to a doctor starting the second year of the UK Foundation Programme, through scenario-based, management-oriented questions across medicine, surgery and the major specialties in a UK context.

How does PLAB relate to the UKMLA?

The UK has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment as the common standard for practice, and for international medical graduates the PLAB route is how that standard is assessed, so PLAB is aligned with the MLA content map. Confirm the current position with the GMC.

Who can sit PLAB 1?

International medical graduates seeking GMC registration who hold an acceptable primary medical qualification and meet the GMC's requirements, including English language requirements. Confirm the current criteria with the GMC.

How long should I study for PLAB 1?

Around two to four months of consistent, question-led preparation suits most candidates, using UK-aligned material and building to full-length timed practice.

Exam format and scoring details were checked against the official examining bodies (accessed July 2026). Specifications, dates and fees change, always confirm the current details on the official website before you sit.