Your results

Your results will be available six weeks after you take the exam. We'll send you an email to access your results in the 'My Tests' section of GMC Online. We can't give you your results over the phone or in person.

Exam and result dates for recent and upcoming PLAB 1 tests

Exam date

Result date

7 November 2024 18 December 2024 by 4pm 
20 February 2025 3 April 2025 by 4pm
22 May 2025 3 July 2025 by 4pm

How do we work out your score?

Each correct answer you give is worth one mark, and the total number of correct answers you give will be your score.

In your results we will tell you your total score, the score required to pass the exam and the average score for all candidates.

How do we provide feedback on your performance?

We group the exam questions into ten main areas of clinical practice, based on the MLA content map:

  • Reproductive health
  • Renal and urology
  • Neurosciences and senses (including skins)
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Mental health
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Endocrine metabolic, and clinical haematology
  • Child and adolescent health
  • Cardiorespiratory
  • Ethics and other
We will tell you the percentage of the questions you answered correctly in each of these areas. We will also tell you the average percentage of questions all candidates answered correctly in each of these areas. 

How do we set the pass mark?

We set the pass mark for each test using the internationally recognised Angoff method and include one standard error of measurement.

By doing this, we make sure the level at which we set the pass mark is consistent over time. It reflects what we expect of a doctor entering their second year of Foundation Programme training.

After each test a team of experts reviews the question paper in light of how candidates have performed, to make sure all the questions and answers are fair. Candidates are at all stages of their career and there is no expected pass rate or average score.

We may change our standard setting procedures from time to time without notice.