Your results

  1. Summary
  2. What is the PLAB 1 exam?
  3. When and where can I take PLAB 1?
  4. Information on booking a PLAB 1 place
  5. How to cancel your booking, and our approach to other exam disruptions
  6. What resources should you use to prepare?
  7. Sample questions
  8. Do you require adjustments to your exam due to a health need?
  9. What can you expect on the day?
  1. Your results
  2. What do you do after you get your results?
  3. Are you eligible for an additional PLAB 1 attempt?
  4. How do you appeal your PLAB 1 result?
  5. Misconduct procedures
  6. Case study of a candidate misconduct at the PLAB exam
  7. Anti-bribery policy
  8. PLAB and the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) requirements

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.

Previous What can you expect on the day? Next What do you do after you get your results?

Related content

PLAB 1 preparation resources Find resources that you can use to prepare for your PLAB 1 test. 
Acceptable overseas qualifications Check your primary medical qualification is acceptable to sit the PLAB test.
Evidence of your knowledge of English Do you have the necessary knowledge of English to sit PLAB?
PLAB pass rates See recent pass rates for PLAB 1.
PLAB reports See published reports about the PLAB test.