What resources should you use to prepare for PLAB 1?

  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. Cancelling or amending your booking, and our approach to other exam disruptions
  6. What resources should you use to prepare for PLAB 1?
  7. Sample questions for PLAB 1
  8. Do you have a health need that may require adjustments or support on your exam day?
  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 1 and the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) requirements

The MLA content map

The Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) content map is a guide to what the exam covers and can help you to prepare. It sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours you are expected to demonstrate in the exam and beyond. All the topics and skills needed to pass are covered in the content map.

The Foundation Programme curriculum

All the topics and areas of clinical practice covered by the MLA content map match those typically faced by doctors starting the second year of their UK Foundation Programme training. This is how we make sure doctors who pass the PLAB test are at the same level as UK-qualified doctors. 

Read the Foundation Programme curriculum.

Guidance and interactive tools

Good medical practice is our core advice to doctors on the standards we expect of them. You will be expected to demonstrate the professional values and behaviours set out in Good medical practice when you take the exam and when you practise as a doctor in the UK.

You can build and test your knowledge of Good medical practice using:

Courses

You don't need to attend a study or coaching course to pass, but we recognise that many candidates choose to do so. We don't offer courses, and we do not endorse or monitor the quality of courses given by others.

If you decide to attend a course, it's your responsibility to check the credibility of the course and of those providing it, and to make sure that any actions you take as part your preparation don’t put you at risk of breaching our misconduct policy.

In particular, if you attend any course that claims to provide you with GMC exam content, or asks you to share content from GMC exams you have attended, it is likely you will breach our misconduct policy. This could put your ability to undertake the exam, and to gain registration, at risk.

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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.