PLAB 1 tests your ability to apply medical knowledge to UK practice. The questions are single best answer, based on the GMC’s outcomes for graduates, Good Medical Practice and common NHS clinical scenarios.
| Item | Detail (confirm on the GMC site) |
|---|---|
| Format | 180 single best answer questions (each with five options) in a three-hour computer-based exam |
| Content | Common UK clinical situations: medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, emergency medicine, general practice, ethics and professionalism, evidence and statistics |
| Fee from 1 April 2026 | £283 |
| Sittings | Currently scheduled four times a year (February, May, August and November). The GMC has announced that, from February 2027, sittings outside the UK and EEA move from four to three a year. |
| Booking | Through GMC Online; places fill quickly, and you must book before the closing date |
Where you can sit it
PLAB 1 is delivered in six UK cities (Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Manchester), two European cities (Dublin and Madrid) and a list of overseas venues, with overseas exams delivered through the GMC’s appointed test partner. In 2026 the GMC announced that, from February 2027, Dhaka, Alexandria, Accra and Chennai will no longer offer PLAB 1. See the Exam centres page for the full list, which you can filter and search.
Preparing
- Work through the GMC’s own sample questions and published guidance first.
- Use UK-style question banks and the NICE guidelines and CKS summaries. Your answers must follow UK guidelines, not those of your home country.
- Learn Good Medical Practice thoroughly: ethics and professionalism questions are common.
- Practise timed blocks: 180 questions in 180 minutes leaves about one minute per question.
Your checklist
- Booked PLAB 1
- Completed GMC sample questions
- Completed 2,000+ practice questions
- Passed PLAB 1
Fees, English-test scores and dates were last checked against official sources on 24 October 2026.
This page is general education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change: always confirm with the official sources below. It is not medical, legal or immigration advice.