The GMC publishes a content map for the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA): the list of conditions, presentations, skills and professional topics that a newly qualified UK doctor should know. PLAB 1 is set to the same standard as the MLA Applied Knowledge Test, so the content map is the closest thing to an official syllabus.
How to use the content map
- Open the current content map on the GMC site.
- Copy the main headings into a spreadsheet.
- Rate each line: strong, patchy or unfamiliar.
- Revise the unfamiliar items first, using NICE and the BNF.
If you used the older PLAB blueprint, update your plan: the GMC aligned PLAB with the MLA, and the content map now describes what is assessed. Always check the GMC’s current wording on how PLAB relates to the MLA.
GMC specimen and sample questions
- The GMC publishes sample questions so candidates can see the format and style of single-best-answer items.
- Do them under timed conditions and compare your reasoning with the explanations.
- Use them as a style guide: they will not predict your exam.
Turn the map into a plan using high-yield topics and a study plan. The exam itself is described in PLAB 1.
Related guides
General education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Guidance changes: confirm with the official sources. Not medical, legal or immigration advice.