The GMC, not this website, publishes the exact PLAB 1 dates, locations and booking windows. This guide explains how the system works so you know what to check and when.
How booking works
- Sittings are scheduled several times a year and are booked through your GMC Online account.
- Places are limited and often fill within hours of release, so be signed in with your documents and English result ready before the window opens.
- You choose a test centre when you book. UK centres and overseas centres are separate lists: see the exam-centre directory.
What is changing
The site currently records the following GMC announcement (checked against the GMC page, see the source link): from February 2027 the GMC withdraws PLAB 1 from Dhaka, Alexandria, Accra and Chennai and moves to three sittings a year outside the UK and EEA. If you plan to sit at one of those centres, check the GMC’s current list before choosing a date.
A booking checklist
- Confirm you are eligible.
- Hold an accepted English test result that will still be valid on your exam date.
- Check the GMC’s “when and where” page for the current sittings and the date each booking window opens.
- Pick two or three possible centres and dates in advance, including travel and visa time.
- Book as soon as the window opens, then screenshot the confirmation and add the date to your study plan.
Start from the overview of PLAB 1, which also lists the sample questions and centres.
Related guides
General education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Guidance changes: confirm with the official sources. Not medical, legal or immigration advice.