This is a one-page summary of the PLAB rules that other websites often get wrong. Every row links to a guide with the detail and the GMC source. Checked against the GMC website on 31 October 2026. Fees and English scores are filled from this site’s own checked key facts.
| Question | Answer | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| PLAB 1 format | 180 single-best-answer questions in three hours | PLAB 1 |
| PLAB 1 fee (from 1 April 2026) | £283 | Fees |
| PLAB 2 fee (from 1 April 2026) | £1,036 | Fees |
| English (IELTS Academic) | 7.5 overall, at least 7.0 in each skill | English requirements |
| English (OET Medicine) | Grade B in each skill | English requirements |
| PLAB 1 results | Published six weeks after the exam, in GMC Online | Results |
| PLAB 2 results | Published within a month of the exam, in GMC Online | Results |
| PLAB 1 pass mark | Set for each test (Angoff method plus one standard error of measurement) | PLAB 1 pass mark |
| PLAB 2 pass | Overall pass mark and a minimum number of stations | PLAB 2 pass mark |
| Time between the exams | Pass PLAB 2 within two years of passing PLAB 1 (counted from the exam date) | Two-year rule |
| Attempts | Four failed attempts, then an application for a final fifth attempt after 12 months of additional learning | Attempts |
| PLAB 2 location | Manchester only | PLAB 2 |
| Pass rates | Published each year by the GMC | Pass rates |
New to PLAB? Start with the PLAB exam explained and eligibility for IMGs.
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General education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Guidance changes: confirm with the official sources. Not medical, legal or immigration advice.