PLAB Exam 2026: PLAB 1 Qbank, Dates, Fees & Guides
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PLAB exam for international medical graduates
The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test is the General Medical Council's (GMC) two-part exam for doctors who qualified outside the UK, EEA or Switzerland. It checks that you have the knowledge and skills to practise safely in the UK, at the level of a doctor starting the second year of the UK Foundation Programme. You must pass both parts before you can apply for GMC registration with a licence to practise.
INTERFACE has prepared doctors for international licensing exams for many years. For PLAB, our PLAB Part 1 Qbank gives you 2000+ exam-style single-best-answer questions with explanations, organised by topic so you can target your weakest areas, on computer, mobile or tablet.
PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 at a glance
PLAB is taken in two separate parts, each with its own format, venue and fee:
- PLAB 1: 180 single-best-answer questions in three hours; held in February, May, August and November in the UK and overseas, including Islamabad and Karachi (February 2027: UK and EU only); fee £283 from 1 April 2026. Practise with our PLAB Part 1 Qbank.
- PLAB 2: a clinical exam (OSCE) of 16 eight-minute stations, about three hours, held throughout the year in Manchester; fee £1,036 from 1 April 2026.
The next PLAB 1 exams are on 5 November 2026 (results 17 December 2026) and 11 February 2027 (results 25 March 2027). The February 2027 sitting is held only in the UK and EU, so candidates in Pakistan sit next in May 2027, and from 2027 the GMC no longer runs PLAB 1 in Dhaka, Alexandria, Accra, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. In 2025, 62.2% of PLAB 1 candidates and 59.8% of PLAB 2 candidates passed.
How PLAB works
To book PLAB 1, you need an acceptable overseas primary medical qualification and accepted English language evidence, usually IELTS Academic (7.5 overall, 7.0 in each skill) or OET Medicine (grade B in each skill). You book through your GMC Online account. After passing PLAB 1, you must pass PLAB 2 within two years. Each part allows four attempts, with a fifth and final attempt only on application. Your GMC registration must then be approved within two years of passing PLAB 2.
PLAB has not been replaced by the UKMLA. During 2024 the GMC made it compliant with the Medical Licensing Assessment: PLAB 1 meets the requirements of the Applied Knowledge Test and PLAB 2 those of the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment. Both are based on the MLA content map, and a revised map applies to PLAB from September 2026.
After PLAB, most international doctors start in a locally employed NHS post and need a Health and Care Worker visa sponsored by their employer. Fees, rules and dates change regularly, so check the GMC and GOV.UK websites before you apply.
Helpful PLAB resources
Our step-by-step guides to PLAB, all updated for 2026:
- All About the PLAB Exam: who needs PLAB, the format of both parts, fees, English requirements and routes without PLAB.
- PLAB 1 Syllabus: the MLA content map, areas of clinical practice and the September 2026 update.
- PLAB 2 Syllabus: the 16 OSCE stations, marking domains, skills tested and exam-day rules.
- PLAB vs UKMLA: why PLAB was not replaced, and how it meets the AKT and CPSA requirements.
- How to Register for PLAB 1: exam and result dates, booking through GMC Online, venues in Pakistan and ID rules.
- PLAB Fees, Pass Rates and Visa for PLAB 2: 2026 fees, 2025 pass rates and travelling to Manchester.
- Passing and Re-sitting PLAB: PLAB 1 validity, attempt limits, the fifth attempt and how PLAB is marked.
- How to Prepare for PLAB: GMC-recommended resources and study plans for both parts.
- Clinical Attachments and NHS Jobs After PLAB: observerships, first NHS posts and specialty training.
- UK Visas for PLAB Doctors: the visitor visa, the Health and Care Worker visa, dependants and settlement.
- From PLAB Test to Job: practical considerations for moving from the exam to your first post.
Considering the Gulf as well? These guides explain how PLAB relates to UAE licensing:
- PLAB and MOHAP Exam Eligibility: how PLAB relates to eligibility for the MOHAP UAE licensing exam.
- Is the MOHAP Exam Still Needed After PLAB/UKMLA? Gulf licensing after passing PLAB.
Frequently asked questions
> What is the PLAB exam?
PLAB is the General Medical Council's two-part test for doctors who qualified outside the UK, EEA or Switzerland. PLAB 1 is a 180-question written exam and PLAB 2 is a 16-station clinical exam. You must pass both before applying for GMC registration with a licence to practise.
> Can I take PLAB 1 in Pakistan?
Yes. PLAB 1 is held in Islamabad and Karachi through the British Council in the February, May, August and November sittings, except February 2027, when the exam runs only in the UK and EU. PLAB 2 is only held in Manchester, UK.
> Has PLAB been replaced by the UKMLA?
No. PLAB became compliant with the Medical Licensing Assessment during 2024: PLAB 1 meets the AKT requirements and PLAB 2 meets the CPSA requirements. The GMC is keeping the PLAB name for now.
> How much does PLAB cost in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, PLAB 1 costs £283 and PLAB 2 costs £1,036. The fee is charged for each attempt.
> How should I prepare for PLAB 1?
Use the GMC's MLA content map, the UK Foundation Programme curriculum and Good Medical Practice, then practise timed, scenario-based questions. Our PLAB Part 1 Qbank has 2000+ topic-wise questions with explanations for this practice stage.
Have a question about PLAB? Contact us.
The PLAB Part 1 Qbank explanations were concise and exam-focused. I'd recommend reviewing every wrong answer at least twice....