PLAB Part 1

Before subscribing, check that you meet the exam board's eligibility criteria:

• International medical graduate: You graduated from a medical school outside the UK, EEA or Switzerland.
• Acceptable medical qualification: You hold a primary medical qualification the GMC accepts, which is needed before you can book PLAB 1.
• English language evidence: The GMC checks your English evidence before giving you access to book. Most candidates use IELTS Academic (7.5 overall, at least 7.0 in each skill) or OET Medicine (at least grade B in each skill).
• Attempts: You can keep taking PLAB 1 until you have failed it four times; after that you may apply for one fifth and final attempt. See all about the PLAB exam for the full picture.

1. Check that your primary medical qualification is acceptable to the GMC.
2. Get your English language evidence, usually IELTS Academic or OET Medicine.
3. Set up a GMC Online account and submit your English evidence for checking.
4. Once it is accepted, book PLAB 1 in GMC Online. It runs in February, May, August and November, including in Islamabad and Karachi, but the February 2027 sitting is held only in the UK and EU.
5. Sit the 180-question exam and receive your result six weeks later.
6. After passing, book PLAB 2 in Manchester through GMC Online.

PLAB 1 is based on the GMC's MLA content map, at the level of a doctor starting Foundation Year 2. This Qbank covers its areas of clinical practice, including acute and emergency care, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, renal and urology, neurosciences, mental health, child health, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, infection, dermatology, ENT, ophthalmology, and general practice, plus professional knowledge such as clinical pharmacology, medical ethics and law. Questions are tagged by topic so you can target weak areas directly. See our PLAB 1 syllabus guide for the revised content map that applies from September 2026.