How to Prepare for PLAB 2026: GMC Resources, PLAB 1 Qbank
PLAB Preparation Quick Summary
Prepare for PLAB with the GMC's own resources: the MLA content map, the UK Foundation Programme curriculum, Good Medical Practice and the GMC's sample questions. Then practise exam-style questions under timed conditions. The GMC says you do not need a coaching course to pass. Our PLAB Part 1 Qbank gives you 2000+ topic-wise questions to practise with.
How hard is PLAB, and what does it take to pass?
In 2025, 62.2% of PLAB 1 candidates and 59.8% of PLAB 2 candidates passed, so around four in ten failed each part. Both parts test how you apply knowledge to patient care at the level of a doctor starting Foundation Year 2, not how much you can memorise. Good preparation therefore means learning UK practice and practising realistic questions, not memorising past papers. For an overview of the test, see all about the PLAB exam.
Official resources the GMC recommends
How to prepare for PLAB 1
- Get your English evidence first: the GMC notes that candidates who have passed IELTS or OET are more likely to pass PLAB 1 at the first attempt.
- Use the content map as a checklist and work through each area of clinical practice, focusing on diagnosis, investigation and management.
- Learn current UK guidance and practice, and answer as you would in the NHS, not according to local arrangements.
- Practise questions topic by topic, then move to mixed, timed sets to build the pace needed for 180 questions in three hours.
- Review every explanation, including for questions you got right, and keep returning to your weakest topics.
- Book your exam once your practice scores are consistently strong; see how to register for PLAB.
How to prepare for PLAB 2
PLAB 2 is a 16-station clinical exam, with eight minutes per station, marked on data gathering, clinical management and interpersonal skills. Practise full consultations aloud with a study partner, including telephone and prescribing stations, and use the GMC's sample station and examiner tips. Experience of the NHS, for example through a clinical attachment, helps you understand how UK consultations work. The station types and skills are set out in our PLAB 2 syllabus.
Practise with the Interface PLAB Part 1 Qbank
Interface Medical Education, whose medical consultant is Dr Zahid Memon (MBBS, FCPS, MRCS), has prepared doctors for international licensing exams for many years. Our PLAB Part 1 Qbank is built for the practice stage of your preparation:
Frequently asked questions
> What resources does the GMC recommend for PLAB?
The MLA content map, the UK Foundation Programme curriculum, Good Medical Practice with the GMC's interactive tools, and the GMC's sample PLAB 1 questions, sample PLAB 2 station and examiner tips.
> Do I need a coaching course to pass PLAB?
No. The GMC says a study or coaching course is not required. If you use one, check its credibility and avoid any course claiming to have real exam questions.
> Should I pass IELTS or OET before preparing for PLAB 1?
You need English evidence before you can book PLAB 1, and the GMC notes that candidates who have passed IELTS or OET are more likely to pass PLAB 1 at the first attempt.
> How many questions are in the Interface PLAB Part 1 Qbank?
More than 2000 PLAB Part 1 questions, divided by topic, with correct answers and detailed explanations, accessible on computer, mobile and tablet.
> What is the PLAB pass rate?
In 2025, 62.2% of PLAB 1 candidates and 59.8% of PLAB 2 candidates passed.
For fees, pass rates and the UK visa for PLAB 2, see PLAB 1 and 2 test details. Questions? Contact us.
Ready to start your PLAB 1 preparation?
Practise with 2000+ exam-style questions and detailed explanations in our PLAB Part 1 Qbank.
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