The physician associate Q-bank market is in its infancy. Unlike MRCP (where PassMedicine and Pastest have decades of questions) or PLAB (where PLABable and MedRevisions are well-established), PA exam preparation lacks a single dominant resource. Multiple platforms are competing to become the standard, each with different strengths and limitations.
This comparison evaluates the available options for PARA KBA preparation.
PLABable PA Content
PLABable — primarily known for PLAB 1 preparation — has expanded to include PA-relevant content. The question style is SBA-based and clinically focused, with explanations suited to generalist clinical practice.
Strengths: Affordable. Large clinical question pool from the PLAB side that overlaps significantly with PA content (both exams test generalist clinical knowledge). Growing PA-specific content.
Considerations: Not purpose-built for the PA curriculum. Some content may be pitched at PLAB/UKMLA level rather than PA-specific level. The PA curriculum includes topics (professional practice, PA-specific scope of practice) that PLAB resources do not cover.
Best for: PA students who want a large, affordable clinical question pool and are willing to supplement with PA-specific resources for non-overlapping content.
PA Practice
PA Practice is one of the dedicated PA exam preparation platforms, offering questions specifically written for the PA curriculum and exam format.
Strengths: PA-specific content aligned to the PA curriculum. Questions written with PA scope of practice in mind (important — the exam tests what a PA should do, which differs from what a doctor should do in some clinical scenarios).
Considerations: Smaller question pool than established medical Q-banks. The platform is newer and still building its question library.
Best for: PA students who want questions specifically designed for the PA exam rather than adapted from medical Q-banks.
RCP Revise
The RCP provides sample questions and revision resources for the PARA. As the exam administrator, their material is the most directly aligned to the exam format and blueprint.
Strengths: Directly from the exam provider. Question style and difficulty should mirror the real exam most closely. Aligned to the official blueprint.
Considerations: Limited in volume — not sufficient as a sole preparation resource. Supplementary rather than primary.
Best for: Every PA candidate — as a format familiarisation tool alongside a primary Q-bank. Non-negotiable preparation resource.
Matrix
Matrix Education has entered the PA exam preparation market with an AI-powered study platform including SBA questions, a timetable generator, and live webinars covering high-yield topics.
Strengths: AI-powered study planning. Live webinar programme covering key topics. Growing question bank. Modern platform.
Considerations: Newer entrant with a smaller established track record. Question pool is still building.
Best for: PA students who value structured study planning and live teaching alongside Q-bank practice.
iatroX Q-Bank
iatroX provides free exam preparation for UK physician associates. The adaptive Q-Bank uses spaced repetition mapped to the clinical content that the PARA tests, with every explanation grounded in NICE, CKS, SIGN, and BNF.
Strengths: Completely free — no subscription, no paywall, no trial period. The strongest adaptive algorithm in this comparison — AI-driven spaced repetition automatically targets your weakest areas. Guideline-grounded explanations with citations to the specific UK recommendation. Integrated clinical reference via Ask iatroX for instant guideline verification. Available on web, iOS, and Android. Designed for use during clinic as well as exam preparation — the same tool supports your exam prep and your daily practice.
Considerations: Not exclusively PA-branded (serves medical students and doctors too), but the clinical content overlaps substantially with the PA curriculum — both test generalist UK clinical knowledge grounded in NICE guidelines.
Pricing: Completely free.
Best for: Every PA candidate — as a free adaptive layer alongside any PA-specific Q-bank. The spaced repetition ensures long-term retention across the 550+ condition content map.
The Recommended Combination
Primary PA-specific Q-bank: PA Practice or Matrix (for PA-curriculum-aligned questions and scope-of-practice-specific content).
Clinical volume and adaptive learning: iatroX Q-Bank (free). Daily practice targeting your weakest clinical areas with guideline-grounded explanations.
Format familiarisation: RCP Revise sample questions (from the exam provider). Non-negotiable.
Clinical reference throughout: Ask iatroX (free). Verify every wrong answer against the UK guideline. Use during clinic for real-time clinical reference.
OSCE preparation: Peer practice with standardised scenarios. Brainstorm for structured clinical reasoning.
The PA Q-bank market will mature. In the meantime, combining a PA-specific resource with iatroX's free adaptive learning gives you the coverage and precision the PARA demands.