MedRevisions and iatroX both serve UKMLA/PLAB candidates, both map to the 2026 MLA Content Map, and both incorporate AI features. But they are built on fundamentally different philosophies — and understanding the difference helps you choose the right tool (or combination) for your situation and budget.
MedRevisions is a dedicated PLAB/UKMLA exam machine, refined over 7 years with deep roots in the IMG community. It does one thing and does it with considerable depth: prepare you for the PLAB 1 / UKMLA AKT.
iatroX is a broader clinical AI platform where the UKMLA Q-bank is one component of an ecosystem that includes clinical reference, calculators, condition pages, and postgraduate exam coverage. It does many things, with the UKMLA Q-bank being the free entry point for a platform that grows with your entire UK career.
What MedRevisions Offers
MedRevisions has built the largest dedicated PLAB/UKMLA question bank: 5,400+ questions mapped to the 2026 MLA Content Map. Established in 2019, it has served 30,000+ users — primarily IMGs preparing for PLAB 1 — and has built deep trust within the international medical graduate community through consistent delivery and transparent communication about exam changes.
AI Professor. MedRevisions' AI tutor is one of the platform's strongest differentiators. It is contextual and performance-aware — it analyses your wrong answers, identifies the specific knowledge gap that led to the error, generates bespoke study plans based on your cumulative performance data, and can turn clinical cases into anatomy or physiology lessons when foundational knowledge is the barrier. This is not a generic chatbot bolted onto a Q-bank. It reads your performance history and tailors its guidance to your specific learning needs. For candidates who want AI-guided study planning (as opposed to AI-answered clinical questions), the AI Professor is genuinely innovative and useful.
Study Essential Mode. A curated selection of approximately 1,800 high-yield questions designed specifically for candidates with 3 months or less to prepare. This is a standout feature for time-pressed candidates — it filters the 5,400+ bank down to the questions most likely to impact your score, removing low-yield topics and concentrating on the highest-weighted MLA content areas. For IMGs who have already completed the bulk of their clinical training and need efficient exam preparation rather than comprehensive learning, Study Essential Mode provides exactly this. No other platform offers an equivalent time-optimised pathway.
Smart Notes. Integrated topic notes sit alongside the Q-bank — not a separate platform, not a separate tab. Each topic includes Common Confusions boxes (clarifying frequently mixed-up concepts like Crohn's vs UC, nephritic vs nephrotic syndrome), Differential Diagnosis tables (structured comparison between similar presentations), and highlighted exam pitfalls (specific errors the question writers have observed candidates making repeatedly). The integration is seamless: read the note, do the questions, review the explanations, all in one workflow without context-switching.
Analytics. The Readiness Score is MedRevisions' most distinctive analytics feature — a data-driven prediction of your exam readiness based on your question performance, topic coverage, improvement trajectory, and comparison with historical candidate outcomes. It provides a concrete answer to the question every candidate asks before booking their exam sitting: "Am I ready?" The Areas of Clinical Practice (AoCP) performance heatmap visualises strengths and weaknesses across the MLA Content Map domains — enabling targeted revision of specific weak areas rather than unfocused broad review.
Mock exams. 30+ customisable mocks with unlimited resets — configure by topic, difficulty, question count, or time limit. The Weakness Mock generator is particularly powerful: it builds mocks exclusively from your worst-performing AoCPs, concentrating practice on the topics where you are most likely to lose marks. This is a manual version of adaptive targeting — you configure it yourself based on your AoCP heatmap data rather than the engine doing it automatically on every question.
Community and trust. MedRevisions has 7 years of track record with IMGs. The platform's blog publishes detailed PLAB exam guides covering format changes, fees (PLAB 1: £283, PLAB 2: £1,036 for 2026), timeline planning, and preparation strategy. Their 2026 PLAB Exam Guide specifically addresses the MLA Content Map transition, noting that the framework "explicitly redefines its condition lists as indicative and non-exhaustive" — meaning the exam can test any condition within the MLA scope. This institutional knowledge — accumulated from serving 30,000+ candidates through multiple exam format transitions — is a genuine asset that newer platforms cannot yet replicate.
Pricing: From $10.80/month (USD). Multiple plans by duration and access level. For IMGs in low-income countries or early-career positions, this represents a meaningful ongoing cost — $64.80 over 6 months, $129.60 over 12 months.
What MedRevisions does not do: Clinical reference for daily practice. Postgraduate exam coverage. Clinical calculators. CPD tools. Guideline-grounded clinical AI. After passing PLAB/UKMLA, MedRevisions serves no further purpose in your UK career. You will need new platforms for MRCP, MRCGP, clinical reference, and professional development — a full ecosystem reset.
What iatroX Offers for UKMLA
iatroX provides a free UKMLA Q-bank with an adaptive learning engine and built-in spaced repetition — no subscription, no trial period, no credit card, no university email required. Free for everyone, permanently.
Adaptive engine + spaced repetition. The engine analyses your performance across every MLA Content Map domain after every question and automatically serves the next question to target your weakest area. This is automatic adaptive targeting — unlike MedRevisions' Weakness Mock generator (which you configure manually from your AoCP heatmap), iatroX's engine does it in real time, on every question, without any configuration required. You do not need to interpret your analytics and then build a custom mock — the system does the interpretation and targeting continuously. Spaced repetition ensures previously-weak topics resurface at scientifically optimal intervals, converting short-term exam cramming into long-term clinical knowledge that persists beyond the exam into your NHS posts.
UKMLA Academy. 402 structured condition pages covering all 18 body systems, mapped to the MLA Content Map. Each page includes a TL;DR summary, clinical features with red flags highlighted, tiered investigations (first-line, second-line, specialist), NICE-based management with specific guideline references, and exam tips pointing out the specific aspects examiners target. For IMGs who need to learn UK-specific management pathways — which often differ significantly from the guidelines they trained against in their home country — the Academy provides structured, guideline-anchored learning. This is not generic medical knowledge; it is specifically how the UK manages each condition, referenced to the guidelines the exam tests.
Ask iatroX. Clinical AI grounded in NICE/CKS/BNF/SIGN — takes natural language clinical questions and returns cited, guideline-grounded answers. For UKMLA preparation, this serves a specific purpose: understanding why an answer is correct, not just what the answer is. When a Q-bank explanation says "the answer is ramipril because NICE recommends ACEi first-line for hypertension in under-55-year-olds," Ask iatroX lets you explore further — "What if the patient is Black African? What if they have CKD stage 4? What if they are pregnant?" — building the clinical reasoning depth that the exam increasingly rewards.
For IMGs specifically, Ask iatroX is valuable during clinical attachments and early NHS posts — providing instant verification of UK management pathways in real time. Instead of the "I think this is what we do in the UK, but I'm not sure" uncertainty, you get a cited guideline answer in seconds.
Guidance Summaries. Condition-specific actionable summaries anchored to named NICE guidelines. Complement the Academy pages with more concise, decision-focused content for quick reference.
Clinical calculators. 80+ UK-contextualised tools — QRISK3, CHA₂DS₂-VASc, CKD-EPI, CURB-65, Wells PE, NEWS2 — with NICE-referenced interpretation. Relevant for both exam preparation (calculators and clinical scores are tested in AKT-style questions) and clinical practice from day one in an NHS post.
Post-UKMLA progression. This is iatroX's strongest strategic advantage for IMGs planning a UK career. The same platform — same account, same performance data, same clinical reference tools — covers MRCP, MRCGP AKT, MSRA, PSA, and 7 postgraduate diploma exams (DRCOG, DFSRH, DGM, DipIMC, FFICM, DTM&H, DCH). No platform switching. No new subscriptions. No starting from scratch with a blank performance profile. Your weak-area tracking carries forward from UKMLA through to specialty training and beyond.
MHRA-registered as a Class I Medical Device. Mobile app: Native iOS + Android.
Head-to-Head
| Feature | MedRevisions | iatroX |
|---|---|---|
| UKMLA questions | 5,400+ | Growing bank, mapped to MLA Content Map |
| Pricing | From $10.80/month | Free (UKMLA) |
| AI tutor | AI Professor (contextual, performance-aware, generates study plans) | Ask iatroX (guideline-grounded clinical AI, answers clinical questions) |
| Adaptive learning | Manual: Weakness Mocks from AoCP heatmap | Automatic: built-in adaptive engine on every question |
| Spaced repetition | Available | Built-in at platform level |
| Mock exams | 30+ customisable + Weakness Mocks | Configurable timed sessions |
| Time-pressed mode | Study Essential (~1,800 high-yield) | Adaptive engine auto-prioritises highest-yield weak areas |
| Study notes | Integrated Smart Notes with Common Confusions, DDx tables | UKMLA Academy (402 conditions) + Guidance Summaries |
| Analytics | Readiness Score + AoCP heatmap | Topic proficiency dashboard |
| Clinical reference | No | Yes — NICE/CKS/BNF/SIGN RAG-powered |
| Clinical calculators | No | Yes — 80+ UK-contextualised |
| Postgraduate exams | No | MRCP, MRCGP AKT, MSRA, PSA, 7 diploma exams |
| MHRA registered | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | Progressive Web App | Native iOS + Android |
| Track record | 7 years, 30,000+ users | Newer, growing rapidly |
The AI Comparison: Different Tools for Different Needs
Both platforms have "AI" — but they serve fundamentally different purposes, and conflating them is a mistake.
MedRevisions' AI Professor is a study coach. It analyses your performance data and generates personalised study plans, explains wrong answers in the context of your learning history, identifies patterns in your errors (are you consistently confusing two specific conditions?), and can reframe clinical concepts through different foundational lenses (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology) when the surface-level explanation did not stick. It is performance-aware — it knows what you have done on the platform and guides what you should do next. This is valuable for candidates who want structured study guidance without a human tutor — particularly IMGs studying independently without access to a teaching programme.
iatroX's Ask iatroX is a clinical reference engine. It answers clinical questions by searching NICE, CKS, BNF, and SIGN guidelines and returning cited, guideline-grounded answers. It does not analyse your Q-bank performance or generate study plans. Instead, it provides the guideline knowledge that underpins correct exam answers — and continues to serve this function throughout your entire clinical career. It answers the "what does the UK guideline actually say?" question that arises dozens of times during UKMLA preparation and hundreds of times during clinical practice.
They are not substitutes. They are different types of AI solving different problems. The AI Professor coaches your study strategy. Ask iatroX answers your clinical questions. Both are useful. Neither replaces the other.
Pricing: Free vs $10.80+/month
MedRevisions charges from $10.80/month. For IMGs in low-income countries or early-career positions, this is a meaningful ongoing cost — particularly if preparation extends to 6-12 months. At 6 months: $64.80 (£51). At 12 months: $129.60 (£103). When added to PLAB fees (£283 for PLAB 1, £1,036 for PLAB 2), GMC registration fees, visa costs, and relocation expenses, every dollar matters.
iatroX's UKMLA Q-bank is completely free. No trial period. No credit card. No institutional affiliation required. The free tier includes the adaptive engine, spaced repetition, performance dashboard, Ask iatroX, calculators, UKMLA Academy, and Guidance Summaries — the complete clinical reference and exam preparation toolkit at zero cost.
MedRevisions includes everything in one price (notes, AI Professor, mocks, Readiness Score). iatroX splits: free core exams + paid Boards subscription (£29/month or £99/year) only for niche postgraduate diplomas. For UKMLA preparation specifically, iatroX is entirely free.
Who Should Use Which
IMG with tight budget and 3+ months to prepare → Start with iatroX (free). Use the adaptive engine for daily practice, the UKMLA Academy for structured learning, and Ask iatroX for UK guideline familiarisation. Supplement with MedRevisions free sample questions. Add paid MedRevisions if budget allows and you want the AI Professor + Readiness Score.
IMG with tight timeline (<3 months) → MedRevisions Study Essential Mode (1,800 curated high-yield questions) is specifically designed for this scenario — the most efficient path through the content when time is short. Supplement with iatroX spaced repetition for weak areas and Ask iatroX for guideline verification.
UK medical student → iatroX free UKMLA bank + UKMLA Academy gives comprehensive coverage at zero cost. MedRevisions is designed for the IMG experience and PLAB pathway; UK students are better served by iatroX's UK-native platform.
Anyone planning to stay in the UK and progress to MRCP/MRCGP → iatroX. The same platform covers postgraduate exams, clinical reference, and CPD without switching. Starting on iatroX during UKMLA preparation means your performance data and clinical reference habits carry forward.
Best of both worlds (budget permitting) → iatroX (free) for daily adaptive practice + clinical AI reference. MedRevisions ($10.80/month) for AI Professor study coaching, Readiness Score, and Study Essential Mode. Total: ~$10.80/month. Less than a Netflix subscription.
Strategy by Timeline
The optimal preparation strategy depends on how much time you have before your PLAB 1 / UKMLA sitting. Here is how the two platforms fit into each timeline.
12+ months before exam. Start with iatroX (free) for adaptive practice and UK guideline familiarisation. Work through the UKMLA Academy systematically — one body system per week across the 18 systems. Use Ask iatroX to verify UK-specific management pathways as you encounter them — this is particularly important for IMGs whose home-country guidelines differ from NICE (which is most countries). At this stage, you are building foundational UK clinical knowledge, not drilling exam technique. Add MedRevisions free sample questions to assess whether the paid platform adds sufficient value for your budget.
6 months before exam. This is when intensive Q-bank practice begins. Choose your primary Q-bank: MedRevisions (volume + AI Professor + Readiness Score, from $10.80/month) or iatroX (free + adaptive). Or — ideally — both. Use MedRevisions for volume exposure (5,400+ questions) and the AI Professor for study planning. Use iatroX for adaptive targeting of your weakest areas and Ask iatroX for guideline verification when reviewing wrong answers. Supplement with PLABable WhatsApp groups for peer support and community discussion. Aim for 30-40 questions per day across both platforms.
3 months or less. Time-pressed preparation requires efficiency over comprehensiveness. MedRevisions Study Essential Mode — 1,800 curated high-yield questions — is specifically designed for this scenario. It is the most efficient path through the essential content when time is short. Supplement with iatroX spaced repetition mode for weak areas identified by the performance dashboard. Run mock exams weekly on both platforms — MedRevisions customisable mocks + iatroX timed sessions. Use MedRevisions Readiness Score as your exam-booking decision guide — if the score suggests you are not ready, defer rather than waste a PLAB attempt (£283 per sitting + travel costs).
Final 2 weeks. Mixed-topic adaptive practice only — no new content learning. Focus on iatroX spaced repetition (resurfacing previously-weak topics) and MedRevisions Weakness Mocks (concentrating on your worst AoCPs). Review the MLA Content Map one final time to confirm no major topic has been missed entirely. Rest the day before the exam.
Beyond the Exam: Why Platform Choice Matters for Your UK Career
This is the strategic question that most IMGs do not consider during PLAB preparation — but it has meaningful long-term implications.
MedRevisions and PLABable are exam tools. After passing PLAB/UKMLA, they serve no further purpose. You will need a new platform for MRCP Part 1 (if pursuing medical specialties), a new platform for MRCGP AKT (if pursuing general practice), a new clinical reference tool for your NHS posts, a new CPD system for revalidation, and new Q-banks for any postgraduate diplomas you pursue. Each transition means a new subscription, a new learning curve, and a new performance baseline starting from zero.
iatroX eliminates this ecosystem reset. The same platform — same account, same performance data, same clinical reference tools — covers MRCP, MRCGP AKT, MSRA, PSA, and 7 postgraduate diploma exams. Your weak-area tracking from UKMLA preparation carries forward into specialty exam preparation. Your Ask iatroX usage during UKMLA study continues seamlessly into clinical practice as your daily guideline reference. Your calculator habits from exam preparation become your clinical workflow.
For IMGs planning a long-term UK career — not just passing a single exam — starting on a platform that grows with you saves cumulative cost, eliminates platform-switching friction, and builds clinical reference habits that compound over years rather than resetting at every career stage.
What Neither Platform Does
Neither replaces clinical experience. The UKMLA increasingly tests clinical reasoning — synthesising history, examination, and investigations to reach a management decision — and this reasoning is built through clinical practice, not just question banks.
Neither offers CPSA/PLAB 2 (OSCE) preparation. The OSCE component requires clinical skills practice, communication training, and physical examination technique — a fundamentally different category of preparation. Geeky Medics, peer practice, and dedicated OSCE courses serve this need.
Neither is a textbook substitute for foundational learning. Both assume baseline medical knowledge from your medical degree. If you need to learn anatomy, physiology, or pathophysiology from first principles, textbooks remain necessary.
Verdict
MedRevisions has the larger question bank (5,400+), more mature analytics (Readiness Score, AoCP heatmap, Weakness Mocks), a dedicated AI study coach (AI Professor), a time-pressed preparation mode (Study Essential), and 7 years of track record with 30,000+ IMGs. It is the most battle-tested PLAB preparation platform available.
iatroX is free, AI-adaptive on every question, guideline-integrated, and bridges from UKMLA preparation into clinical practice and postgraduate exams — providing a career-long platform rather than a single-exam tool.
The honest recommendation: use both. iatroX as your daily free adaptive practice + clinical reference. MedRevisions if you can afford the AI Professor, Readiness Score, and Study Essential Mode. They do not overlap enough to make either redundant — and together they provide the most comprehensive UKMLA preparation available at a combined cost that is lower than most single-platform alternatives.