PLAB 1: question practice and revision.

Choose a topic for focused revision and check your plan against the official specification.

• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory and ENT
• Gastroenterology and hepatology
• Renal, urology and electrolytes
• Endocrinology and diabetes
• Neurology and ophthalmology
• Mental health
• Women's health (obstetric and gynaecology)
• Children and young people
• Acute care and resuscitation
• Older adults and frailty
• Musculoskeletal and dermatology
• Cancer, palliative care and haematology
• Population health, professional practice, ethics, EBM

Drawn from the MLA content map and recent PLAB 1 candidate reports of the UKMLA-aligned content.

• New UKMLA topics (added since August 2024) — transgender and gender-affirming healthcare, updated genetics content, palliative care expansion, evolving sepsis bundles. These were not present in the old PLAB blueprint.
• Cardiology — ACS pathway, ESC 2023 NSTEMI invasive timing, HFrEF four-pillar therapy per NICE NG106, AF anticoagulation per ESC 2024 CHA₂DS₂-VA
• Mental health — depression and anxiety NICE pathways (NG222, CG113), suicide risk assessment, sectioning under MHA, capacity assessment
• Paediatrics — fever in under-5s (NICE NG143 traffic-light), bronchiolitis (NG9), recognising sepsis, paediatric resuscitation, immunisation schedule
• Women's health — contraceptive choice (UKMEC), HRT in menopause (NICE NG23), cervical screening, urgent suspected cancer referrals (NG12)
• Acute emergencies — sepsis SSC bundles, anaphylaxis, DKA fluid replacement, status epilepticus, acute stroke pathway with thrombolysis criteria
• Ethics and professional practice — capacity, consent, confidentiality, GMC Good Medical Practice 2024 update, duty of candour, breaking bad news
• Population health — vaccine coverage, herd immunity, screening test interpretation at low prevalence, NNT calculations, RCT methodology basics

Observations from IMG candidates passing PLAB 1 in the UKMLA-aligned era. Verify against the current MLA content map.

Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.

1. Using old "PLAB" materials (pre-August 2024) — these teach the old blueprint with 311 conditions. The MLA content map has ~430 conditions including new topics (transgender health, updated genetics, palliative care). Pre-UKMLA banks are inadequate.
2. Question style shift — UKMLA questions use longer clinical vignettes testing applied reasoning rather than factual recall. Memorisation-based revision underperforms.
3. Time pressure — 180 items in 180 minutes is one minute per question. Most candidates report Paper 2 fatigue. Stamina training matters.
4. GMC Good Medical Practice 2024 — the new edition introduced changes (clearer wording on raising concerns, social media use, intimate examinations, candour). Older revision sources lag.
5. UK-specific protocols — NICE referral pathways, two-week-wait cancer referrals, UK immunisation schedule (with recent additions: RSV maternal vaccine 2024, RSV infant nirsevimab), MHRA Drug Safety Updates.
6. Statistics — sensitivity/specificity at low prevalence (PPV drops sharply), NNT calculations, study design recognition. Examined in the population health/EBM block.
7. IMG-specific gaps — UK NHS structure (NHS organisations, social prescribing, primary care networks), QOF indicators, fitness to practise frameworks. Often under-prepared.
8. PLAB 1 vs UKMLA terminology — they are the same exam content. The GMC portal still uses "PLAB" for IMG bookings. Do not wait for a separate "UKMLA for IMGs".

A pragmatic phased approach used by recent IMG candidates passing PLAB 1 first time under the UKMLA-aligned content.

1. Weeks 1–4

   Foundation pass across all 14 MLA content map domains. 40-50 items/day with the iatroX adaptive engine. After 600 attempts, the diagnostic dashboard surfaces your bottom three areas. Read the MLA content map document end-to-end at least once.

2. Weeks 5–8

   Targeted weak-area drilling using spaced repetition. Daily ECG, ABG and image interpretation. Map current NICE pathways for highest-yield topics (depression, paediatric fever, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, cancer referrals).

3. Weeks 9–10

   Two timed 180-item mock papers under exam conditions weekly. Review every incorrect answer in detail against current authoritative guidance. Pacing practice — finish on time without rushing.

4. Weeks 11–12

   Bookmark review only. Targeted reading on UKMLA-new topics (transgender health, GMC Good Medical Practice 2024, palliative care). Confirm GMC booking and admission documentation. Sleep, hydrate, do not learn new material.

Dedicated PLAB 1 question practice with answer explanations, guided Tutor review and study planning.

• Focused question practice — Choose the relevant bank and use your answers to identify what to study next.
• Guided reasoning — Explore a difficult answer with Tutor, then apply the distinction independently.
• Review and timed practice — Return to important mistakes and choose a timed practice set where available.

Choose the relevant bank and use the official exam guidance to plan your preparation.

Full PLAB 1 bank access is included in all-access. Up to 10 new sample questions per day are shared across exams, with no account required. A verified free account includes one guided Tutor session; continued Tutor use is included in all-access.

Yes — for IMGs the exam is still booked through the GMC portal as "PLAB". However, since August 2024 the content has been fully UKMLA-aligned (mapped to the MLA content map). The GMC has signalled a gradual administrative transition, but the timing is not confirmed. For practical purposes: book PLAB, prepare using MLA-aligned resources.

PLAB 1 has sittings in February, May, August and November. Eligible candidates can check available places and book through GMC Online. Use the GMC exam and results calendar for scheduled dates; availability varies by location.

180 single-best-answer items in 3 hours (~1 minute per question). Computer-based. UK and EU centres delivered by VICTVS; international centres in major cities. Questions are clinical vignettes testing application of knowledge at FY2 standard.

A PLAB 1 pass is valid for 3 years for entry to PLAB 2 (the CPSA / clinical skills component held in Manchester). If you don't pass PLAB 2 within 3 years you'll need to retake PLAB 1.

You may attempt PLAB 1 up to 4 times. After 4 unsuccessful attempts you must demonstrate 12 months of additional clinical learning to be permitted one final (5th) attempt. Most candidates pass within 1-2 attempts.

The content and standard are the same — both are based on the MLA content map at FY2 level. The administrative pathway differs: UK students take the AKT integrated into medical school finals; IMGs take it via the GMC portal as PLAB 1. The question difficulty and standard are calibrated to be equivalent.