What is the PLAB Exam: Format, Syllabus, Eligibility & Test Dates

The PLAB exam is a professional test for international medical graduates (IMGs) who want to work as junior doctors in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). It is conducted by the General Medical Council (GMC UK). The exam is divided into two parts: one is PLAB 1, and the second is PLAB 2.

The PLAB exam tests a few key areas, such as:

• Clinical Knowledge (Part 1): Understanding medical conditions, treatment protocols, and decision-making in patient care.
• Clinical Skills (Part 2): Practical abilities like examination, diagnosis, and emergency management.
• Communication & Ethics: Effectively communicating with patients and colleagues while following ethical standards.
• UK Best Practices: Applying guidelines and procedures specific to the NHS to make sure safe and effective care.

You should take the PLAB exam if your goal is to work as a doctor in the UK and gain access to structured medical training and professional growth not easily available elsewhere. 

Here are the main reasons why PLAB can be important for you:

• NHS Career Opportunities: Clearing PLAB allows you to work in the UK’s National Health Service, gaining experience in a respected healthcare system.
• Professional Recognition: Passing the exam confirms your skills meet UK standards.
• Affordable Pathway: Compared to other international licensing exams like the USMLE, PLAB is relatively cost-effective, making it easier for international doctors to pursue a UK career.
• Faster Career Start: PLAB provides a direct route to begin your medical career in the UK as a junior doctor (Foundation Year 2).
• Exposure to Advanced Practices: Working in the UK lets you experience modern medical technology, evidence-based guidelines, and treat a diverse patient population.

The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are among the top medical universities in the UK that accept the PLAB route.

Below is a table with the top 10 UK medical universities accepting PLAB:

To be eligible for the PLAB exam, you must be an international medical graduate (IMG) with a recognised medical degree and approved English language test scores. 

Below are the complete eligibility details for PLAB:

• International Medical Graduate (IMG): You must have completed your medical education outside the UK, EEA, or Switzerland.
• Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ): Your medical degree must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and accepted by the UK GMC.
• English Language Requirement:IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.5, with at least 7.0 in each section, or OET Medicine: Minimum Grade B in all four skills in one sitting.
• Internship/Clinical Experience: You must have completed at least 12 months of internship or PG clinical training in a hospital recognised by medical authorities in your home country.
• Attempts Limit: You are allowed a maximum of 5 attempts each for PLAB 1 and PLAB 2.
• Age Limit: There is no minimum or maximum age limit to take the PLAB exam.

The PLAB exam is divided into two parts: Part 1 (180 MCQs, 3 hours) and Part 2 (16-18 clinical stations, OSCE). 

PLAB Part 1: Written Exam

PLAB Part 1 checks whether you can understand medical problems and choose the correct next step in patient care.

• Exam Format: The exam consists of 180 single best answer (SBA) multiple-choice questions. Each question has one correct answer.
• Total Duration: You are given 3 hours to complete the exam in one sitting.
• Question Style: Most questions are case-based, meaning you are given a patient story with symptoms, test results, or examination findings.
• Subjects Covered: Questions come from general medicine, surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, and emergency medicine.
• Clinical Areas Tested: The exam includes common problems such as chest pain, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, fever, infections, neurological symptoms, and trauma cases.
• Ethics and Law: You are tested on patient consent, confidentiality, capacity, safeguarding, and professional behaviour expected of doctors in the UK.
• Skill Being Assessed: The exam focuses on clinical decision-making. You are expected to choose safe and appropriate actions for patients.

PLAB Part 2: Practical Exam (OSCE)

PLAB Part 2 checks whether you can interact with patients, examine them properly, explain problems clearly, and manage cases safely.

• Exam Format: The exam is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with 16 to 18 different stations.
• Time per Station: Each station lasts 8 minutes, during which you must complete a specific task, such as talking to a patient, examining them, or explaining a diagnosis.
• Type of Scenarios: You will face situations that doctors commonly see in hospitals, such as emergency cases, follow-up visits, and patient counselling.
• Skills Tested: The exam checks history taking, physical examination, communication skills, clinical reasoning, and treatment planning.
• Communication Focus: You must explain medical problems in simple language, show empathy, and answer patient concerns clearly.
• Ethics and Safety: Stations might test patient safety, infection control, consent, breaking bad news, and professional behaviour.
• Mandatory Requirement: You must pass PLAB Part 2 after PLAB Part 1 to move forward with registration.

PLAB 1 exams take place in February, May, August, and November, whereas PLAB 2 can be booked on different dates throughout the year in Manchester, UK.

Below is a clear breakdown of the available PLAB exam dates for 2026:

To register for the PLAB exam, you must have a verified GMC Online account and approved English language test results. 

Here are the complete registration steps for the PLAB exam explained clearly:

• Create a GMC Online Account: Visit GMC Online and create an account using your personal details, passport information, and medical qualification details.
• Upload Required Documents: Submit scanned copies of your passport, primary medical degree, and English test results (IELTS or OET) through your account.
• Wait for Document Verification: The GMC checks and approves your documents. You can track the verification status directly in your account dashboard.
• Book PLAB 1 Exam: Go to the ‘My Tests’ section after approval and select your preferred PLAB 1 exam date and test centre.
• Pay the Exam Fee: The PLAB 1 exam fee is £273 (₹33, 522). Payment must be made online to confirm your booking.
• Receive Exam Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation email once booked. Exam venue details are shared about two weeks before the exam date.

Important to Note: All bookings, payments, and updates are managed through your GMC Online account.

PLAB 1 is conducted in several UK cities, such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham, along with multiple international locations. PLAB 2 is conducted only in Manchester, UK.

Here is a clear list of PLAB 1 exam centres along with their contact details:

You can get a partial refund only if you cancel your PLAB exam more than 42 days before the exam date; cancellations made later do not get any refund unless there is a serious emergency.

Below are the clear PLAB exam cancellation and refund rules you should know:

• More than 42 days before the exam: You can cancel and receive a refund after a small administration fee is deducted (around £25/₹3,070 for PLAB 1 and £90/₹11,050 for PLAB 2).
• PLAB 2 special rule: If you cancel between 42 and 29 days, about 50% of the fee is deducted. If you cancel 28 days or fewer before the exam, 100% of the fee is lost.
• Exceptional circumstances: If you miss the exam due to serious medical or personal reasons, you might be considered for a refund only if you submit proper proof.
• Cancel your exam: Log in to your GMC Online account, go to ‘My Tests’, select your exam booking, and choose Cancel. Refunds are processed automatically and take 14-28 working days.
• No rescheduling allowed: You cannot change the exam date. You have to cancel and book again to change plans.
• Missed exam (no-show): No refund is provided if you do not attend the exam.

PLAB exam results are released within 6 weeks after PLAB 1 and within about 1 month after PLAB 2.

Below are the complete and clear details you should know about PLAB results:

• PLAB 1 result timeline: Results will be declared on 26 March 2026 (for the 12 February exam) and 2 July 2026 (for the 21 May exam).
• PLAB 2 result timeline: Results are released within 4 weeks after you take the PLAB 2 exam.
• Where to check results: All results are published in the 'My Tests' section of your GMC Online account. You will also receive an email once the results are available.
• What the result shows: Your result includes your overall score, the passing score, and the average score of all candidates for that exam.
• Validity of results: After passing PLAB 2, you have to apply for GMC registration with a licence to practise within 2 years. If you miss this deadline, your PLAB result will no longer be valid.
• Feedback for PLAB 2: PLAB 2 candidates receive detailed feedback, highlighting strengths and areas to improve.

The PLAB Part 1 exam is scored out of 180 marks, while PLAB Part 2 is scored using marks from multiple clinical stations, not a single total number.

Below is a clear explanation of how scoring works for both parts of the PLAB exam:

• How PLAB scoring is decided: The GMC sets the passing score using a fixed standard. This means you are judged on competence, not on how others perform.
• PLAB Part 1 (Written Exam): Each correct answer gives 1 mark, and there is no negative marking for wrong answers. You need around 115-120 correct answers to pass.
• PLAB Part 2 (Practical Exam, OSCE): Each station is marked separately, and you must pass a minimum number of stations and achieve the overall required score. 
• What your result shows: Your score report includes your total score, the minimum score needed to pass, and a performance breakdown across clinical skill areas.
• General pass rates (for understanding): For PLAB 1, it is around 60-75% of candidates who pass, while for PLAB 2, only 65-75% of candidates pass.

Once you pass the PLAB exam, you can apply to work as a doctor in the UK and legally start your medical career there after getting approval.

Here are the simple steps you need to follow after passing the PLAB exam:

• Apply for GMC registration: After passing PLAB 2, apply for full registration with a licence to practise through the GMC. You will submit your PLAB results, medical degree, and English test proof.
• Receive your licence to practise: The GMC issues a licence to practise once your application is approved, which allows you to work legally as a doctor in the UK.
• Start applying for jobs: You can apply for junior doctor roles, such as SHO (Senior House Officer) or Clinical Fellow, in the NHS or private hospitals.
• Plan your move to the UK: You will need to arrange your visa, travel, and accommodation. Some NHS hospitals also help with relocation.
• Grow your medical career: You can apply for speciality training programs and move into higher roles after some work experience.
• Important reminder: You must complete your GMC registration within 2 years of passing PLAB 2, or your PLAB result will expire.

To prepare for the PLAB exam, you should study UK-based medical guidelines and practice questions regularly under time limits. A clear plan and daily practice make a big difference.

Here are 7 important preparation tips you should follow before sitting for the PLAB exam:

• Follow UK medical guidelines only: Study according to UK standards, guidance from the General Medical Council and NICE, as the exam is based on UK practice, not local protocols.
• Use reliable PLAB-focused resources: Question banks like PLABable and concise notes help you understand how questions are framed and why answers are correct.
• Practice questions every day: Aim to solve 80-100 questions daily. This builds speed, accuracy, and confidence over time.
• Study by body systems, not just subjects: Learning topic-wise (such as heart, lungs, brain) helps you connect symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment more easily.
• Focus on high-weight topics: Give extra time to medicine, surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry, and ethics, as these areas appear frequently in the exam.
• Take mock tests seriously: Attempt full-length mock exams under timed conditions to improve time management and reduce exam-day stress.
• Improve communication and clinical thinking: Practice explaining diagnoses, management plans, and safety advice in simple language, as clear communication is heavily tested.

Preparing for the PLAB exam can be confusing due to eligibility rules, stages, timelines, and next steps. Many students struggle with unclear direction and mixed advice. Plan early, focus on UK-based preparation, and don’t rush registration or documentation.

This is where Yocket Premium can make things easier for you. With expert guidance, personalised planning, and step-by-step support, it helps you stay on track from exam preparation to registration and UK job pathways.