What is PLAB 1?
PLAB 1 is the first part of the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board examination — the route most international medical graduates take to register with the GMC and work in the NHS. It is a three-hour, computer-based paper of 180 single-best-answer questions, each presenting a clinical scenario with five options where one is the most appropriate answer.
Since the GMC introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment, PLAB 1 content is aligned to the MLA content map. That means preparation should rest on UK clinical guidelines (NICE, CKS, the BNF) and the kind of safe, practical decision-making expected of a doctor in the first years of NHS practice — not rote memorisation.
How to prepare for PLAB 1
Strong PLAB 1 preparation is built on focused, repeated question practice with genuine review of every answer — not skimming explanations. A workable approach:
Practise in volume, review with intent
Work through topic sets, then read the explanation for every option — including the ones you got right. Understanding why the wrong options are wrong is where most marks are won.
Target your weak areas
Use spaced repetition so the questions you miss come back at the right intervals. This is far more efficient than re-reading whole topics.
Sit timed mocks
The exam is as much about pacing as knowledge. Full, timed mock exams build the stamina to stay sharp across 180 questions in three hours.
What MedReadyUK gives you for PLAB 1
- Thousands of exam-style SBA questions aligned to the MLA content map
- Detailed explanations for every option, grounded in NICE, CKS and the BNF
- An AI tutor that explains the clinical reasoning behind each answer
- Timed, full-length mock exams you can retake
- Spaced-repetition revision that targets your weak areas
- Structured revision notes and flashcards across all MLA areas
PLAB 1 — frequently asked questions
- How many questions are in PLAB 1?
- PLAB 1 is a three-hour computer-based exam of 180 single-best-answer questions covering the clinical areas expected of a doctor in early NHS practice.
- Is PLAB 1 the same as the UKMLA?
- They are converging. PLAB 1 content is now aligned to the GMC MLA content map, so the underlying clinical knowledge is the same as the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. MedReadyUK covers both.
- How long should I prepare for PLAB 1?
- Most candidates prepare for around three to six months alongside other commitments, focusing on consistent question practice and timed mocks.
- Does MedReadyUK guarantee a pass?
- No resource can guarantee a pass. MedReadyUK gives you exam-style practice, guideline-based explanations and mocks to prepare as effectively as possible.
Other UK licensing exams
MedReadyUK is part of StudyCoach AI. We are an independent study resource and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the General Medical Council (GMC), the RCGP, the NHS, or any medical school. Exam names are used for identification only.