Exam preparation
PLAB / UKMLA Preparation Guide
The primary route for international medical graduates to gain GMC registration and practise in the UK.
- Exam format
- PLAB 1: 180 SBA MCQs | PLAB 2: 18-station OSCE
- Pass / selection standard
- Approximately 65% (PLAB 1)
- Frequency
- PLAB 1: 6/year | PLAB 2: Continuous
- Eligibility
- International medical graduates. IELTS 7.5
Preparing for PLAB / UKMLA
This is a preparation guide for PLAB / UKMLA, the primary route for international medical graduates to gain GMC registration and practise in the UK. The examination is set by General Medical Council (GMC).
The paper is delivered as PLAB 1: 180 SBA multiple-choice questions | PLAB 2: 18-station OSCE, and candidates are measured against a approximately 65% (plab 1). Knowing the exact structure early lets you rehearse pacing well before the sitting.
PLAB is the General Medical Council's route for international medical graduates to demonstrate they can practise safely in the UK. PLAB 1 is a single-best-answer written paper; PLAB 2 is an objective structured clinical examination run at the GMC's Clinical Assessment Centre. Questions and stations are built around UK practice - NICE guidance, safe prescribing and the way consent, escalation and communication are handled in the NHS - so knowledge gained in another health system needs deliberate re-anchoring to UK norms.
The preparation workflow
Learn
Use structured notes to establish the core concept for each topic before testing it.
Recall
Convert understanding into durable memory with active recall and spaced repetition.
Practise
Apply it under timed, exam-format MCQs and review every wrong answer.
Building your study plan
A workable plan for PLAB / UKMLA runs in three repeating phases. Learn the concept for each topic once, from structured notes, so the framework is genuinely understood before you test it. Recall it with active retrieval and spaced repetition instead of passive re-reading, which is where most durable memory is actually formed. Practise under timed, exam-format conditions with question banks, then review every wrong answer until you can explain why the right option wins.
Weight the plan towards the areas that carry the most marks. For PLAB / UKMLA those repeatedly include uk clinical guidelines (nice, bts, esc uk), prescribing safety, communication stations (most marks lost here), ethics and consent. Master these first, then broaden - a blueprint-led allocation of hours beats an even, linear read of the whole syllabus.
Sit full-length, timed mocks in the exam's own format from early on. They build pacing and stamina, and, most importantly, surface which subjects and question-types are dragging your score so you can target the next study block precisely.
High-yield areas to prioritise
Study priorities
- UK clinical guidelines (NICE, BTS, ESC UK)
- Prescribing safety
- Communication stations (most marks lost here)
- Ethics and consent
Frequently asked questions
How long should I prepare for PLAB / UKMLA?
There is no single correct answer - it depends on your baseline, your daily study hours and how much of the syllabus is fresh. Plan backwards from the sitting date, protect time for at least two full revision passes and a block of timed mocks, and adjust as your mock analysis reveals weak areas.
What is the passing or selection standard for PLAB / UKMLA?
It is approximately 65% (plab 1). Confirm the exact current standard on the official notification, as it can be revised between cycles.
Where should I confirm the official PLAB / UKMLA details?
Always verify the current pattern, eligibility, dates and fees on the General Medical Council (GMC) official notification. The figures here are a study-planning aid, not the authority.
Sources and currency
Sources: official examination-body notifications and information bulletins (NBEMS, NMC, GMC, the relevant UK Royal College, USMLE/NBME, AMC, MCC and the Gulf health authorities as applicable). Exam patterns and eligibility change between cycles - always confirm the current sitting's rules, dates and fees on the official body's own notification before you apply. Last verified July 2026.
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