The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) is the main route for international medical graduates who lack a relevant European qualification but are seeking to migrate to the United Kingdom to practice medicine. It tests if candidates have the necessary skills and knowledge to interact with UK citizens and ensures that all who seek to practice meet the high standards required to provide safe and effective patient care within the NHS (National Health Service).
The exam is organized by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, and it takes inspiration from the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) content map to design the questions and stations used to test candidates. The MLA content map identifies the core knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed for UK practice. The realignment of the PLAB exam creates a balanced field for doctors trained in the UK and those trained abroad. PLAB also follows the GMC’s good medical practice syllabus, which lists the core guiding principles all doctors seeking to practice in the UK must follow. They are:
- Knowledge, skills, and performance
- Safety and Quality
- Communication, partnership, and teamwork
- Maintaining trust
Those who pass will do so secure in the fact that they possess the same depth of knowledge of British hospital ethics and culture as a native doctor. PLAB exams are divided into two, PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. Passing both is necessary to obtain GMC registration, which is a prerequisite for practicing within the UK healthcare system.
PLAB 1
The PLAB 1 is a written exam in a multiple-choice format with 180 SBAs (One Hundred Eighty Single Best Answer questions with five options and one SBA) lasting 3 hours. The exam is an applied knowledge test that goes beyond your ability to memorize and recite facts; it tests if you can apply that knowledge when dealing with patients. The questions require you to be familiar with the current best practices and equipment routinely available in UK hospitals. You’ll need to be aware of the UK’s best practices and published evidence to answer the questions and not according to how things are done in your local arrangements.
According to the GMC, the exam assumes that you have as much knowledge as a doctor appointed to a Foundation Programme Year 2 (F2) role and asks questions covering any common, important, or acute conditions (those common in emergency departments) and the management of long-term conditions seen in primary care. PLAB is offered in select locations in the UK and a number of countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.
PLAB 2
PLAB 2 is an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE); you are presented with 16 clinical stations and are given 8 minutes to go through each of them, meeting the actor, simulating a patient, and achieving the task required. You have 2 minutes to go through the instructions and patient information outside each room before you enter the exam cubicle and complete the task outlined. There will be a timer that announces when to move on.
Unlike PLAB 1, PLAB 2 is only available in Manchester and is offered year-round. It tests your clinical knowledge, skills, and behaviors around patients. Your ability to apply this knowledge to the care of patients will be assessed against three domains: Data gathering, technical and assessment skills, Interpersonal skills, and Clinical management skills. This exam is designed to see how you interact with patients and if you can balance maintaining a professional persona while expressing empathy. It also checks how you perform maneuvers and physical examinations on patients, whether you sought consent, and properly introduced yourself. Some stations may require you to write a prescription or consult through a phone call.
Requirements to register for the exam
To qualify for the exam, you must meet three criteria. First, you must have a primary medical qualification endorsed by the GMC. This could be a degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools or an equivalent qualification. Secondly, you must demonstrate your grasp of the English language by passing the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET) exam. The minimum score required for PLAB is an overall score of 7.5 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four language skills for the IELTS exam or a Grade B in the Medicine OET exam. Finally, you must have completed atleast one year of internship training in the country you obtained your degree with atleast 3 months in Medicine and three in surgery.
How to schedule the exam
Before you can qualify for PLAB 2, you must have completed PLAB 1. PLAB 1 is offered only four times a year in February, May, August, and November, and exam places are limited and in high demand. To secure an appointment, you must open an account on the GMC website by filling in the requested personal information. When completed, you’ll receive an email asking you to verify your account, and then you’re in. Under the ‘My Test’ section, you’ll be able to choose a date and location from the available selection; we recommend you start your bookings early to ensure you get the date and time you prefer. To have your application filed and your preferred date and place secured, you have to pay the required exam fees. For PLAB 1 exam, that is £255, while PLAB 2 costs £934; the exact amount might vary depending on your home country.
If you’ve secured a booking at a UK or EU location, you’ll receive confirmation of your venue address within 7 days of your exam. This information will be sent to you by the GMC-approved supplier VICTVS, which is responsible for delivering and invigilating UK and EU-based PLAB 1 exams on behalf of the GMC. If your booking is for an exam outside of the UK and EU, you’ll receive details of the venue address directly from the British Council.
As mentioned before, PLAB 2 can only be taken after you complete PLAB 1. Available dates are shown on your GMC account but may be limited due to the high demand for the PLAB 2 exam.
Tips when registering
- Before selecting a date, ensure you have your travel logistics sorted out. Securing your visa and all the necessary documentation required of you is of utmost importance.
- For PLAB 1, begin your search for a location and date early enough that spots will still be available. For PLAB 2, look for a date that is free of personal and professional commitments, as you may be occupied for up to a week, accounting for travel and rest time.
- If you fall ill or cannot go for the exam due to circumstances, you can contact the GMC, and they will provide you with a full refund of your fee but may ask you to provide some evidence, depending on the situation.
- When selecting a date, you should give yourself enough time to prepare for the exam. Most experts recommended at least 6 months of dedicated revision guided by a well-constructed study schedule.
- A question bank such as the CanadaQBank for PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 will be an invaluable ally in your preparation for the PLAB exams. It covers essential clinical knowledge and offers real-time feedback on your performance per test, making it an ideal preparation tool for both parts of PLAB. The questions have been continuously updated to reflect the latest changes to the PLAB exams. You can generate customizable tests that accurately reflect the real exam or tests that quiz you on the areas you struggle with most.
