PLAB Exam 2026: Eligibility, Syllabus, Dates, Fees, Questions

The PLAB test is your gateway to practising medicine in the UK. Applicants who have completed their medical qualifications outside the UK can start their medical practice in the UK via several pathways, most commonly by qualifying for the PLAB exam. Read this article to learn about the PLAB exam UK 2026-27.

As a matter of law, all practising doctors in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), UK. Doctors who wish to work in the UK but did not pursue their medical degree in the UK, EEA, or Switzerland are required to prove their ability to do so by qualifying for the PLAB exam. 

The General Medical Council (GMC) UK conducts the PLAB exam to determine whether the applicants for the exam have the right knowledge and skill set to practise medicine in the UK. There are two parts of the PLAB exam, namely PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. You need to pass both PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams to be able to register and get a licence to practise medicine in the UK. Successful test takers can register with the GMC UK and work in the NHS.

PLAB Exam Updates 2026-27 

The following changes have been announced by the GMC UK for the PLAB Exam starting 2027.

1. For Indian applicants, the GMC has confirmed it will stop offering the PLAB 1 exam in Chennai from February 2027 onward. Candidates in India will need to schedule their seats at alternative remaining national centres (such as New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata).
2. From September 2026 onward, all PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams will be strictly graded and based entirely on the newly updated edition of the GMC MLA Content Map.
3. Outside the UK/EU, the total frequency of exams is dropping from four sittings down to three sittings a year. There will be no international sittings in February 2027.

PLAB Exam 2026 Highlights

Country Accepting the PLAB Exam	UK
PLAB Exam Types	2 parts: PLAB 1 and PLAB 2
PLAB Exam Conducting Body	General Medical Council (GMC), UK
PLAB Exam Dates Availability	PLAB 1 dates are available only 3 times a year (Updated)  PLAB 2 dates are available throughout the year, but candidates need to qualify for PLAB 1 before taking PLAB 2.
PLAB Exam Official Website	https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/plab

What is PLAB Exam Full Form?

The full form of PLAB exam is “Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board”. It is conducted by the General Medical Council of the UK (GMC UK) to test the skills and knowledge of foreign-qualified doctors who want to practise and work as a doctor in the UK. 

The PLAB exam is also in compliance with the MLA, i.e. Medical Licensing Assessment - which tests the knowledge, behaviour and skills of doctors going to join the UK medical system. Even the questions and stations in the PLAB exam are based on the MLA Content Map and both the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams meet the requirements of the MLA AKT and MLA CPSA exams, respectively. Because the test aligns completely with these UK MLA standards, international candidates will continue to take this modernised version under the existing PLAB name. 

What does a PLAB Exam Test?

The PLAB exam is an important screening exam for doctors qualified outside of the UK so that they can come and practise in the UK. The exam tests:

1. Medical knowledge and clinical skills of applicants
2. Ability to apply knowledge to patient care, relevant to UK best practices.
3. Communication and decision-making in realistic settings.  

So, a PLAB exam assesses whether the International Medical Graduates (IMGs) possess the necessary medical knowledge, clinical skills, and English language proficiency to safely work as a foundation year two (F2) doctor in the UK's National Health Service (NHS)

Who Needs to Take the PLAB Test?

Students who have graduated from a medical school located outside of the following locations need to take the PLAB test: 

• The UK,
• The European Economic Area (EEA), or 
• Switzerland.

The PLAB test aims to determine that you have the same knowledge and skills as a doctor who’s starting the second year of their Foundation Programme Training in the UK.

The fifth attempt is the last chance to take the PLAB exam. If a candidate does not pass on this attempt, they won't be allowed to take the exam ever again.

Eligibility Criteria to Take the PLAB Test UK

Since only after passing PLAB 1 will applicants be able to apply for PLAB 2, they need to be eligible to take PLAB 1 in the first place. The general points of eligibility for the PLAB 1 exam are given below. Remember - these are just the points of eligibility that make you eligible to sit the exam, but meeting these requirements does not mean that you have qualified for the exam.

1.  Your primary medical degree must have been granted by a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
2. You must have passed an acceptable English test, preferably IELTS. The strict GMC requirement is an overall IELTS score of at least 7.5, with no individual module (Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing) falling below 7.0. 
3. Students must have completed their graduation, including the internship that counts towards the completion of the program. The internship that students take, whether that counts for course completion or it is a separate one, must be followed with certain rules like -
   • The internship should be at least 12 months long
   • It must include 3 months in surgery and 3 months in medicine practice
   • No absenteeism of more than 20 days must be there

What to Do to Book a PLAB Test?

It must be noted that applicants cannot register for the PLAB exam directly. Instead, they need to set up their “Online GMC Account” first and insert the details of their medical qualifications and English language. The authorities will then verify the details you have entered and check if your Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) meet the requirements for taking the exam. If all is well and done, you will be able to book part 1 of the PLAB exam, i.e. PLAB 1. PLAB 2 can be booked after clearing the PLAB 1 exam by logging into your online GMC account. 

You can set up your online GMC account at the link https://www.gmc-uk.org/gmconlinev2/signup.

What Do You Need Before Taking the PLAB Exam?

Before taking the PLAB exam and to be able to take the exam, you will need to take some mandatory steps, which include -

1. Setting up a GMC account online
2. Showcase that your medical degree earned abroad and your English language proficiency are acceptable for the exam and for practising medicine in the UK.

As per the proofs you provide, your details for each of the above-mentioned requirements will be verified. If you meet the requirements, you will be able to book PLAB 1. These are the additional requirements apart from the eligibility criteria for the PLAB exam 2026.

What Does the PLAB Exam Involve? | An Overview of PLAB 1 and PLAB 2

You need to qualify for part 1 of the PLAB exam, i.e. PLAB 1; only then would you be able to take the PLAB 2 exam. 

PLAB 1 is a written exam including 180 multiple-choice questions, also known as MCQs. Each of these questions comes with 1 correct answer. Alternatively, PLAB 2 is a practical exam, formally termed as - "Objective Structured Clinical Exam" (OSCE).

PLAB 1 Exam | Details

PLAB 1 is a multiple-choice question-based applied knowledge test (AKT) that consists of 180 unique questions. PLAB 1 aims to assess your ability to use your knowledge for the care of patients and not your ability to remember facts and book lessons. 

The PLAB 1 test must be attempted and completed by the candidates within a span of 3 hours. Every question in PLAB 1 starts with a scenario followed by an MCQ based on that scenario. 

Each question will present 5 choices and you have to select only one single best option as an answer to the problem asked.

When and where to take PLAB 1?

PLAB 1 can be taken only 4 times a year - in the months of February, May, August and November. The test can be taken either in the UK itself or in some other locations as given below.

Indian students can take PLAB 1 at GMC-authorised PLAB test centres in India, but for PLAB 2, they will be required to go to the UK.  

Locations Where You Can Take the PLAB 1 Exam
Countries/Regions	PLAB Test Centre Cities/Locations
UK	Belfast	Cardiff
	London	Manchester
	Oxford	Sheffield
	Birmingham	Edinburgh
	Newcastle
EU	Dublin	Madrid
Egypt	Alexandria	Cairo
India	Bangalore	New Delhi
	Hyderabad	Kolkata
	Mumbai
Nigeria	Abuja	Lagos
Pakistan	Islamabad	Karachi
The Republic of Ireland	Dublin
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh
South Africa	Johannesburg
Spain	Madrid
Sri Lanka	Colombo
UAE	Dubai
Australia	Sydney
Bangladesh	Dhaka
Canada	Toronto
Ghana	Accra
Kenya	Nairobi

Note that the test location confirmation and exam venue details for the UK and EU regions will be shared with the test takers at least 1 week before the exam by the GMC-approved supplier VICTVS. 

For other locations, the same will be shared by the British Council. 

Candidates are advised to contact VICTVS or the British Council directly if they do not receive the venue details at least one week before the PLAB exam. 

Questions Asked in PLAB 1 Exam - Questions in PLAB 1 are related to current best medical practices and the equipment used routinely in the UK. Candidates will be required to answer these questions based on the established facts and not on the basis of their local arrangements. 

PLAB 2 Exam 

PLAB 2 is an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) and involves simulated or real clinical conditions aimed at assessing the clinical skills of the candidates such as history taking, physical examination, diagnosis and counselling. 

The PLAB 2 exam consists of 16 scenarios, each of which lasts for 8 minutes and reflects real-life settings, mock consultations or acute wards. Unlike the PLAB 1 exam, dates for the PLAB 2 exam remain available throughout the year. PLAB 2  can be taken at two of the GMC Assessment Centres in Manchester, UK.

What are the PLAB Exam Dates for 2026-27?

PLAB exam dates differ for both PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. PLAB 1 exam dates are available 4 times a year; in the months of February, May, August and November. But it is shifting to only 3 sittings per year, starting 2027. 

The upcoming PLAB 1 date is Nov 05, 2026. 

Upcoming PLAB Exam Dates 2026-27
PLAB Exams	Dates
PLAB 1	November 05, 2026 May 2027 Aug 2027 Nov 2027
PLAB 2	Available throughout the year

Note:- The PLAB 1 exam dates are closed 6 weeks before the actual exam date for international test takers. However, seats usually sell out months in advance within minutes of release, so candidates cannot rely on that 6-week window to secure a seat.

PLAB 2 dates remain available throughout the year and candidates must log in and book the slots through their GMC account to know more about the availability of dates and slots for the given venue. 

What are PLAB Exam Eligibility Criteria for 2026-27?

Candidates must meet the following requirements to be able to sit in the PLAB exam:

• Confirmation of the completion of a previous graduation degree and that the student has passed his/her final exams. 
• Your Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) must be in allopathic medicine awarded by an institution listed in the “World Directory of Medical Schools”, in short - WDMS, and is currently accepted by GMC. Note that the degree you take, its title, period and awarding body must all match the one listed in WDMS. Degrees taken entirely virtually (or via online mode) are not acceptable. Here are the additional requirements for the acceptable foreign degrees - 
  • Your medical programme abroad must have included at least 3 years of studies; alternatively, you must have studied for a minimum of 5,500 clock hours to be eligible to sit for the PLAB exam. Note that this period of time is inclusive of the practical or clinical experience or any pre-graduation internship that you may take during your studies, but does not include revision or self-study time. 
  • GMC Online confirms the years and the number of hours of study you completed directly from your parent institution. 
  • If you have completed your MBBS from different institutions - all of which are accepted by GMC, then the case should be that - the credits getting transferred to the degree-awarding body must have been from a course that, on a successful continuation, would have led to the award of a complete MBBS degree. 
• Fluency in the English language must be proven by inserting your test and results details in the “My Tests” section of the online GMC portal. These details will then be verified with the respective exam-conducting bodies within 2 days. You can take either of the following English exams:
  • IELTS: Only IELTS Academic is accepted to register for the PLAB 1 exam and not IELTS Indicator or IELTS Online tests. You must score an overall IELTS score of 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in each section. Note - it is advisable that students achieve the desired marks within the same test, as the marks obtained after a one-skill retake are not acceptable for the PLAB exam. 
  • OET: OET on Paper, OET on Computer and OET at Home are the accepted forms of OET exams for the PLAB 1 exam. However, one must take the paper version of the test. Candidates must aim to receive at least grade B in each section of the exam within one sitting. 

After fulfilling the above requirements, one can finish setting up their GMC account and book a place/slot for the PLAB exam. 

PLAB Exam Fees 2026 | Registration and Cancellation Fees

Test takers who are required to take the PLAB test must pay different fees for PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. The PLAB exam fees for PLAB 1, PLAB 2 and the PLAB exam cancellation fees for the remaining financial year 2026 and the upcoming year 2027 are given in the table below. 

PLAB Exam Fees 2026-27
PLAB Exam Fee Components	PLAB Exam Fees 2026-27
PLAB 1 Exam Fee	£283
PLAB 2 Exam Fee	£1,036
PLAB 1 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling More than 42 Days Before Taking the Exam (10% of PLAB 1 exam fee)	£28.3
PLAB 1 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling 42 Days or Less Before Taking the Exam (100% of PLAB 1 exam fee)	£283
PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling More Than 42 Days Before Taking the Exam (10% of PLAB 2 exam fee)	£103.6
PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling Between 42 and 29 Days Before Taking the Exam (50% of PLAB 2 exam fee)	£518
PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling 28 Days or Less Before Taking the Exam (100% of PLAB 2 exam fee)	£1,036

Note:- If you wish to change the date of your existing PLAB exam booking, you will need to cancel your current booking by paying an applicable cancellation fee.

Also, 

PLAB Exam Results 2026

The PLAB results are released 6 weeks after taking the exam. The PLAB UK exam results availability is notified to candidates by email, after which candidates are required to check their results on the “My Tests” section of the GMC portal. 

The PLAB result consists of your overall test score, the minimum required score for you to pass the exam and the average score of all the test takers. 

Check the PLAB results dates for the upcoming PLAB 1 exam below. 

PLAB 1 Exam Results Dates 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Date	Results Date
Aug 06, 2026	Sep 17, 2026 by 4 PM
Nov 05, 2026	Dec 17, 2026 by 4 PM

What to do After Qualifying the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 Exams?

Once you clear both PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams, you will be eligible to apply for registration with a license to practise medicine in the UK. Make sure to get your application approved within 2 years of taking the PLAB 2 exam. Once your application is approved by the GMC, you will gain registration and can start practising as a doctor in the UK.

If you wish to study abroad, you may also check the MBBS Abroad at MCI Approved Medical Colleges

PLAB Exam Contact Details for Indian Test Centres 2026

For any doubts regarding the test centre dates, special accommodations, or confirmation on PLAB exam booking, Indian test takers can contact the GMC test centres in India. The contact details of PLAB test centres in India are given in the table below. 

PLAB Exam Contact Details
Test Centres	Contact Details
Bangalore	BCEEnquiries@britishcouncil.org
Chennai
Hyderabad
Kolkata
Navi Mumbai
New Delhi

 This was all about the PLAB exam. For admission-related queries, sign up for free counselling at Shiksha Abroad Counselling and request a callback from our team of expert counsellors.