PLAB Exam 2025: Full Form, Fees, Dates, Eligibility, Questions
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The PLAB test is your gateway to practise medicine in the UK. Applicants who have completed their medical qualifications outside the UK can start their medical practices in the UK only after qualifying for the PLAB exam. Read this article to learn about the PLAB exam UK.
As a rule by law, all practising doctors in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), UK. Foreign nationals who wish to work as a doctor in the UK but did not pursue their medical degree in the UK 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 clear both PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams to be able to register and get a license to practise medicine in the UK.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
What is PLAB Exam Full Form?
The full form of PLAB exam is “Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board” Exam. 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.
Read: MBBS in UK
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.
How Many Times Can You Take the PLAB Exam?
The PLAB exam can be taken until the candidate has failed the exam four times. If the candidate wishes to retake the exam after failing in all four attempts, they can do so by requesting an additional attempt which is the fifth attempt.
The fifth attempt at the PLAB exam is the final and last permissible attempt. If a candidate fails in their fifth attempt as well, they will be disqualified from taking the exam forever.
What Does the PLAB Exam Involve? | An Overview of PLAB 1 and PLAB 2
The PLAB exam consists of two parts and you will need to qualify for part 1 (PLAB 1) first to be able to register for part 2 of the exam (PLAB 2).
PLAB 1 is a written exam that consists of 180 multiple-choice questions with a single best answer for each. While PLAB 2 is a practical-objective structured clinical exam, also known as OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exam).
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 of 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 on the link https://www.gmc-uk.org/gmconlinev2/signup.
Also, Check: Masters of Medicine & Health Sciences in UK - Colleges and Fees 2025
PLAB 1 Exam
PLAB 1 is a multiple choice questions-based applied knowledge test (AKT) that consists of 180 unique questions. The PLAB 1 exam 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. Each question in the PLAB 1 exam starts with a scenario followed by a multiple-choice question based on that scenario.
Each question will present 5 choices and you will have to select only one single best option as an answer to the problem asked. The PLAB 1 Exam can be taken only 4 times a year at the in the UK itself or in some other available locations as given below.
| Locations Where You Can Take the PLAB 1 Exam |
||
|---|---|---|
| Countries/Regions |
PLAB Test Centre Cities/Locations |
|
| Belfast |
Cardiff |
|
| London |
Manchester |
|
| Oxford |
Sheffield |
|
| Birmingham |
Edinburgh |
|
| Newcastle |
||
| EU |
Dublin |
Madrid |
| Egypt |
Alexandria |
Cairo |
| India |
Bangalore |
Chennai |
| Hyderabad |
Kolkata |
|
| Mumbai |
New Delhi |
|
| Nigeria |
Abuja |
Lagos |
| Pakistan |
Islamabad |
Karachi |
| The Republic of Ireland |
Dublin |
|
| Saudi Arabia |
Riyadh |
|
| South Africa |
Johannesburg |
|
| Spain |
Madrid |
|
| Sri Lanka |
Colombo |
|
| UAE |
Dubai |
|
| 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 suggested that they must 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: The questions in PLAB 1 are related to the current best medical practices in the UK and the equipments 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.
PLAB Exam Dates 2025-26
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.
The upcoming PLAB 1 dates are 22 May 2025 and 07 August 2025.
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.
PLAB Exam Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the following requirements to be able to sit in the PLAB exam:
- A 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” and is currently accepted by GMC. Degrees taken entirely virtually (or via online mode) are not acceptable.
- Fluency in English language must be proven by inserting your tests 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 one-skill retake are not acceptable for 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. Although, one must take the medicine 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 thr PLAB exam.
PLAB Exam Fees 2025-26 | Registration and Cancellation Fees
Candidates who are required to take the PLAB test must pay different fees for PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. Note that GMC, UK, has introduced some significant changes to the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exam fees in the year 2025. The PLAB exam fees for PLAB 1, PLAB 2 and the PLAB exam cancellation fees for the year 2025-26 are given in the table below.
| PLAB Exam Fees 2025-26 |
|
|---|---|
| PLAB 1 Exam Fee |
£273 |
| PLAB 2 Exam Fee |
£998 |
| PLAB 1 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling More Than 42 Days Before Taking the Exam |
£27.30 |
| PLAB 1 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling 42 Days or Less Before Taking the Exam |
£273 |
| PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling More Than 42 Days Before Taking the Exam |
£99.80 |
| PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling Between 42 and 29 Days Before Taking the Exam |
£499.00 |
| PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee for Cancelling 28 Days or Less Before Taking the Exam |
£998 |
Note:- If you wish to swap the date of your existing PLAB exam booking with a new date, you will have to do so by cancelling your current booking and paying an applicable cancellation fee.
PLAB Exam Results 2025
The PLAB results are released 6 weeks after taking the exam. The PLAB UK exam results availability is notified to candidates over 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.
| Upcoming PLAB 1 Exams and Results Dates 2025-26 |
|
|---|---|
| Exam Date |
Results Date |
| 22 May 2025 | 03 July 2025 (by 4 PM) |
| 07 August 2025 | 18 September 2025 (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 before 2 years of taking the PLAB 2 exam. Once your application is approved by GMC, you will gain registration for and can start practising as a doctor in the UK.
Also Check: MBBS in Abroad at MCI Approved Medical Colleges
This was all about the PLAB exam. For admission related queries, sign up for free counselling at Shiksha Abroad Counselling and request a call back from our team of expert counsellors.
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
The English language test score required at the Univerisyt of South Wales are mentioned in the table below for the international applicants whose first language is not English
Exam | Minimum Scores |
|---|---|
IELTS | 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each band |
TOEFL | 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing |
PTE | a score of 59 overall and 59 in each component. |
Yes, all the graduates receive a British degree irrespective of the campus locations. Programs follow similar patterns and examinations on all campuses. The degree awarded is even recognised by the reputed institutions and also approved by Royal Charter in UK.
International students coming from diverse backgrounds must prove their English language proficiency by submitting the scores of IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo at Hertfordshire University. The university demands an IELTS score of 6 from the students. Along with the IELTS scores, students can refer to the table below for all the required English proficiency score:
English language test | Minimum Score required UG | Minimum Score required PG |
|---|---|---|
6 or above | 6 or above | |
59 or above | 58 or above | |
105 or above | 120 or above |
After applying to Hertfordshire University UK, the applicants are going to receive an initial decision about their application within 2-3 working days. After the submission of the application and documents, the applicants are required to pay their tuition deposit. Then, complete the Sponsorship interview and the financial declaration. International students are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 before registration. The balance can be paid in line with the liability dates related to the year and entry of the semester.
As an international student, attending the University of Lincoln is a very fun experience. Lincoln University offers exceptional academic programs for their students. Also, the faculty of the university is very qualified and have an expertise in their fields. Students really enjoy the campus library as well as the services and facilities offered by the university. Additionally, the environment for foreign students in very welcoming and friendly.
University of Chester is surely a good option for international students mainly beacuse of a diverse range of excellent academic programs.Below are some reasons why University of Chester is good:
Academics: The University of Chester offers over 200 undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degree programs to international students. The University of Chester University offers undergraduate major and minor courses. Students can also pursue master’s or doctoral programs at the University of Chester University.
Location of the university - The University of is in a location where arts & culture, technology industry and entertainment industry providing endless internship. International Students have access to beaches, outdoor activities, live music/performances and attractions which makes their make campus life more enjoyable. The location gives University of Chester students an additional mark to study at University of Chester.
Ranking: Many global ranking sources like THE (Times Higher Education), etc., have ranked University of Chester among the top universities in the world since 2021. These bodies consistently rank it among the top universities in UK.
Fees: : The cost of attending University of Chester for Indian students can vary depending on several factors. Tuition fees for international students at University of Chester are typically higher than for Uk citizens. However, it is important that the tuition fee can change over time, and it is recommended to visit the official website to recheck the fees and accommodation. Indian students should also consider other costs such as housing, health insurance, meals and transportation attending University of Chester.
PLAB Exam FAQs
Q. What is PLAB exam for in the UK?
A. The PLAB exam is for medical graduates who have pursued their medical degrees from outside the UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. The exam renders the test takers eligible to take up practice as a doctor in the UK, get registered with GMC and apply for a medical license.
Q. Can I take the PLAB exam after MBBS in India?
A. Yes, Indian students who completed their MBBS degrees from a college/university in India can take the PLAB exam given that their college/university is listed in the “World Directory of Medical Schools”.
Q. Is PLAB harder than USMLE?
A. The difficulty of PLAB and USMLE can vary depending on individual circumstances. Some students find PLAB more challenging due to its unique format and emphasis on clinical application, while others find USMLE more difficult due to its breadth of content and competitive nature. Ultimately, the best way to determine which exam is more difficult for you is to assess your own strengths and weaknesses.
Q. How many marks are carried by a question in the PLAB exam?
A. Each question in the PLAB exam is worth 1 mark. The sum of all the marks you achieve in the PLAB exam is your final score for the exam.
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