UKMLA PLAB 1 Course - A Complete System to Pass First Time

UKMLA PLAB 1 typically runs four times per year, usually in February, May, August and November. Exact dates vary each year and are confirmed by the GMC in advance of each sitting.

All bookings are made through your GMC Online account. For overseas centres, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the UAE, seats tend to fill very quickly once booking opens, so it is advisable to secure a place as early as possible.

The current fee is £247 per sitting. Check the GMC website for the most up-to-date fee information as fees are reviewed periodically.

Create a GMC Online account and register your details, including your English language qualification (IELTS or OET) or eligible nationality status. Choose a date slot and pay through the GMC portal. For overseas centres, registration typically closes 6 weeks before the exam. UK centre registration closes approximately 2 weeks before. Overseas seats can disappear within hours of opening – log in immediately when your booking window opens.

The pass mark is set per sitting using the Angoff method. It varies between sittings but typically falls between 60–70% – approximately 120 to 126 out of 180 marks. Results are usually available approximately 4 weeks after the exam date via your GMC Online account.

The PLAB 1 pass rate has averaged approximately 70% over the past five years. In 2025, approximately 62% of all candidates passed. UK-trained candidates and those from certain countries pass at higher rates. Thorough preparation covering all clinical areas of the GMC UKMLA Blueprint is the strongest predictor of success.

Use both a question bank and structured revision together – neither alone is sufficient for PLAB 1. Base your preparation on the GMC UKMLA/PLAB Blueprint, which maps all clinical areas tested. Key references are NICE guidelines, BNF and BNF for Children, Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine and GMC Good Medical Practice. Make a detailed revision timeline.

Download the free PLAB 1 planner at https://aroramedicaleducation.co.uk/free-planner

The Arora PLAB 1 Ultimate Package covers knowledge and exam technique with video, audio, an AI-powered question bank, mock papers and a live Zoom crammer course.

PLAB 1 covers the broad clinical knowledge expected of an FY2 doctor. Core areas include Medicine (the largest section), Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, ENT, Psychiatry and Ethics and Law.

Questions test applied clinical reasoning – not memorisation of isolated facts. You must be able to reason through scenarios using NICE-aligned UK management.

No. A PLAB 1 pass is valid for 3 years. You must sit and pass PLAB 2 within 3 years of your PLAB 1 pass date. If your PLAB 1 pass expires, you will need to resit before you can book PLAB 2.

No. Passing PLAB 1 only makes you eligible to book and sit PLAB 2. You can only apply for GMC full registration and work as a doctor in the UK after passing PLAB 2.

PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) is the existing pathway for international medical graduates. The UKMLA (UK Medical Licensing Assessment) is the GMC’s updated national licensing framework that PLAB is transitioning into. In 2026, most IMGs still sit the exam under the PLAB name. The standard, format and content map remain aligned – the UKMLA transition affects naming and scope, not the core requirement to pass both parts for GMC registration.

Arora offers 1-month, 3-month and 6-month access options for PLAB 1 preparation. Choose the access length that best matches your exam date. All options include the same full course content – video course, audiobook, AI-powered question bank, mock exams, flashcards and Arora app access. Extensions are available at any level.

The PLAB 1 Ultimate Package is our most comprehensive UKMLA PLAB 1 preparation option. It includes a recorded video course, an audiobook course, an AI-powered question bank, multiple mock exam papers and clinical flashcards. All content is accessible via the Arora app for iOS and Android with offline access.

Yes. The Arora PLAB 1 question bank features AI-powered adaptive learning. As you practice, the system identifies the clinical domains and question types where you are losing marks and automatically focuses your revision there.

At checkout, you will see upcoming live course dates. Choose the date closest to your exam. Arora runs a live crammer course 3–4 weeks before each PLAB 1 exam date. If you are unsure of your exam date, select ‘Attend Future Date’ and we will contact you ahead of each upcoming course.

Yes. Download the free Arora PLAB 1 planner at https://aroramedicaleducation.co.uk/free-planner. It gives you a structured day-by-day revision schedule covering all clinical areas of the GMC UKMLA Blueprint across your available preparation time.

If you have worked through the full PLAB 1 package and are unlucky on the day, Arora has a range of low-cost extension options. There is no need to re-purchase a full package.

Yes. At checkout, select the PayPal option and choose ‘Pay Later’ to spread the cost. Available in certain countries.

The video course, audiobook, question bank, mock exams and flashcards are updated regularly to reflect the latest NICE guidelines and GMC Blueprint. Updates appear in your access immediately.