Secure your UKMLA PLAB 1 pass with a complete study system

Exam Overview

UKMLA PLAB 1 is part of the PLAB assessment process for doctors who are training abroad, to allow them to practice as doctors in the UK. The UKMLA PLAB 1 exam is the written component of the process and UKMLA PLAB 2 is the OSCE component.

UKMLA PLAB 1 can be taken in various places – both in the UK as well as in other countries. To see which cities you are able to take the exam see the GMC website. The UKMLA PLAB 1 format comprises a 180-question exam. The exam lasts 180 minutes in total.

For our UKMLA PLAB 1 Ultimate Package click here.

 

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Exam Format

FAQs

How to prepare for UKMLA PLAB 1?

When preparing for UKMLA PLAB 1,  there are two main chosen approaches – question-bank based and ‘formal revision’ based.

Relying on one alone leave can leave you a little short. No question bank can cover every aspect of the UKMLA PLAB 1, whilst purely reading books and guidelines means you won’t gain any experience of dealing with questions you may face in the exam.

If planned well, both should be used hand-in-hand as both have advantages in terms of improving retention and performance.

A few key references to familiarise with and keep referring to throughout preparation: PLAB GMC Blueprint (all of our teaching is based on this), NICE guidelines, BNF and BNF for children, Oxford Handbook of clinical medicine, GMC Good Medical Practice booklet.

The GMC PLAB Blueprint should be used as a guide to your preparation. This outlines which areas will be tested in the UKMLA PLAB 1 – not going through this will lead to surprises on the day. It covers quite a lot but if you plan things well it will ensure you cover everything.

Make a timeline. Planning is vital given the huge amount of material to cover for UKMLA PLAB 1. Work out how long you have between now and your exam, and break down your revision accordingly. Which topics to have covered by when, how many questions to complete per week? etc. Lack of this may lead to haphazard preparation and an overwhelmed feeling. Our UKMLA PLAB 1 revision planners are designed to help you plan out your revision and can be found here: Free Planner

The most comprehensive package for UKMLA PLAB 1 is our UKMLA PLAB 1 Ultimate Package. This is a package which focuses on the two core components needed for UKMLA PLAB 1 success – knowledge and technique. The package has 6 months access to all material and contains a 1-day crammer live course, online course, audiobook course, question bank, multiple mock exams, and clinical flashcards. To find out more about the package and for doctor reviews click here.

How to book UKMLA PLAB 1 exam?

You can book UKMLA PLAB 1 exams through the GMC site. To do this, you must create an account. Once this has been verified through your email, you must fill out your details. This includes putting in your IELTS/OET (English language test) results and/or your nationality status, to ensure your English level meets the minimum requirement to sit the exam.

You can then choose a date slot and make a payment through the GMC portal. You will be sent a confirmation email once this has been processed, which will allow you entrance into your examination.

You will receive your results through the portal once you have sat your exam and it’s been marked.

How long does the UKMLA PLAB 1 result take?

Generally, UKMLA PLAB 1 exam results are available four weeks after you have taken the test.

What is the pass mark for UKMLA PLAB 1?

The UKMLA PLAB 1 pass mark varies every year. It is determined using the Anghoff Method, with one standard error of measurement. This ensures that the pass mark stays consistent and it is a fair exam. To pass UKMLA PLAB 1 exams, candidates must sit within or above the average rate and, though this varies slightly every year, this is generally between 60-70% – which equates to 120 to 126 marks.

What is the UKMLA PLAB 1 pass rate?

The UKMLA PLAB 1 pass rate for the past five years shows an average of 70% of candidates passing the first time round, based on the data from the GMC website.

How to pass UKMLA PLAB 1?

Passing UKMLA PLAB 1 requires you to retain a large amount of information on several clinical areas. You must be able to correctly answer 180 multiple choice questions.

To pass UKMLA PLAB 1, candidates should focus on gaining an in-depth understanding of all the areas outlined in the GMC’s UKMLA PLAB 1 blueprint. These are Medicine (which is the subject for the majority of the 180 questions), Surgery, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, OBGYN (obstetrics and gynaecology), ENT (ears, nose and throat), Psychiatry and Ethics.

To pass your UKMLA PLAB 1 test, you need to cover each of these areas in detail in your revision to ensure you can easily answer questions about any of the subjects. The exam consists of 180 questions, and these change every time. While it is beneficial to complete mock papers and use UKMLA PLAB 1 questions banks to aid your revision, you cannot rely on memorising answers alone to pass the exam. You need to ensure you have real knowledge which can be applied to different scenarios.

To make sure you pass UKMLA PLAB 1, use a variety of revision methods to help cement the information you need to know for the exam. Flashcards, audiobooks and mock papers are all popular ways of studying UKMLA PLAB 1.  It is also important to give yourself enough time to revise each of the areas. In the lead up to your exam date, make a revision plan that helps you separate your time into each of the subject areas, so you can spend enough time covering each.

The most comprehensive package for UKMLA PLAB 1 is our UKMLA PLAB 1 Ultimate Package. This is a package which focuses on the two core components needed for UKMLA PLAB 1 success – knowledge and technique. The package has 6 months access to all material and contains a 1-day live crammer course, online course, audiobook course, question bank, multiple mock exams, and clinical flashcards. To find out more about the package and for doctor reviews click here.

How much is UKMLA PLAB 1?

From April 2022 UKMLA PLAB 1 now costs £247. More details about cancelling or booking UKMLA PLAB 1 can be found on the GMC website.

What are UKMLA PLAB 1 dates?

The next UKMLA PLAB 1 dates on the GMC website are :

  • 12th February 2026

How long is a UKMLA PLAB 1 exam?

The UKMLA PLAB 1 exam lasts for 180 minutes. It consists of 180 questions, which means it works out as 1 minute per question if divided equally.

How can Arora Medical Education help you pass UKMLA PLAB 1?

Our most comprehensive package for UKMLA PLAB 1 is the UKMLA PLAB 1 Ultimate Package. This is a package which focuses on the two core components needed for UKMLA PLAB 1 success – knowledge and technique. The package has 6 months access to all material and contains an online course, audiobook course, question bank, multiple mock exams, and clinical flashcards. To find out more about the package and for doctor reviews click here.

Our UKMLA PLAB 1 revision planners are designed to help you plan out your revision and can be found here: Free Planner

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