PLAB 1 Practice Questions and a Full 180-Question Mock Test
Answer single-best-answer questions written to the MLA content map and current UK guidance, read the explanation for every answer, then sit a full 180-question PLAB 1 mock exam under the three-hour clock. Every drill has a free try.
180 five-option questions in 3 hours across all ten GMC feedback areas, with a score for every area and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drill- 660 original five-option questions with an explanation and its UK guidance source
- 180 questions in the full mock, scored in the ten GMC feedback areas
- 11 free drills: one per area plus a mixed drill
A 22-year-old man with sickle cell disease (HbSS) attends the emergency department with severe pain in his back and legs, scoring 8 out of 10. His temperature is 37.4°C, oxygen saturation 97% on air and chest examination is normal. He took ibuprofen and paracetamol at home without relief. What is the most appropriate immediate management?
PLAB 1 at a glance
PLAB 1 is the applied knowledge test that doctors who qualified outside the UK pass before PLAB 2 and registration with a licence to practise. It tests whether you can apply knowledge to the care of patients the way a UK Foundation Year 2 doctor does, using current UK best practice and the equipment found in UK hospitals.
- Owner
- General Medical Council (GMC). PLAB 1 is the written part of the PLAB test for doctors who qualified outside the UK; PLAB 2 is the clinical part
- Format
- 180 multiple-choice questions on paper. Each is a short clinical scenario and a question, and you choose the right answer from five options
- Time
- 3 hours. No calculators, phones or watches; the time is shown in the exam hall
- Content
- Based on the MLA content map: common, important and acute conditions seen by a doctor in UK Foundation Year 2, and long-term conditions managed in primary care, answered by current UK best practice
- Scoring
- One mark per correct answer. The pass mark is set for each exam with the Angoff method plus one standard error of measurement. Your result shows your score, the pass score and the average score
- Feedback
- Your percentage correct in ten areas: cardiorespiratory; endocrine, metabolic and clinical haematology; gastrointestinal; neurosciences and senses (including skin); musculoskeletal; mental health; renal and urology; reproductive health; child and adolescent health; ethics and other
- Sittings
- Four a year, in February, May, August and November, in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Dublin, Madrid and overseas centres. Results six weeks after the exam
- Fee
- £283 from 1 April 2026 (£273 before). Cancelling more than 42 days before costs 10% of the fee; 42 days or less costs the full fee
- Attempts
- You can sit PLAB 1 until you have failed it four times. A fifth and final attempt needs an application after at least 12 months of clinical practice or a postgraduate qualification
- After a pass
- Book PLAB 2 in GMC Online. You must pass PLAB 2 within two years of the date you sat PLAB 1
PLAB 1 mock test: the full 180 questions
Each mock is a complete PLAB 1 paper: 180 single-best-answer questions with five options in 3 hours, drawn from all ten GMC feedback areas. Skip, flag and return to questions as you would on the paper. Your result shows your score, your percentage in each area, and the answer and explanation for every question.
The ten PLAB 1 areas, and a free drill for each
The GMC reports your PLAB 1 result as a percentage correct in ten areas of clinical practice based on the MLA content map. Each drill is ten questions from one area with an explanation after every answer, and each area has its own guide page. The mock column shows how many questions each area has on our 180-question mock papers.
| Area | On our mock | In the bank | What it tests | Drill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiorespiratory | 24 | 84 | Chest pain and acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias and cardiac arrest, heart failure, hypertension, venous thromboembolism, asthma, COPD, pneumonia and lung cancer. | 10-question drill |
| Endocrine, Metabolic and Clinical Haematology | 20 | 70 | Diabetes and its emergencies, thyroid, adrenal and pituitary disease, sodium, potassium and calcium, anaemia, anticoagulation, transfusion and haematological cancers. | 10-question drill |
| Gastrointestinal | 20 | 70 | Dyspepsia and GI bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, gallstones and pancreatitis, the acute abdomen, GI cancer referral and nutrition. | 10-question drill |
| Neurosciences and Senses (Including Skin) | 22 | 76 | Stroke and TIA, headache, seizures, head injury, neuromuscular disease, the eye, ear, nose and throat, and skin disease including burns. | 10-question drill |
| Musculoskeletal | 14 | 52 | Fractures and trauma, back pain and its red flags, inflammatory and crystal arthritis, septic arthritis, osteoporosis and bone tumours. | 10-question drill |
| Mental Health | 16 | 58 | Depression, anxiety, psychosis and bipolar disorder, self-harm and suicide risk, eating disorders, substance misuse, delirium, the Mental Health Act and psychotropic drug safety. | 10-question drill |
| Renal and Urology | 14 | 52 | Acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, hyperkalaemia, urinary tract infection, stones, prostate disease, urinary retention, the acute scrotum and urological cancer referral. | 10-question drill |
| Reproductive Health | 18 | 64 | Antenatal care and obstetric emergencies, early pregnancy, gynaecology, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, menopause and breast disease. | 10-question drill |
| Child and Adolescent Health | 18 | 64 | The febrile child, respiratory infections, rashes, neonatal problems, development, safeguarding, immunisation and adolescent health. | 10-question drill |
| Ethics and Other | 14 | 70 | Good medical practice, consent and capacity, confidentiality, end of life care, death certification, poisoning, prescribing safety, infection control, screening and evidence-based medicine. | 10-question drill |
Ready for the full paper?
180 five-option questions in 3 hours across all ten GMC feedback areas, with a score for every area and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillPLAB 1 exam and result dates
PLAB 1 runs four times a year, in February, May, August and November, and results come six weeks after the exam. In 2027 the February sitting runs only in the UK and EU, and Dhaka, Alexandria, Accra, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata no longer host the exam.
| Exam date | Results published |
|---|---|
| 6 August 2026 | 17 September 2026 by 4pm |
| 5 November 2026 | 17 December 2026 by 4pm |
| 11 February 2027 | 25 March 2027 by 4pm |
PLAB 1 pass rates
| Year | Sat PLAB 1 | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,431 | 7,728 | 74.1% |
| 2022 | 14,470 | 10,259 | 70.9% |
| 2023 | 21,916 | 15,781 | 72.0% |
| 2024 | 21,058 | 14,849 | 70.5% |
| 2025 | 13,691 | 8,513 | 62.2% |
How to use these PLAB 1 practice questions
- Take the free mixed drill to see where you stand across all ten areas.
- Drill the largest areas first: cardiorespiratory, neurosciences and senses, gastrointestinal, and endocrine and haematology.
- Read every explanation, including on questions you got right. Each names the UK guidance behind the answer, so you learn the rule and not just the fact.
- Sit the 180-question mock exam under the three-hour clock, then drill the two areas with your lowest percentages.
- Sit mock exam 2 a week or two before your exam date. It draws the questions you have not seen yet first.
Common questions
How many questions are on PLAB 1?
180 multiple-choice questions in three hours. Each question is a short clinical scenario followed by a question, and you choose the right answer from five options. The exam is on paper, so you mark an answer sheet with an HB pencil.
Can I practice PLAB 1 questions for free?
Yes. Every one of the eleven ten-question drills (one per GMC feedback area plus a mixed drill) has a free try with a free account, and every guide page has free sample questions with answers. The full 180-question mock exams under the three-hour clock come with a PLAB 1 pass, with your score, your percentage in each of the ten areas and an explanation for every question.
What is the PLAB 1 pass mark?
There is no fixed pass mark. The GMC sets the pass mark for each exam with the Angoff method, in which experts judge how a doctor entering Foundation Year 2 would answer each question, and adds one standard error of measurement. Your result shows your score, the pass score for your exam and the average score.
What does PLAB 1 cover?
PLAB 1 is based on the MLA content map. It covers common, important and acute conditions seen by a doctor in UK Foundation Year 2, and the management of long-term conditions in primary care, answered by current UK best practice such as NICE guidance and the BNF. The GMC reports your results in ten areas: cardiorespiratory; endocrine, metabolic and clinical haematology; gastrointestinal; neurosciences and senses (including skin); musculoskeletal; mental health; renal and urology; reproductive health; child and adolescent health; and ethics and other.
How much does PLAB 1 cost?
PLAB 1 costs £283 for exams booked from 1 April 2026. If you cancel more than 42 days before the exam, you lose 10% of the fee; within 42 days you lose the full fee. Refugee doctors living in the UK sit their first two attempts free.
How many times can I take PLAB 1?
You can keep sitting PLAB 1 until you have failed it four times. After a fourth fail you can apply for one final attempt, but only after at least 12 months of clinical practice or a relevant postgraduate qualification.
When are PLAB 1 results released?
Six weeks after the exam, in the My Tests section of GMC Online. The 5 November 2026 exam has results on 17 December 2026, and the 11 February 2027 exam on 25 March 2027.
What is the PLAB 1 pass rate?
62.2% of the 13,691 candidates who sat PLAB 1 in 2025 passed. In 2024, 70.5% of 21,058 candidates passed, and in 2023, 72.0% of 21,916.
Ready for exam day?
180 five-option questions in 3 hours across all ten GMC feedback areas, with a score for every area and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillSources
- GMC: What is the PLAB 1 exam? (180 questions, three hours, five options)
- GMC: PLAB 1 results (scoring, ten feedback areas, Angoff pass mark, exam and result dates)
- GMC: When and where can I take PLAB 1?
- GMC: Booking a PLAB 1 place (eligibility, attempt limit)
- GMC: Fees for doctors (PLAB fees from 1 April 2026)
- GMC: Additional PLAB 1 attempt
- GMC: Recent pass rates for PLAB 1 and PLAB 2
- GMC: MLA content map (September 2026)
- GMC: Changes to PLAB 1 in 2027
Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to the GMC’s MLA content map (September 2026) and current UK guidance. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the General Medical Council (GMC). The GMC’s own 85 sample questions are on its website. Follow current national and local guidance in clinical practice.