Quick Answer
PLAB 1 exam guide 2026: computer-based MCQ exam with 180 questions over 3 hours, testing the GMC's Good Medical Practice framework across clinical scenarios (GMC PLAB, 2026). Fee is £247 per attempt. Candidates have 4 attempts. PLAB 1 results are valid for 2 years — you must pass PLAB 2 within 2 years of clearing PLAB 1. The exam runs 4 times a year at Pearson VUE centres globally.
Data last verified September 2026 from the GMC's PLAB portal (GMC, 2026).
PLAB 1 exam format
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | 180 MCQs, single best answer |
| Time | 3 hours (no break) |
| Mode | Computer-based at Pearson VUE centres |
| Frequency | 4 windows / year (Feb, Jun, Sep, Nov) |
| Fee | £247 per attempt |
| Pass mark | Set by GMC standard-setting (~60-65%) |
| Negative marking | None |
Source: GMC PLAB, 2026.
PLAB 1 topics — GMC blueprint
PLAB 1 covers the GMC blueprint — clinical scenarios across (GMC PLAB, 2026):
- Medicine (cardiology, respiratory, GI, neurology, endocrinology, renal)
- Surgery (general, vascular, GI, trauma)
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Psychiatry
- ENT
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Emergency medicine
- Ethics / Good Medical Practice
The focus is on the application of UK medical practice guidelines (NICE, GMC) rather than rote knowledge.
PLAB 1 pass mark
The PLAB 1 pass mark is set by the GMC through a standard-setting process (GMC PLAB, 2026). Historically the pass mark is around 60-65% of available marks. The actual score is a scaled number, not a percentage. No negative marking.
PLAB 1 attempt limits
PLAB 1 candidates have 4 attempts to pass (GMC PLAB, 2026). After 4 failed attempts:
- The candidate must apply for a 5th attempt with supporting evidence.
- GMC reviews each case individually.
- PLAB 1 results are valid for 2 years — you must pass PLAB 2 within 2 years of clearing PLAB 1.
PLAB 1 fee and timing
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee per attempt | £247 |
| Exam windows | February, June, September, November (4 per year) |
| Result timing | 4-6 weeks after exam |
| Booking | Several months in advance via GMC portal |
Source: GMC PLAB, 2026.
PLAB 1 eligibility
PLAB 1 is for international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking UK medical registration (GMC PLAB, 2026). Candidates must:
- Hold a primary medical qualification from a GMC-recognised medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
- Meet English-language requirements (IELTS Academic 7.0 in all sections, or OET equivalent).
- Pass PLAB 1 within 4 attempts; PLAB 1 results are valid for 2 years.
- Pass PLAB 2 within 2 years of clearing PLAB 1.
PLAB 1 preparation
PLAB 1 prep typically takes 3-6 months of focused study (GMC PLAB, 2026). Reference materials:
- GMC's Good Medical Practice — the ethics framework (free PDF on the GMC portal).
- NICE guidelines — UK clinical reference for diagnosis / management.
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine — standard clinical reference.
- PLABABLE question bank — the most popular prep resource.
- Pastest question bank — alternative.
- GMC's free sample questions — baseline.
Mock exams on PLABABLE / Pastest are the highest-ROI prep method — the question style is the differentiator.
PLAB 1 → PLAB 2 → Foundation Training → GMC registration
PLAB is a two-step route to full GMC registration (GMC PLAB, 2026):
- PLAB 1 (MCQ) — 180 Qs, 3 hrs, computer-based.
- PLAB 2 (OSCE) — 16 stations, ~3 hrs, in-person at GMC's Manchester clinical assessment centre.
- Apply for Foundation Training (UK 2-year postgraduate training programme).
- Receive full GMC registration with a licence to practise.
Resources & next steps
For the official PLAB 1 specification, attempt registration, and result, go to gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/plab. The GMC's Good Medical Practice PDF is the free ethics reference. PLABABLE and Pastest are the leading prep question banks.
Verify current PLAB 1 fees, dates, and pass mark on the official source: gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/plab (GMC, 2026).
Reference + further reading
For the official sources cited in this guide:
- Press releases: Official company / regulator newsrooms (Apple Newsroom, OpenAI blog, Anthropic news, Xpeng IRON press kit, EU Commission briefings, NBE / GMC / SRA portals, Settlement Administrator sites).
- Standards bodies: NICE (clinical guidelines), TrendForce (memory market reports), BenchCAD project (AI CAD benchmark), Alignment Forum (AGI debate research).
- Regulators: EU AI Office, US FTC, UK ICO, Norwegian Datatilsynet, NHS / GMC, AICPA / NASBA, SRA / NMC.
For breaking-news AI coverage, follow OpenAI / Anthropic / Google DeepMind blogs directly; for memory and component pricing, TrendForce weekly reports are the canonical source; for data breach settlements, the Settlement Administrator site (per each settlement) is the only authoritative source for current dates and eligibility.
Cross-reference any data point in this guide with at least one primary source before relying on it for a decision — news moves fast and details change week-to-week. Bookmark the source sites, set up Google Alerts for the topic keywords, and check the GSC Queries report weekly for new zero-click queries that indicate rising interest.
For Indian exam updates (NTA, SSC, UPSC, IBPS, RRB, GATE, IIM, Consortium of NLUs, RRB NTPC, NBE, CAT, IIT JAM), the official portal is the single source of truth — every notification, fee revision, and result publish goes through the portal. Recheck the portal before applying or appearing; date slips are common.
This guide was authored on September 8, 2026. Dates and figures are accurate as of that date per the cited sources; recheck the official source for any subsequent revision.
