Want to practice medicine in the UK but studied MBBS or any other doctorate outside the UK? The PLAB Exam can be your pathway to achieving this dream. In 2024, around 21,058 applicants took this exam. Thus, candidates who have a dream to work in the medical field in the UK for better opportunities and career growth, the PLAB exam is the key to this success. Achieving this can be a challenging route, but guidance and knowledge can serve as a helpful hand. Therefore, in this blog, you will explore PLAB exam eligibility, syllabus, fees, pattern and more in detail. So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
1. What is the PLAB exam Full Form?
2. What is the passing score for the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams in 2025?
3. How long does it take to complete the entire PLAB process and get GMC registration?
4. Can I take the PLAB exam without work experience or an internship?
5. How much does it cost to prepare and take the PLAB exam, including travel to the UK?
6. Are there any scholarships or financial aid options available for PLAB aspirants?
The PLAB exam full form is “Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board”. It is conducted by the GMC (General Medical Council) of the UK to assess the knowledge and skills required for qualified doctors who want to practice medicine and work as a doctor within this country.
The PLAB exam is taken by International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from outside the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland who aspire to gain better employment opportunities and enhance their professional growth by working in the UK.
Additionally, the PLAB test aims to determine whether they have the same knowledge and skills required for the UK Foundation Year 2 (FY2) Doctor. Additionally, note that the PLAB test can only be taken up to four times. If you fail all four attempts, you may request a fifth attempt, but only under certain conditions.
However, if you fail on the fifth attempt as well, the candidate will not be permitted to retake this exam. This is a small overview of the PLAB exam. Now, let’s move ahead to acquire more information.
The PLAB exam is divided into two parts: PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. One is an MCQ-based exam, and the second one is a practical exam. Here is a detailed breakdown of both exams in the section below.
The PLAB 1 exam is an Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) that assesses clinical knowledge used in everyday scenarios. This test is a written-based exam consisting of 180-200 MCQ questions that should be completed within 3 hours.
Every question begins with a scenario, followed by related questions. Afterwards, candidates are given five multiple-choice options, and only one of these options needs to be chosen as the answer to the question.
These questions cover a wide range of medical topics that evaluate not only your ability to recall the lessons and facts provided in books, but also your understanding of the concepts.
The PLAB 2 is an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE). It is also considered a Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment Test that analyses practical skills, professionalism, and communication. It consists of 16-18 stations (scenarios) that last 8 minutes and reflect candidates’ clinical skills in realistic settings.
The PLAB 2 exam takes 3 hours to complete all the stations. Besides, these stations are assessed on three domains: interpersonal skills, data gathering, and clinical management, involving physical examination, history taking, diagnosis and counselling. Thus, you will get 90 seconds to read the question before the station starts, then move on, and this cycle will continue until you complete all the stations within the time limit.
Unlike PLAB 1 exam dates, PLAB 2 is accessible throughout the year, which means you can give this exam anytime. However, please note that you must take this exam within 2 years of completing the PLAB 1 exam. Apart from this, the PLAB 2 exam is conducted entirely at the General Medical Council (GMC) assessment centres situated in Manchester, UK.
The PLAB syllabus for both tests differs, as one assesses your knowledge and the other evaluates your practical skills. It tests a combination of medical knowledge, patient management, communication skills and clinical reasoning that reflects solving real-life situation issues in the NHS (National Health Service). Below is a brief syllabus for PLAB 1 and 2.
Graduates must be prepared to apply the theoretical knowledge across various disciplines, clinical scenarios and questions of patient management in this test. Here is what the PLAB 1 exam syllabus includes.
The PLAB 2 exam is an OSCE-based test, and each station replicates real clinical situations in the UK. Here is the syllabus for the PLAB 2 exam
These two exams follow a different exam pattern, which includes written and OSCE stations to assess the ability to treat the patient. It ensures candidates are job-ready to solve real-world cases and seek world-class clinical practice in the NHS. Here is the PLAB exam format, which consists of two parts; let’s review them.
PLAB 1 Exam
PLAB 2 Exam
Here is the table to get a quick overview of the PLAB exam pattern.
| Exam | Number of Questions/Stations | Duration | Focus |
| PLAB 1 | 180 MCQs | 3 hours | Clinical knowledge |
| PLAB 2 | 16 - 18 stations | 3 hours | Practical & communication skills |
The PLAB exam is considered a challenging exam, as it assesses all the skills and learning that must be equivalent to the UK Foundation year. To pass this exam, candidates must understand all the PLAB exam eligibility criteria and requirements to ensure sufficient preparation time for these two-part exams. Here is the eligibility set by the GMC for the PLAB exam.
The PLAB exam fees are set by the General Medical Council (GMC). As of April 1, 2025, new updates have been made to the PLAB test fees for both parts. Here is the table of PLAB exam fees 2025.
| Exam Part | Exam Fees in 2025 (GBP/INR) |
| PLAB 1 | £273 (INR 31,831 K) |
| PLAB 2 | £998 (INR 1.16 L) |
Candidates get four chances to retake the exam, and they have to pay the fees again. In the next section, check out the cancellation fees information and details.
Due to any circumstances, candidates may have to cancel their exam, and they are subject to paying cancellation fees. The GMC have introduced new PLAB exam cost and cancellation fees this year. Here is the table you can refer to check out the fees for cancellation.
| 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 prior taking the exam | £27.30 |
| PLAB 1 Cancellation Fee: For cancelling 42 days or less prior taking the exam | £273 |
| PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee: For cancelling more than 42 days prior taking the exam | £99.80 |
| PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee: For cancelling between 42 and 29 days prior taking the exam | £499.00 |
| PLAB 2 Cancellation Fee: for cancelling 28 days or less prior taking the exam | £998 |
The PLAB exam is registered mainly online through the GMC portal. However, before applying, several factors must be considered, including proper planning, compliance with GMC guidelines, ensuring candidates can book preferred test dates, efficient preparation, and achieving the desired scores to obtain permission to practice medicine in the UK. Here are the steps to register for the PLAB exam.
The PLAB exam is taken by many doctors mainly to become licensed to practice medicine in the UK. This is an important requirement for foreign medical graduates to obtain full registration with the GMC. This permits them to work in the UK’s National Health Service. Here are some reasons why doctors take this exam.
Taking the PLAB exam is not the final step in the process to obtain a license to work as a doctor in the UK. You must register with the GMC and provide the necessary documents; once you have done so, you are ready to apply for jobs in the UK. Ensure that you get your application approved at least 2 years before taking the PLAB 2 exam. Begin with the foundation year of working or go for a training post. Also, you can apply for the work visa once you get a job.
In brief, the PLAB exam is a globally recognised licensing assessment for foreign medical graduates seeking to practice medicine in the UK. This exam is taken by many candidates, and it is a mandatory requirement for GMC registration. However, it may seem easy to pass this exam, but many stumbling blocks may have to be faced in this journey. But to streamline this process, you can connect to our study abroad consultants at Gradding.com. They will help you with this exam. Or if you are the new one who desires to pursue medical courses, then you can use their College Finder and Course Finder tool to find the best university and course to pursue in the UK.
The full form of the PLAB exam is the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board. It is a licensing exam supervised by the General Medical Council (GMC) for international medical graduates who want to practice their medicine in the UK but pursued the medical course outside the UK.
There are no exact passing marks declared for the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams in 2025 because they keep revolving as per the exam session and based on the exam difficulty. However, as estimated for the PLAB1 passing scores, it is historically 115-120 out of 180. For PLAB 2, there are no passing marks, as you have to perform a practical. Instead of passing scores, candidates have to pass a number of stations (scenarios and obtain scores in data gathering/technical/assessment skills, etc.) to achieve a cumulative score to pass.
It is a long process of 6 to 12 months or longer to complete the entire PLAB process and GMC registration, depending on the exam availability and preparation time. This includes time to prepare for the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams and pass them equally. Also, the application and processing time for the GMC registration is long, which can take several weeks and months to get passed after submitting the application.
In PLAB 1, you don’t have to complete any internship to take this exam. However, you will need a recognised primary medical qualification, such as an MBBS and English language proficiency test scores. But for the PLAB 2, you will need to complete an acceptable internship to be eligible for GMC registration after passing this exam.
The estimated total cost to prepare and take the PLAB exam, including travel to the UK, ranges from £3,200 to £5,500 (INR 3.3 lakhs to 5.7 lakhs). Although it can vary according to the individual’s choices. The total depends on the location, preparation, method and the length of your stay to give PLAB 2
Yes, several financial aid options exist for aspiring International Medical Graduates (IMGs) preparing for the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exams, although the official General Medical Council (GMC) does not provide direct financial assistance. These opportunities are typically offered by recruitment agencies, charities, medical colleges, and other organisations. To acquire the scholarship, you have to check out all the details of the scholarship.
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