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Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1

This exam is for international medical graduates who have qualified overseas and wish to gain registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). Passing PLAB Part 1 is a prerequisite for taking the PLAB Part 2 practical assessment.

Written against the published specification.

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Pass mark 28/40 45 minutes Real test fee approx £268 General Medical Council (GMC) How many can I get wrong?
About this practice. Revision Robin is built and maintained by Bloor Engineering Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1 questions are written and reviewed in-house to match the current syllabus, each with a plain-English worked explanation. They are original practice material, not the official exam questions and not affiliated with or endorsed by General Medical Council (GMC). Always confirm current test rules, fees and content with the official provider. See our Terms and Privacy.
Sit a full mock under the clock at least once. Nerves are half the battle.
Free practice questions
Try 3 real Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1 questions
Have a go, then reveal the worked explanation. A taster from a bank of 206 original questions. Unlock for unlimited drills and full timed mocks.
Q1. A 52-year-old Caucasian man is newly diagnosed with hypertension. His clinic blood pressure is 154/96 mmHg. He has no other co-morbidities. According to NICE guidelines, what is the most appropriate initial antihypertensive medication?
  • A.  Ramipril
  • B.  Amlodipine
  • C.  Indapamide
  • D.  Bisoprolol
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A. Ramipril
NICE guidelines recommend an ACE inhibitor (like ramipril) as first-line for hypertension in patients under 55 who are not of black African or Caribbean family origin.
Q2. A 24-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department with a severe asthma attack. She is unable to complete sentences, her respiratory rate is 32/min, and her PEFR is 35% of her best. She has been given high-flow oxygen and back-to-back nebulised salbutamol and ipratropium. Her oxygen saturation remains 92%. What is the most important next pharmacological intervention?
  • A.  Oral prednisolone
  • B.  IV magnesium sulphate
  • C.  IV aminophylline
  • D.  Repeat nebulised salbutamol
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. IV magnesium sulphate
In severe or life-threatening asthma not responding to initial bronchodilators and steroids, intravenous magnesium sulphate is the next crucial step. It acts as a bronchodilator and is recommended by BTS/SIGN guidelines.
Q3. A 72-year-old man presents with haematemesis and melaena. His blood pressure is 100/60 mmHg and heart rate is 110 bpm. His urea is 12 mmol/L. Which pre-endoscopy scoring system is used to assess his risk and determine the need for inpatient management?
  • A.  Rockall score
  • B.  Glasgow-Blatchford score
  • C.  Child-Pugh score
  • D.  APACHE II score
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. Glasgow-Blatchford score
The Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) is used before endoscopy to stratify the risk of patients with an upper GI bleed. It helps decide who needs admission and urgent endoscopy versus who can be managed as an outpatient. A score >0 typically warrants admission.
Exam mode
Full mock exam
40 random questions, real timing, marked against the official pass mark. Different every time.
The first 8 of 40 questions are free, with your score on them. Finishing the paper, your result against the pass mark and every answer explained come with the paid version.
Practice material only. This is revision practice, not official training, assessment or certification, and not a substitute for the required course or supervised experience. Always confirm the current requirements with the official awarding body or test provider before relying on it.
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Topic drills
Ten quick questions on one topic, marked instantly with explanations.
1 free drill left.
Cardiovascular System · 30
Respiratory System · 28
Gastrointestinal System · 29
Neurology · 30
Endocrinology · 30
Obstetrics & Gynaecology · 20
Paediatrics · 20
Psychiatry · 19

Who has to sit the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1

Who needs a Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1?

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from outside UK, EEA, or Switzerland to practice medicine in the UK.

The real Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1: format

How many questions are in the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1?

The real Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1 has 180 questions and lasts 180 minutes. Our mock uses 40 questions in 45 minutes.

What is the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1 pass mark?

Real exam pass mark: No fixed mark; set per exam via Angoff method, typically 115-120 out of 180 (approx. 60-65%). Our mock marks you at 28 out of 40, the threshold we mark against.

What it costs, and what a resit costs

How much does the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1 cost?

Real exam fee: £283 (effective from April 1, 2026). Resit fee: £283. Rebooking after a fail: Max four attempts. After four fails, 12 months additional study needed for a fifth (final) attempt.

How hard is it

What is the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1 pass rate?

Real exam first-time pass rate: 62.2% (2025). Difficulty: Challenging; tests applied knowledge and UK clinical guidelines at FY2 level. Subtle answer differences are a challenge.

Why people fail it

Why do people fail the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1?

Figures for the real exam from vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the test provider before you book.
Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Part 1: common questions
Frequently asked
How long do you get?
The test is timed at 45 minutes. Our full mock runs on the same clock so you can practise your pacing.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. Our questions are original and written to match the current syllabus, so they give realistic practice without copying the official paper. Every answer comes with a plain-English explanation. Always confirm current rules and content with General Medical Council (GMC).