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The PLAB exam is a comprehensive exam that acts as a gateway exam to practice in the UK for international medical graduates (IMG). It is one of the most opted pathways for GMC certification in the UK, which is a necessity to practice medicine in the UK.

PLAB Exam Format

PLAB (Professional Linguistic Assessment Board Test) consists of 2 parts: PLAB 1 exam and PLAB 2 Exam respectively. which together deal with the theoretical and practical aspects of the exam and ensure that a candidate is eligible to work in the NHS.

The PLAB 1 is a computer-based exam that consists of 180 questions with a time limit of 3 hours. Which follows a pattern where a scenario is given, and answers are in the multiple-choice format.

The PLAB 2 exam is a CPSA (clinical and professional skills assessment)/OSCE (objective structured clinical examination) that assesses candidates’ aptitude in applying their clinical knowledge in a real-life setting through 16 clinical scenarios, each of which lasts about 8 minutes.

PLAB Exam Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates need to have completed their primary medical qualification, like MBBS, from a GMC-approved medical institute. Degrees from virtual or distance mode are not approved.
• Must have a certification ensuring proficiency over the English language, such as IELTS or OET.

Read Also: Understanding Eligibility Requirements for Sitting PLAB

PLAB Exam Fees

• PLAB 1 Exam Fee: £268
• PLAB 2 Exam Fee: £981

The exam fees are subject to change, so please check the official website for confirmation.

PLAB Exam Dates

The PLAB exams are conducted four times a year. They are usually conducted in February, May, August, and November.

Candidates can view the current available dates by checking the PLAB booking service provided upon registering a GMC Online account.

Due to the limited number of seats, the exam body offers a chance for higher priority in seat allocation for candidates possessing a job offer in the NHS that needs GMC registration.

The PLAB exam is a hard exam to succeed in without the right guidance from PLAB-qualified expert mentors and an extensive array of learning resources. StudyPLAB offers these and more through a wide range of courses uniquely tailored to a candidate’s needs. If you have any queries or doubts, feel free to contact us.

Authored By: Sanad Beevi