PLAB 1 Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PLAB 1 facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. According to NICE guidelines, what is the first-line antihypertensive for a 65-year-old Caucasian man with no other comorbidities? → Calcium channel blocker (e.g., amlodipine)
2. During labour, a CTG shows late decelerations with reduced variability. What does this pattern most likely indicate? → Uteroplacental insufficiency causing fetal hypoxia
3. A patient is started on warfarin for atrial fibrillation. According to NICE guidelines, what is the target INR range for non-valvular AF? → 2.0-3.0
4. A 35-year-old woman presents with post-menopausal bleeding. She is on no hormone replacement therapy. What is the most appropriate initial investigation? → Transvaginal ultrasound to assess endometrial thickness
5. A patient with type 2 diabetes has an eGFR of 25 ml/min/1.73m². Which diabetes medication must be stopped or dose-reduced due to risk of lactic acidosis? → Metformin
6. A 45-year-old woman has a urinalysis showing: blood 3+, protein 2+, red cell casts on microscopy. What does the presence of red cell casts indicate? → Glomerulonephritis
7. A woman at 28 weeks' gestation has a routine blood test showing she is Rhesus D negative. What is the recommended prophylactic management? → Routine antenatal anti-D immunoglobulin prophylaxis at 28 weeks
8. A 30-year-old woman has blood test results showing: Hb 88 g/L, MCV 70 fL, serum ferritin 6 µg/L, transferrin saturation 8%. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Iron deficiency anaemia
9. According to UK guidelines, at what age should a child be referred for further assessment if they are not walking independently? → 18 months
10. A 65-year-old man is prescribed gentamicin for a Gram-negative infection. Which of the following side effects must be specifically monitored? → Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity
11. A patient on long-term oral steroids (prednisolone) requires co-prescription of which of the following to prevent a common serious side effect? → Calcium and vitamin D supplementation plus bisphosphonate
12. A newborn infant is found to have bilateral undescended testes and ambiguous genitalia. What is the most important initial investigation? → Urgent serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone level to exclude congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
13. Which investigation is most SPECIFIC for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis? → Anti-CCP antibodies
14. A 60-year-old man has serum calcium 2.9 mmol/L, PTH 8.5 pmol/L (elevated), and phosphate 0.6 mmol/L. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Primary hyperparathyroidism
15. A woman has a primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) with estimated blood loss of 1,200 mL. According to UK guidelines, what are the four 'T' causes of PPH? → Tone, Trauma, Tissue, Thrombin
16. According to NICE guidelines, what is the recommended method of induction of labour when the cervix is unfavourable (Bishop score <6)? → Vaginal prostaglandin E2 (dinoprostone) or oral misoprostol to ripen the cervix
17. Which antibiotic is contraindicated in pregnant women due to the risk of 'grey baby syndrome' in neonates? → Chloramphenicol
18. Which important complication must all patients with polymyalgia rheumatica be warned about and screened for? → Giant cell arteritis
19. According to the BNF and NICE, what is the recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in a non-pregnant woman? → Nitrofurantoin for 3 days (if eGFR >45) or trimethoprim for 3 days
20. According to NICE guidelines, what is the first-line antihypertensive for a 60-year-old Caucasian patient with no comorbidities? → Calcium channel blocker (e.g., amlodipine)
21. A 70-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease is prescribed donepezil. What is the mechanism of action of this drug? → Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor — it increases acetylcholine levels in the brain
22. According to NICE stroke guidelines, which antiplatelet regimen should be started within 24 hours of a confirmed ischaemic stroke (not thrombolysed)? → Dual antiplatelet therapy: aspirin 300mg for 2 weeks, then clopidogrel 75mg monotherapy
23. According to UK guidelines, what is the first-line treatment for an acute attack of gout? → Colchicine or NSAIDs
24. According to NICE guidelines (NG28), which of the following patients with type 2 diabetes should be started on metformin as first-line therapy? → A patient with no contraindications to metformin and HbA1c above the agreed target
25. According to the UK immunisation schedule, at what age should a child receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine? → 12 months (on or after their first birthday)
26. A chest X-ray shows a tracheal deviation to the right, loss of left lung volume, and a raised left hemidiaphragm. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Left sided lung collapse (atelectasis)
27. Which set of X-ray findings is characteristic of osteoarthritis, distinguishing it from inflammatory arthritis? → Joint space narrowing, osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, and cysts
28. What is the mechanism of action of allopurinol in the management of gout? → Inhibits xanthine oxidase, reducing uric acid production
29. A blood film shows hypersegmented neutrophils (>5 lobes) and macro-ovalocytes. Hb 75 g/L, MCV 115 fL. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Megaloblastic anaemia (B12 or folate deficiency)
30. A 25-year-old woman has TFTs showing: TSH <0.01 mIU/L, free T4 35 pmol/L, free T3 12 pmol/L. What do these results indicate? → Hyperthyroidism (primary)