PLAB Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
Boost your PLAB exam score with practice questions and detailed answer explanations. 💯 Track progress with instant feedback.
PLAB Practice Test PDF – Free Printable Exam Prep
Preparing for the PLAB exam? A printable PLAB practice test PDF lets you review questions, test your knowledge offline, and build the exam readiness that timed, screen-based testing demands. Whether you are studying at home, commuting, or revisiting weak areas on paper, a printed practice test remains one of the most effective preparation formats available. This page provides a free PDF download and a structured study guide for the PLAB examination. Practice with the free PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
The PLAB assessment tests candidates on the core competencies required for certification or qualification in the field. A strong preparation strategy combines repeated practice testing with targeted review of areas where accuracy falls below 70%. Use this PDF alongside the online PLAB practice tests on this site for the most complete preparation experience — paper for review and annotation, online for timed simulation with instant scoring.
What the PLAB Exam Covers
Candidates are tested across the primary knowledge domains that define competency in the PLAB field. Each domain contributes a weighted percentage of the total scored questions. High-weight domains deserve proportionally more preparation time. The exam format is typically multiple-choice, and understanding the question structure — identifying the best answer rather than the first correct-sounding one — is as important as content knowledge.
Common high-priority areas include foundational theory, applied practice, regulations or standards governing the field, and scenario-based reasoning that tests judgment under realistic conditions. Review official exam content outlines from the certifying body to confirm current domain weights before your examination date, as content outlines are updated periodically.
How to Use This Practice Test PDF
Print the PDF, set a timer proportional to the number of questions, and complete each section without reference materials to simulate real exam conditions. After grading, categorize every incorrect answer by domain to build a targeted error log. Prioritize re-study in your weakest domains, then take an additional timed practice session to confirm improvement. Repeat the cycle until accuracy is consistently above 75% across all domains.
Free PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board Study Tools
Interactive PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- PLAB Psychiatry & Mental Health 1 — 7 questions with answer explanations
- PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
- PLAB 1 is a written exam of 180 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answers. (General Medical Council)
- PLAB 2 is an OSCE-style clinical and professional skills assessment of 16 scenarios, each lasting eight minutes. (General Medical Council)
- Candidates have three hours to answer the 180 PLAB 1 questions. (General Medical Council)
- The whole PLAB 2 exam takes around three hours and includes at least two rest stations. (General Medical Council)
- The PLAB 1 pass mark is set for each test using the Angoff method plus one standard error of measurement, so there is no fixed pass score. (General Medical Council)
- To pass PLAB 2, a candidate must meet or exceed the overall pass mark and pass a minimum number of stations, both set using borderline regression. (General Medical Council)
- PLAB 1 costs £283 from 1 April 2026, up from £273. (General Medical Council)
- PLAB 2 costs £1,036 from 1 April 2026, up from £998. (General Medical Council)
- Candidates can keep retaking PLAB 1 until they have failed it four times, then can apply for one final attempt with evidence of 12 months of additional learning. (General Medical Council)
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against General Medical Council. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
PLAB Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (PLAB 1) | 180 multiple-choice questions (single best of 5) | General Medical Council |
| Number of questions (PLAB 2) | 16 OSCE scenarios of 8 minutes each | General Medical Council |
| Time limit (PLAB 1) | 3 hours | General Medical Council |
| Time limit (PLAB 2) | About 3 hours, with at least 2 rest stations | General Medical Council |
| Passing score (PLAB 1) | Pass mark set per test (Angoff method + 1 SEM) | General Medical Council |
| Passing score (PLAB 2) | Overall pass mark plus a minimum number of stations (borderline regression) | General Medical Council |
| Exam fee (PLAB 1) | £283 (from 1 April 2026) | General Medical Council |
| Exam fee (PLAB 2) | £1,036 (from 1 April 2026) | General Medical Council |
| Retake policy (PLAB 1) | Up to 4 failed attempts; one 5th and final attempt by application | General Medical Council |
| Retake policy (PLAB 2) | Up to 4 failed attempts; one 5th and final attempt by application | General Medical Council |
| Validity (PLAB 1) | Must pass PLAB 2 within 2 years of passing PLAB 1 | General Medical Council |
| Validity (PLAB 2) | Registration should be approved within 2 years of passing PLAB 2 | General Medical Council |
| Delivery (PLAB 1) | Test centres: 6 UK cities, Dublin, Madrid and British Council overseas centres | General Medical Council |
| Delivery (PLAB 2) | In person at the GMC Clinical Assessment Centres, Manchester | General Medical Council |
| Eligibility (PLAB 1) | Acceptable overseas primary medical qualification + verified English evidence | General Medical Council |
| Eligibility (PLAB 2) | Acceptable overseas PMQ + valid PLAB 1 pass | General Medical Council |
| Score release (PLAB 2) | Within a month of the exam | General Medical Council |
| Registration deadline (PLAB 1) | Booking may close 2–6 weeks before the test date | General Medical Council |
| Testing window (PLAB 1) | 4 sittings a year: February, May, August, November | General Medical Council |
| Testing window (PLAB 2) | Dates throughout the year (bookable after PLAB 1 results) | General Medical Council |
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against General Medical Council. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Key Takeaway: PLAB certification demonstrates expertise in this field. Most candidates spend 4-8 weeks preparing with practice tests before taking the exam.
Study Strategy for the PLAB Exam
Build Your Content Foundation First
Before attempting practice tests, ensure you have reviewed the official study materials for the PLAB exam. Most certifying bodies publish a candidate handbook or content outline that lists exactly what knowledge is tested. Read this document first — it tells you not only what to study but also what to ignore. Allocate study time in proportion to domain weights: spend more time on high-weight domains and less on domains you already know well.
Practice Testing and Error Analysis
Once you have reviewed the content, move to practice testing. Each practice test session should be treated as a diagnostic: the questions you answer incorrectly are more valuable than the ones you answer correctly. Keep an error log organized by domain. After three to four practice tests, patterns in your errors will become clear. These patterns tell you exactly where to concentrate additional study effort.
Final Preparation Week
In the week before the PLAB exam, focus on review rather than new learning. Take one full-length timed practice test to confirm readiness, then spend the remaining days reviewing your error log and reinforcing the concepts behind your most common mistakes. Avoid cramming new material in the final 48 hours — consolidation of existing knowledge is more valuable at that stage than attempting to add new content.
- ✓Download and read the official PLAB candidate handbook or content outline
- ✓Identify exam domains and their approximate percentage weights
- ✓Complete a baseline practice test to establish your starting accuracy by domain
- ✓Build an error log: record every missed question by domain and reason for error
- ✓Study the highest-weight PLAB domain first to maximize score impact
- ✓Take a second timed practice test after two weeks of study to measure improvement
- ✓Review answer explanations for every incorrect response, not just the correct answer
- ✓Simulate exam conditions: no notes, timed, single sitting per practice session
- ✓Confirm exam registration, location, ID requirements, and permitted materials in advance
- ✓Complete a final full-length practice test in the week before your exam date
Free PLAB Practice Tests Online
After completing this PDF, take full online PLAB practice tests at PLAB practice test — instant scoring with explanations for every answer. Use both formats together: this PDF for offline review and annotation, the online tests for timed simulation with immediate feedback. Together they give you the most complete PLAB exam preparation available on a single platform.
- +Industry-recognized credential boosts your resume
- +Higher earning potential (10-20% salary increase on average)
- +Demonstrates commitment to professional development
- +Opens doors to advanced career opportunities
- −Exam preparation requires significant time investment (4-8 weeks)
- −Certification fees can be $100-$400+
- −May require continuing education to maintain
- −Some employers may not require certification
Sample PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A pregnant woman at 26 weeks has a routine glucose challenge test (GCT) result of 165 mg/dL. What is the next step?
- A. Diagnose gestational diabetes and start insulin
- B. Perform a 3-hour 100g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
- C. Repeat the GCT in 4 weeks
- D. No further testing needed
Answer: B. Perform a 3-hour 100g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
A GCT result ≥140 mg/dL (some centers use ≥130 mg/dL) is a positive screen that requires confirmation with a diagnostic 3-hour 100g OGTT to diagnose or exclude gestational diabetes mellitus.
What is the antidote for paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose?
- A. N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
- B. Flumazenil
- C. Naloxone
- D. Activated charcoal only
Answer: A. N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
N-acetylcysteine is the specific antidote for paracetamol overdose, replenishing glutathione stores and protecting the liver from the toxic metabolite NAPQI.
What is the purpose of the PLAB certification?
- A. To allow automatic residency.
- B. To validate medical knowledge and skills for UK practice.
- C. To provide free medical education.
- D. To replace specialty training requirements.
Answer: B. To validate medical knowledge and skills for UK practice.
The purpose of PLAB certification is to validate that an international medical graduate's medical knowledge and clinical skills meet the standards required for safe and effective practice within the UK healthcare system. It serves as a crucial assessment to ensure competence before a doctor can register with the GMC.
A 25-year-old describes intrusive thoughts about contamination, spends hours washing hands, and recognizes these thoughts as irrational. What is the diagnosis?
- A. Generalized anxiety disorder
- B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- C. Specific phobia
- D. Illness anxiety disorder
Answer: B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
OCD is defined by ego-dystonic obsessions and compulsions; the patient's insight into irrationality is a classic feature.
Take the full PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board practice test
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- gmc-uk.org — Fees, retake policy, score validity, exam format, time limit, test delivery, test dates, score release, exam dates, passing score · verified Oct 2026