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.
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.
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.
Interactive PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against General Medical Council. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
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