— General Medical Council of the United Kingdom

PLAB

Attention, please!

Currently, we have MCQs, viva questions, recalls, learning materials, and guidelines available only for the Pearson VUE (formerly Prometric) exam for General Practitioners in Oman (OMSB).

Resources for other Gulf Licensing Exams, AMC, PLAB, and USMLE are still being processed.

To ensure standardized and high-quality materials that help you pass the exams on your first attempt, finalizing them may take some time.

To access MCQs, viva questions, recalls, learning materials, short notes, study books, and guidelines for the Pearson VUE (formerly Prometric) exam for General Practitioners in Oman (OMSB), please visit the following link.

The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exam is a mandatory assessment for international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to practice as General Practitioners (GPs) or other medical professionals in the United Kingdom (UK). It is conducted by the General Medical Council (GMC) to ensure that candidates meet the medical knowledge and clinical competency standards required for UK medical practice.

Exam Structure

The PLAB exam consists of two main parts:

1. PLAB 1 (Computer-Based MCQ Exam)

Format: 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Duration: 3 hours.
Content Areas: Covers common clinical conditions encountered in UK primary and secondary care settings, focusing on:
- Diagnosis and management of diseases.
- Emergency medicine and acute care.
- Ethical scenarios and communication skills.
Pass Requirement: Candidates must achieve a pass mark based on the difficulty of the exam.

2. PLAB 2 (OSCE – Clinical Skills Exam)

Format: A practical Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with 16 stations (each lasting 8 minutes).
Duration: 3 hours.
Skills Assessed:
- History taking and clinical examination.
- Diagnosis and management of patients.
- Communication, professionalism, and ethics.
Location: Conducted in Manchester, UK at the GMC assessment center.

Eligibility & Application Process

Candidates must have an MBBS or equivalent degree recognized by the GMC.
Must prove English language proficiency through IELTS (7.5 overall, 7.0 in each section) or OET (Grade B in all sections).
Register and apply for the exam through the GMC website.

Preparation Tips

Study UK clinical guidelines (NICE guidelines, BNF, GMC Good Medical Practice).
Use PLAB question banks and mock exams for practice.
Join PLAB study groups and online courses.
Prepare for communication-based scenarios, as patient interaction is crucial.
For PLAB 2, attend clinical skills workshops or PLAB 2 academies in the UK.

Next Steps After Passing

Pass PLAB 1 → Eligible to take PLAB 2.
Pass PLAB 2 → Eligible for Provisional Registration with the GMC.
Complete Foundation Year 1 (FY1) or apply for a GP Training Program to obtain Full Registration.
Apply for NHS GP jobs or enter General Practice Training (3 years) for further career progression.