A guide to the PLAB exam - Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Centres, Cost

The Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) exam is a challenging test of your readiness to practice medicine in the United Kingdom. To pass the test, you need to demonstrate proficiency in English grammar, reading comprehension, writing ability and medical terminology. In addition, you’ll need to show that you have the necessary knowledge and skills for safe and effective care of patients. 

In this article, we will give you a brief overview of the PLAB exam 2023, its structure and difficulty level. If you are an international medical student or thinking about becoming one, read on to understand what it really takes to pass the PLAB.

What does the PLAB exam cover?

The assessment encompasses the administration of chronic ailments that are seen in primary care environments, along with the frequent, critical, or pressing issues (which are often encountered in emergency departments) that trainees come across in the second year of the Foundation Program (F2). It does not involve a general practitioner's more demanding duties (GP).        
 

PLAB Exam Requirements

Check out the PLAB Exam eligibility requirements

• Medical graduates must possess a degree that is accepted for limited registration by a university that is featured in the World Health Organization Directory of Medical Schools. 
• Furthermore, they must have undertaken the IELTS, garnering a minimum score of 7 in total, along with 7.0 for each of the four language modules. 
• In addition, the applicants must have finished a minimum of a year of postgraduate clinical practice at a teaching hospital.

Important Dates and Deadlines 

PLAB Exam Centres

PLAB Part 1 examinations are held in several Indian states, including:

• Chennai
• Bangalore 
• Hyderabad
• Mumbai
• Kolkata 
• New Delhi

Countries 

Check out PLAB exam for which countries can be conducted in:

• India 
• Egypt
• Bulgaria
• Dubai 
• Nigeria
• Pakistan

Exam Pattern

The PLAB test consists of 2 parts:

1. PLAB 1 is a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 180 queries that must be answered within a three-hour duration.
2. PLAB 2 contains an OSCE with 18 clinical stations. Each station is 18 minutes long, including 2 minutes for reading the instructions. This exam is designed to test the knowledge and skills of a doctor at the beginning of the F2 level of the Foundation Program.

PLAB Exam Application Process 
 

A PLAB test can be taken through the GMA website. After the individual signs up for the test, they will get a notification email from the GMC website that confirms their enrollment. The message will also contain their information, location, the exam venue, and the commencement time. PLAB 1 exam is conducted in many places in India twice in a year, on the 15th of March and 15th of November. The due date for the exam is usually 8 weeks before the registration.

Candidates may take PLAB 1 as many times as they would like, however, PLAB 2 is limited to four attempts. If the individual fails the fourth time, they will have to go back to taking PLAB 1 again.        
 

PLAB Exam Syllabus        
 

The topics that are covered in the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams are mainly based on the standard medical textbooks taught in the UK medical schools. Additionally, applicants can look at the GMC booklets 'Advice to Candidates' which are specifically released for the Part 1 and Part 2 tests.       

PLAB 1 exam

Check out the detailed syllabus for PLAB exam 1. 

Blood and Lymph 

• Pallor
• Generalized enlarged lymph nodes
• Bruising/ bleeding/ purpura
• Abnormal blood film

Breast 

• Breast lump and pain

Cardiovascular 

• Peripheral venous problems
• Peripheral edema, breathlessness
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Palpitations
• Hypertension
• Heart murmur
• Fatigue
• Chest pain

Child Health 

• Failure to thrive (Physical, Psychological, and social)
• Developmental problems (Physical, Psychological, and social)
• Congenital abnormalities

Digestive 

• Upper GI symptoms
• Nutrition
• Lower GI symptoms
• Jaundice
• Facial pain and swelling
• Anorexia and weight loss
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal mass

Endocrine 

• Thyroid abnormalities
• General endocrine disorder
• Abnormal blood sugar

ENT 

• Vertigo
• Nasal symptoms
• Hoarseness and/or stridor
• Hearing problems
• Earache

Ethical and Professional 

• Drawing from GMC explanatory guidance
• Drawing from Good medical practice (2013) Duties of a doctor

Eye 

• Visual impairment
• Red-eye
• Orbital swelling
• Eye pain

Genitourinary 

• Vaginal discharge
• Urethral discharge

Homeostatic 

• Electrolyte abnormalities
• Acid-base imbalance and blood gas abnormalities

Infectious diseases 

• Viral infections
• Travel medicine and tropical infections
• Serious infection
• Hospital-acquired infection

Mental Health 

• Psychosis
• Personality and behavioral disorders
• Mood (affective) problems
• Medically unexplained physical symptoms 
• Legal frameworks
• Learning and communication problems
• Eating problems
• Deliberate self-harm
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Alcohol and drug use disorder and dependence

Muscul skeletal 

• Back and neck problems
• Connective tissue disorders
• Foot and ankle problems
• Hand and wrist problems
• Hip problems
• Knee problems
• Rheumatological problems
• Shoulder/upper limb problems
• Skeletal problems, including fractures

Neurological 

• Blackouts and faints (funny turns) 
• Cranial nerve problems
• Falls
• Headache
• Movement disorders, including tremor and gait problems
• Peripheral nerve problems and abnormalities of sensation
• Seizures
• Speech and language disorder
• Weakness and fatigue

Older adults 

• Confusion
• Symptoms of terminal illness

Pharmacological 

• Clinical pharmacology (Antimicrobial stewardship, Prescribing safety)

Renal 

• Abnormalities of the urine
• Renal problems
• Urinary excretion

Reproductive 

• Contraception
• Fertility problems
• Normal pregnancy and care
• Problems in pregnancy, including bleeding
• Irregular vaginal bleeding
• Cervical smear/ colposcopy
• Pelvic mass
• Pelvic pain
• Vulval and vaginal lumps/lesions
• Prolapse
• Urinary incontinence

Respiratory 

• Breathlessness
• Chest pain
• Cough and haemoptysis
• Wheeze/ Stridor

Seriously ill patients 

• Collapse
• Fever/ Infection
• Multiple trauma
• Shock

Skin 

• Bites and stings
• Bullous 
• Dermatological manifestations of systemic disease
• Extremes of temperature
• Hair and nail problems
• Itchy and scaly rashes
• Infections
• Lumps
• Moles and pigmented lesions
• Ulcers

Urological 

• Groin/scrotal pain and swelling
• Urinary tract obstruction
• Abnormalities of the urine
• Urinary symptoms (UTI & Prostatic cancer)

PLAB 2 Exam Syllabus

PLAB 2 is an OSCE assessment that does not have a specific syllabus or illnesses to prepare for. The examination will require the completion of 18 scenarios, evaluating your skills in diagnosing, investigating, managing, and treating.  
 

PLAB Cost

Given below is the PLAB exam fees in India and UK:

PLAB Result 

Generally, the results of PLAB Part 1 are declared four weeks after taking the exam, while PLAB Part 2 results are usually announced two weeks after the test. The official dates of the outcome will be disclosed when the exam schedule is published. Individuals can discover the outcome on the official GMC website the day after it is shared by post. The result is only valid for three years and the candidate must take Part 2 within three years of passing Part 1.        
 

Number of Attempts in PLAB Exam

The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board examination is a very competitive test, and there is a defined limit to the number of times an individual can sit for each part of the exam.

• For part 1, students may retake it four times.
• If the candidate passed the part 1 test when it was still valid, they are allowed four tries at the part 2 OSCE.

You have a 2-year period from the day you passed Part 1 to pass Part 2, and no more than four attempts can be made. If you don't successfully complete Part 2 within the 2 years and/or if you fail on your fourth try, you must take both Part 1 and Part 2 again.        
 

PLAB Exam After MBBS

In order to pursue a postgraduate program in the United Kingdom after completing MBBS in India, applicants must take the PLAB examination. This exam is required for gaining GMC registration, which is a necessity in the UK medical system. The PLAB exam is a certification test to evaluate a person's eligibility to become registered with the GMC. It does not grant any degree, solely permitting the applicant to register with the GMC.        
 

After Passing the PLAB Exam 
 

After successfully completing both stages of the PLAB assessment, you can apply for full registration with a license to practice. The GMC must grant authorization to your application within two years of passing part 2 of the exam. Once approved, you will be able to exercise medicine in the UK.        
  
 

Conclusion

The PLAB exam is an important step in your journey to becoming a physician. It is an indicator of your ability to practice medicine and is a crucial step towards achieving your goal of becoming a licensed physician in the Unites kingdom. If you are an IMG and aspire to practice medicine in the United kingdom, the PLAB exam is a must. Make sure you are well-prepared to take the exam. The more you know about the exam, the better you will be able to prepare for it.

This blog was meant to provide you with all the information regarding the PLAB exam. If you have any queries or need help with your study abroad plans, please contact our overseas consultants for support.

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