All you need to know about Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board Examination

PLAB 1 Exam is conducted for the doctors who have already qualified overseas and further want to practice in the United Kingdom under the privilege of limited registration. The main purpose of this exam is to closely examine the capabilities of the physician to work at the position of Senior House Officer (SHO) in the National Health Service, UK hospital.

I-medics, a UK based coaching institution, equips you well with the necessary knowledge via online video courses as well as 1-2-1 PLAB coaching in order to help you succeed in the PLAB examination. Visit www.i-medics.co.uk for further detail on course programs.

Parts of Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board Examination

PLAB test is divided into two parts:

1. PLAB 1 Exam: PLAB part 1 Exam constitutes a total of 180 single best answer questionnaire for both UK based and overseas aspirants. Earlier, the question count was 200 but later on, it was reduced post a collective review.
2. PLAB 2 Exam: Part 2 of the exam constitutes of 18 scenarios presented to solve and gauge the capability of the examinee. Each scenario is given 8 minutes of the timeline to work upon.

What are the prerequisites of a PLAB test?

1. The World Directory of Medical Schools has been developed through a partnership between the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). You need a primary medical qualification accepted for limited registration by an institution listed in World Directory of Medical Schools to be able to sit for PLAB examination.
2. You need the score of minimum 7.5 overall in IELTS examination. Also, you need to score at least 7 for all four language skills to qualify.

When you apply in the UK for registration with a license to practice, it is highly important that along with the physician’s skills, you also carry the required knowledge for communicating in the English language. Communicating includes speaking, reading, writing, and listening.

Centre where PLAB is conducted

1. PLAB Part 1: You can appear for the Part 1 exam either in the UK or in Egypt depending upon your convenience. 
2. PLAB part 2: For the Part 2 exam, you need to appear from the UK only.

More details on centres and exam dates for both Cairo and UK can be availed from the General Medical Council website.

Attempts available for the PLAB

1. An aspirant can take a maximum of four attempts for the PLAB Part 1 Exam
2. For PLAB Part 2 as well, a total of four attempts are available with a condition that their pass for part 1 is within the permitted timeline.

You need to qualify for part 2 within 2 years of successfully passing the part 1 examination. Failing to do so in all your four permissible attempts will make you re-sit for the Part 1 as well as 2 again following the end-to-end procedure.

Documents and items need to be carried on exam day

Following documents along with the few items need to be brought at the examination centre.

1. Passport
2. Letter of admission
3. Pencil
4. Eraser
5. Pencil Sharpener

Result timeline

Part 1 exam results are available within the gap of 4 – 6 weeks of attempting one.
Part 2 results are also made available within 4 weeks of being conducted.

Results can be accessed in the ‘My Tests’ section of the General Medical Council website and these are sent via post as well as a hard copy.

No result emails are sent out, all communication is via post. Please ensure to fill correct address, along with zip code details while submitting the form for PLAB examination registration.

Is there a provision to get the PLAB to score reviewed in case of doubt?

It is possible and the request needs to be submitted duly in written with a cheque of £40 made out in name of General Medical Council as a fee for the review.

It can be dispatched at the following address:

PLAB Test Section of the GMC
350 Euston Road
London NW1 3JN
Above process is only for the clerical check in order to make sure that the marks are transcribed correctly. You need to contact the General Medical Council within 28 days of the results been published.

After following the above-listed procedure for the review, you can expect the revised results within next 10 days via post.

Provision for the candidates with disabilities

GMC provides its uninhibited support to the aspirants coming to sit for PLAB examination. If any special arrangements are required to be made, a concerned candidate should connect 3 months prior to the application submission.

For more details about the PLAB Test 1 & 2 coaching and video-based tutorials, please get in touch with https://i-medics.co.uk/