PLAB 1 preparation & booking
PLAB 1 success depends as much on booking strategy and preparation as on exam-day performance. Confirm PLAB is the right registration route, verify your PMQ and English evidence, open GMC Online, then book the earliest workable sitting and build an 8–12 week study plan around the official blueprint.
Who this applies to
- Doctors preparing to book their first PLAB 1 sitting.
- Doctors re-planning after a deferred sitting or a resit.
Key requirements
| Route | PLAB confirmed as the correct GMC registration route |
|---|---|
| Qualification | PMQ on the GMC's acceptable list |
| English | IELTS Academic 7.5 or OET Medicine B, inside two-year window |
| Account | GMC Online created and identity verified |
Steps
1. Confirm PLAB is your route
Rule out alternative registration routes before you invest in PLAB prep.
2. Verify PMQ and English evidence
Check your qualification is acceptable and your IELTS or OET result is still current.
3. Open GMC Online
Create the account and upload the required information before the booking window.
4. Book early in the release window
Popular international centres fill within hours. Book the first workable slot; refine travel later.
5. Choose a low-friction test centre
Pick a location that minimises travel cost, visa risk and scheduling conflicts.
6. Set an 8–12 week study runway
Target 15–20 focused study hours per week, download the official PLAB blueprint, and sit a baseline mock in week one to identify your weakest topics before you build the schedule.
7. Drill weak topics under exam conditions
Practise timed SBAs on your weak areas with spaced review; avoid passive re-reading of familiar material, and sit at least one full-length timed mock in the final fortnight.
8. Plan beyond PLAB 1
Line up PLAB 2 booking, EPIC verification and GMC registration steps before results land, and keep buffer time for a possible retake.
Common failure points
- Booking before confirming eligibility, PMQ status or English evidence.
- Underestimating travel, visa lead time or scheduling constraints.
- Leaving too little time to prepare or cramming the last two weeks.
- Ignoring cancellation, transfer and refund deadlines.
- Focusing only on PLAB 1 instead of planning the full GMC registration journey.
Official sources
Every fact above should be confirmed against the controlling source before you act on it.