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PLAB 1.Your UK career starts here.
- Know exactly what to revise. Your tracker finds your weakest MLA areas and picks the next one.
- Every answer explained, with the NICE guideline or GMC guidance behind it, so you only read what you got wrong.
- 20 minutes a day, on your phone, planned week by week to your sitting.
- Two timed mock exams of 180 questions in 3 hours, like the real thing. Don’t pass? Refund or more time.
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PLAB 1Question & explanation
Hypertension (essential or secondary)
A 47-year-old man attends his GP for a routine health check. He has no symptoms and takes no regular medicines. His first clinic blood pressure is 154/96 mmHg and a second reading in the same consultation is 150/94 mmHg, with no significant difference between arms. Fundoscopy is normal and he has no signs of heart failure. What is the most appropriate next step?
A
Start amlodipine and recheck clinic blood pressure in four weeks
B
Refer for same-day specialist assessment of severe hypertension
C
Offer ambulatory monitoring to confirm the diagnosis · Correct
D
Repeat a single clinic blood pressure reading again in five years
E
Start ramipril and recheck renal function in two weeks
Understand why.
NICE NG136 says that when clinic blood pressure is between 140/90 and 180/120 mmHg, ABPM should be offered to confirm the diagnosis (1.2.3); home monitoring is the alternative only if ABPM is unsuitable or not tolerated (1.2.4).
NICE NG136 Hypertension in adults — 1.2.2, 1.2.3 and 1.2.8
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- No past papers? Questions across every MLA area, and two timed 180-question mock exams in the GMC format
- Too much to read? The NICE guideline, GMC guidance or textbook section behind every answer, so you only read what you got wrong
- Don’t know what’s next? A tracker that picks your next topic, made for 20-minute sessions on your phone
- Forgetting what you learnt? Wrong answers come back after 10 minutes, then after 1, 3 and 7 days
- How do you fit it all in? A week-by-week study plan to your sitting, rebuilt from your answers
- What if you don’t pass? Finish the bank and both mock exams, then choose a refund or more time
How refund or more time works. The bank and the mock exams are the plan. Finish them before your sitting, with no minimum score. If you still don’t pass PLAB 1, send your result within 30 days and choose your money back or twice your pass length, free. Read the terms.
Your pass starts as soon as you pay. By paying, you ask for access to start now and accept that you lose your 14-day right to cancel once you start using the question bank. Cancellations and refunds.
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Mock exam 1
Included in your passPut your revision to the test in one uninterrupted, timed session.
Start mock exam 1Resume mock exam 1180questions
3 hourstimed practice
Mock exam 2
Included in your passRehearse again after reviewing your weaker areas and explanations.
Start mock exam 2Resume mock exam 2180questions
3 hourstimed practice
Same number of questions and time as PLAB 1. Mock exams need an active pass. For official exam rules and dates, check the GMC.
Your syllabus
coverage.
The 24 MLA areas of clinical practice, plus professional knowledge and prescribing. Explore what each area covers and the sources behind it.
Try 5 questions freeAlready studying with MedMocks? Log in to see your results by area and resume a mock exam.
26 topic sections
Professional knowledge, ethics and law
Mental capacity · Confidentiality and the DVLA · Confidentiality: reporting wounds · Mental Health Act holding powers · Professional boundaries and social media · Consent in emergencies · and more
Sources: Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice; GMC Confidentiality: patients' fitness to drive and reporting concerns to the DVLA or DVA; GMC Confidentiality: reporting gunshot and knife wounds; Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice; and others
Practise this topicAcute and emergency
Sepsis (adults): high risk · Sepsis (adults): medium risk · Sepsis (adults): single parameter scoring 3 · Sepsis (adults): fluid resuscitation · Sepsis (children): fluid resuscitation · Sepsis (children): fever in young infants · and more
Sources: NICE NG253 Suspected sepsis in people aged 16 or over; NICE NG254 Suspected sepsis in under 16s; NICE NG232 Head injury; NICE NG41 Spinal injury; and others
Practise this topicCardiovascular
Hypertension (essential or secondary) · Ischaemic heart disease (including stable angina) · Chest pain · Acute coronary syndromes · Tachyarrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, torsades de pointes, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation) · Mitral valve disease · and more
Sources: NICE NG136 Hypertension in adults; NICE CG95 Recent-onset chest pain of suspected cardiac origin; NICE NG185 Acute coronary syndromes; NICE NG196 Atrial fibrillation; and others
Practise this topicObstetrics and gynaecology
Hypertension in pregnancy (including gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia) · Small for gestational age/ large for gestational age · Complications of labour (including malpresentation, shoulder-dystocia, preterm labour, cord prolapse) · Vaginal discharge · Ectopic pregnancy · Miscarriage and intrauterine death · and more
Sources: NICE NG133 Hypertension in pregnancy; NICE NG201 Antenatal care; NICE NG126 Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage; RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 63 Antepartum haemorrhage; and others
Practise this topicRespiratory
Asthma · Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) · Respiratory failure · Pneumonia · Pulmonary embolism · Lung cancer · and more
Sources: NICE NG245 Asthma; Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine 11e; NICE NG115 COPD; NICE NG250 Pneumonia; and others
Practise this topicGastrointestinal
Peptic ulcer disease and gastritis · Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (including Barrett oesophagus) · Oesophageal cancer · Gastric cancer · Pancreatic cancer · Colorectal cancer · and more
Sources: NICE CG184 Dyspepsia and GORD; NICE NG12 Suspected cancer; NICE CG141 Acute upper GI bleeding; NICE NG20 Coeliac disease; and others
Practise this topicChild health
Fever · Kawasaki disease · Bronchiolitis · Neonatal jaundice (including pathological and physiological jaundice) · Faltering growth (failure to thrive) · Urinary tract infection · and more
Sources: NICE NG143 Fever in under 5s; NICE NG9 Bronchiolitis; NICE CG98 Jaundice in newborn babies; NICE NG75 Faltering growth; and others
Practise this topicEndocrine, diabetes and metabolic
Diabetes mellitus · Hypoglycaemia · Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) · Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) · Hypothyroidism · Graves disease (including thyroid eye disease) · and more
Sources: NICE NG17 Type 1 diabetes in adults; OHCM 11e; CPOC Perioperative care for people with diabetes (2023); NICE NG28 Type 2 diabetes in adults; and others
Practise this topicInfection
Urinary tract infection · Pyelonephritis · Cellulitis · Impetigo · Meningitis · Meningococcal disease · and more
Sources: NICE NG109 Urinary tract infection (lower): antimicrobial prescribing; NICE NG111 Pyelonephritis (acute): antimicrobial prescribing; NICE NG141 Cellulitis and erysipelas: antimicrobial prescribing; NICE NG153 Impetigo: antimicrobial prescribing; and others
Practise this topicNeurosciences
Seizures · Epilepsy · Status epilepticus · Migraine · Cluster headache · Headache · and more
Sources: NICE NG217 Epilepsies; NICE CG150 Headaches in over 12s; NICE NG128 Stroke and TIA; NICE NG71 Parkinson's disease in adults; and others
Practise this topicMental health
Depression · Generalised anxiety disorder · Panic disorder · Self-harm · Psychotic disorder · Schizophrenia · and more
Sources: NICE NG222 Depression in adults; NICE CG113 Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder; NICE NG225 Self-harm; NICE CG178 Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults; and others
Practise this topicRenal and urology
Acute kidney injury · Chronic kidney disease · Hyperkalaemia/ hypokalaemia · Urinary tract calculi · Urinary retention/ obstructive uropathy · Urinary incontinence · and more
Sources: NICE NG148 Acute kidney injury; NICE NG203 Chronic kidney disease; NICE NG118 Renal and ureteric stones; NICE CG97 Lower urinary tract symptoms in men; and others
Practise this topicSurgery
Appendicitis · Acute abdominal pain · Gastrointestinal perforation · Intestinal obstruction and ileus · Intestinal ischaemia · Hernias · and more
Sources: OHCM 11e; NICE NG12 Suspected cancer; NICE CG174 Intravenous fluid therapy in adults
Practise this topicGeneral practice and primary healthcare
Back pain: risk stratification · Back pain: chronic low back pain · Back pain: referral for radiofrequency denervation · Hypertension: investigations at diagnosis · Hypertension: step 2 treatment · Hypertension: postural hypotension · and more
Sources: NICE NG59 Low back pain and sciatica; NICE NG136 Hypertension in adults; NICE NG238 CVD risk assessment and lipid modification; NICE CG115 Alcohol-use disorders; and others
Practise this topicClinical haematology
Blood transfusion · Thrombocytopenia · Disseminated intravascular coagulation · Anticoagulation · Vitamin B12 deficiency · Iron deficiency anaemia · and more
Sources: NICE NG24 Blood transfusion; OHCM 11e; Oxford Handbook for the Foundation Programme (2025); NICE NG239 Vitamin B12 deficiency; and others
Practise this topicMusculoskeletal
Rheumatoid arthritis: referral · Rheumatoid arthritis: investigation · Rheumatoid arthritis: first-line treatment · Rheumatoid arthritis: treat-to-target · Rheumatoid arthritis: cervical spine disease · Osteoarthritis: diagnosis · and more
Sources: NICE NG100 Rheumatoid arthritis in adults; NICE NG226 Osteoarthritis in over 16s; NICE NG219 Gout; NICE NG59 Low back pain and sciatica; and others
Practise this topicCancer
Mesothelioma: recognition · Lung cancer: recognition · Endometrial cancer: recognition · Ovarian cancer: recognition in younger women · Ovarian cancer: interpreting CA125 · Vulval cancer: recognition · and more
Sources: NICE NG12 Suspected cancer; NICE NG234 Spinal metastases and MSCC; OHCM 11e; NICE NG14 Melanoma; and others
Practise this topicMedicine of the older adult
Falls · Dementia · Delirium · Multimorbidity and polypharmacy · Frailty · Osteoporosis · and more
Sources: NICE NG249 Falls: assessment and prevention; NICE NG97 Dementia; NICE CG103 Delirium; NICE NG56 Multimorbidity; and others
Practise this topicDermatology
Atopic dermatitis/ eczema · Eczema herpeticum · Psoriasis · Psoriatic arthritis · Malignant melanoma · Skin cancer · and more
Sources: NICE CG57 Atopic eczema in under 12s; NICE CG153 Psoriasis; NICE NG12 Suspected cancer: recognition and referral; Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties (OHCS); and others
Practise this topicEar, nose and throat
Otitis media · Otitis media with effusion · Otitis externa · Sore throat · Peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) · Sinusitis · and more
Sources: NICE NG91 Otitis media (acute): antimicrobial prescribing; Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties (OHCS); NICE NG84 Sore throat (acute): antimicrobial prescribing; NICE NG79 Sinusitis (acute): antimicrobial prescribing; and others
Practise this topicOphthalmology
Glaucoma · Acute angle-closure glaucoma · Cataracts · Diabetic eye disease · Conjunctivitis · Keratitis · and more
Sources: NICE NG81 Glaucoma; Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties (OHCS); NICE NG77 Cataracts in adults
Practise this topicClinical pharmacology and prescribing
Prescribing controlled drugs · Adverse drug reactions · Shared care prescribing · Repeat prescribing · Drug interactions · Therapeutic drug monitoring · and more
Sources: GMC Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices; OHCM 11e; Oxford Handbook for the Foundation Programme (2025); NICE NG148 Acute kidney injury
Practise this topicPerioperative medicine and anaesthesia
Preoperative assessment · Perioperative care · Postoperative analgesia · Perioperative glucose control · Preoperative anaemia · Anticoagulants and surgery · and more
Sources: NICE NG45 Routine preoperative tests for elective surgery; NICE NG180 Perioperative care in adults; OHCM 11e; Oxford Handbook for the Foundation Programme (2025); and others
Practise this topicPalliative and end of life care
Pain management in palliative care: starting strong opioids · Pain management in palliative care: opioid-induced constipation · Pain management in palliative care: renal impairment · Pain management in palliative care: breakthrough dosing · Pain management in palliative care: opioid route · Pain management in palliative care: opioid adverse effects · and more
Sources: NICE CG140 Palliative care for adults: strong opioids; OHCM 11e; NICE NG31 Care of dying adults in the last days of life; GMC Treatment and care towards the end of life
Practise this topicSexual health
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Contraception · Chlamydia · Gonorrhoea · Syphilis · Herpes simplex virus · and more
Sources: NICE NG60 HIV testing; CoSRH UKMEC 2025; OHCM 11e; OHCS; and others
Practise this topicClinical imaging
Head injury · Back pain · Deep vein thrombosis · Renal and ureteric stones · Acute kidney injury · Chronic kidney disease · and more
Sources: NICE NG232 Head injury; NICE NG59 Low back pain and sciatica; NICE NG158 VTE; NICE NG118 Renal and ureteric stones; and others
Practise this topicNo topic matches that search.
Exam at a glance
What is the PLAB 1 exam?
PLAB 1 is the first part of the GMC’s Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test for international medical graduates. It is a written exam of 180 multiple choice questions, answered within three hours. Each question starts with a short scenario followed by five possible answers, and it tests how you apply your knowledge to the care of patients.
Last checked 25 October 2026 against the GMC’s PLAB 1 guide. MedMocks is independent of the GMC, so always confirm details there.
| Run by | General Medical Council (GMC) |
|---|---|
| Format | 180 multiple choice questions, one best answer from five |
| Time | 3 hours |
| What it tests | Applying your knowledge to patient care, mapped to the MLA content map |
| MLA | PLAB 1 meets the Medical Licensing Assessment requirements |
| Sittings | Four a year: February, May, August and November. Next sitting: Thu 5 Nov 2026 (GMC; always confirm in GMC Online.) |
| Booking | Through your GMC Online account, under My Tests |
| MedMocks bank | Explained, sourced questions across every MLA area and two timed mock exams |
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What does the PLAB 1 pass include?
Your PLAB 1 pass covers the full PLAB 1 question bank and two timed 180-question mock exams, every answer explained with its source; a tracker that picks your next topic, with smart revision and a readiness score; and a week-by-week study plan to your sitting. If you finish the bank and both mock exams and still don’t pass, choose a refund or more time. Paid once, with no subscription and no automatic renewal.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. Try five questions with worked explanations and their sources, with no account or card. Then create a free account for the mini mock exam: 20 timed questions across the MLA areas, then your weakest areas and what to read. Try 5 questions free.
Where do the answers come from?
Every question is written for MedMocks from current UK sources: NICE guidelines, GMC guidance, UK law and codes of practice, Resuscitation Council UK, RCOG, the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria and the Oxford Handbooks. Each explanation names the source and section, so you can read it.
How does the tracker know what I should revise?
After each session, your tracker shows the topics you’re scoring below 60% and the exact source to read. Questions you get wrong come back after 10 minutes, then after 1, 3 and 7 days. Your readiness score appears after 50 questions across 3 topics. It is a study guide, not a prediction of your result.
What happens if I don’t pass?
The bank and the mock exams are the plan. Finish them before your sitting, with no minimum score. If you still don’t pass PLAB 1, send your result within 30 days and choose your money back or twice your pass length, free. Read the terms.
Will I be charged again?
No. A pass is a single payment through Lemon Squeezy, our merchant of record. There is no subscription and no automatic renewal.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. MedMocks runs in your phone’s browser, so a 20-minute session between jobs counts. Your progress is saved to your account.
Is MedMocks the official GMC resource?
No. MedMocks is independent revision material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the General Medical Council. The questions are original, not past exam questions. Check the GMC’s PLAB pages for current rules, dates and fees.
What is the format of PLAB 1?
PLAB 1 is a written exam of 180 multiple choice questions, answered within three hours. Each question starts with a short scenario, then a question with five possible answers, and you choose one. It tests how you apply your knowledge to the care of patients, and it meets the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) requirements.