PLAB 1 vs UKMLA: Key Differences Every IMG Should Know
A clear comparison of PLAB 1 and the UKMLA AKT — who takes each exam, how many questions, the pass mark, and why the same question bank works for both. Essential reading for IMGs.
PLAB 1 and the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) are both GMC-administered written examinations that test clinical knowledge for UK medical practice. While they share the same syllabus, there are important differences that every international medical graduate (IMG) and UK medical student should understand.
Who Takes PLAB 1 vs the UKMLA?
PLAB 1 is taken by international medical graduates (IMGs) — doctors who qualified outside the UK and wish to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. It is the first step in the PLAB pathway, which also includes PLAB 2 (an OSCE) before GMC registration.
The UKMLA AKT is taken by UK medical graduates — students who have completed their medical degree at a UK medical school. It is one component of the UK Medical Licensing Assessment, alongside the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) and the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA).
How Many Questions Are in Each Exam?
PLAB 1 contains 180 SBA questions delivered over 3 hours. The UKMLA AKT contains 200 SBA questions delivered over 3 hours and 15 minutes. Both exams use the same Single Best Answer format with five answer options per question.
Do They Use the Same Syllabus?
Yes. Both PLAB 1 and the UKMLA AKT are based on the GMC UKMLA Content Map — the same document listing all 430 clinical conditions and 217 patient presentations. This means that a question bank mapped to the GMC Content Map is equally effective for both exams.
This is why the UKMLA Revision Platform is used by both UK medical graduates preparing for the UKMLA and IMGs preparing for PLAB 1. The clinical knowledge tested is identical — the difference is only in who is taking the exam and the administrative pathway.
What Are the Pass Marks?
Both exams use the Angoff method to set the pass mark, which varies slightly between sittings. For PLAB 1, the pass mark is typically around 120–130 out of 180 (65–72%). For the UKMLA AKT, the pass mark is typically around 60–65% of 200 questions. Aiming for 70–75% in your practice questions provides a comfortable safety margin for both exams.
Which Exam Should I Take?
The answer depends on where you qualified. If you are a UK medical graduate, you will take the UKMLA as part of your medical degree programme. If you are an IMG who qualified outside the UK, you will take PLAB 1 (and subsequently PLAB 2) to obtain GMC registration.
Some IMGs from certain countries may be eligible for GMC registration via a different route (e.g. the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration, or CESR), but for most IMGs, PLAB 1 is the primary pathway.
Preparing for Both Exams with One Question Bank
Because PLAB 1 and the UKMLA AKT share the same GMC Content Map, a single high-quality question bank is sufficient preparation for both exams. The UKMLA Revision Platform's 1,178+ questions cover all 430 conditions and 217 patient presentations — giving both UK graduates and IMGs everything they need to pass.